I'JOl 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



95 



now use very few of the former. We usually 

 fill the quart when getting behind with the 

 1-lb., as it would require two or three stoves 

 to warm the honey last enough to keep one 

 filling them. The bottles to be filled are 

 piled up behind the one who does the wiping 

 and labeling. They are then handed to the 

 one who does the filling, who, in turn, gives 

 them to the person who covers and puts them 

 away. If a child is to do the labeling it is 

 best to have the bottles wiped beforehand. 

 They will then be encouraged by easily keep- 

 ing ahead. If short of help, label also before- 

 hand, but it makes less handling when all is 

 done at the same time. We always use gum- 

 med labels, and we moisten the 

 gum by placing them in a fold- 

 ed cloth kept wet. This is bet- 

 ter than doing it with the 

 tongue. We think the label 

 looks better when placed about 

 half way between the center 

 and top. Never put it across 

 the center of a bottle. We pre- 

 fer a label going across rather 

 than one up and down, believ- 

 ing the former shows the honey 

 off better. Have " Pure Hon- 

 ey " in clear bold type; next 

 the directions small, and then 

 the name and address in clear 

 type below. Many labels in use 

 have directions about the honey 

 granulating, etc., and read, 

 " This honey will granulate." 

 Now, as we do not expect our 

 bottled honey to do this, but at 

 the same time wish to educate 

 and provide against a possible 

 chance of its doing so, we say 

 on the label, 'Should this 

 honey granulate it can be liq- 

 uefied by placing the bottle in 

 a warm oven or in the reservoir 

 of the stove." The tin covers 

 for the 1 lb. bottles have a card- 

 board inside. We have never 

 known the honey to leak unless 

 the bottle was faulty. We are 

 careful, however, not to allow 

 the hot honey to touch the cov- 

 er, and therefore do not roll 

 them in paper until next day, 

 when they are placed away 

 ready for packing. 



As a customer will invariably 

 prefer a bottle with a cover rath- 

 er than one with a cork, and as they can be 

 bought so cheaply, we see no reason for 

 using the latter. Should you wish to do so 

 I would soak the corks for a few hours 

 before using, unless you wish to seal while 

 hot. Soaking them not only gathers up 

 any cork dust found in the crevices of large 

 corks, but makes them fit much better. They 

 must be allowed to dry before sealing, should 

 you wish to do this. We prefer pure beeswax 

 for this purpose. Have it kept hot, and in- 

 vert the bottle, holding it perpendicularly 

 when placing in the wax. You may require 

 to dip the second time. Before sealing, cut 



off any projecting cork with a sharp thin- 

 bladed knife. If you wet the corks first they 

 easily pound in level, using a wooden mallet. 

 If you wish something cheaper than bees- 

 wax, then combine equal parts of resin with 

 about one-fifth tallow. A little vermilion 

 will improve the color. If I were using 

 corked bottles I would have a label with my 

 address, etc., made especially for the purpose, 

 and stick it on ; but so long as the public pre- 

 fer, and I can buy 1-lb. bottles, such as I have 

 described, and have a profit on them at four 

 cents each, I shall never bother with those re- 

 quiring corks. There are other sizes of the 

 same make ; but as the smaller sizes cost near- 



SEAI^ING THE BOTTEES. 



ly as much I prefer the 1-lb., and always the 

 "straight." There is another make that's 

 shorter, a little larger at the bottom than at 

 the top, and that have a projection near the 

 top. They not only do not look as well, 

 but are more difficult to pack so as to keep 

 from breaking. The straight ones ship well, 

 and are easy to pack, having had only one 

 broken out of .5000 shipped one season. 



We use only warm water for washing t1;e 

 bottles when it is too cold to be comfortable 

 without. On a hot day the cold water is pi •- 

 f erred, but on a cold day the warm is better. 

 Never wash them in the house unless you are 



