786 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



HONEY HOT OR COLD. 



We have noticed in our own home, and 

 in the homes of many others of our ac- 

 quaintances, that honey is not apt to be 

 used as much in extremely hot weather. 

 There are, perhaps, several reasons for this, 

 perhaps the most important being that 

 honey when it is warm is much thinner and 

 a. little stronger in flavor. Honey that is 

 cold and thick certainly tastes better. Mr. 

 Holtermann points this out in his note on 

 page 799. 



For the same reason, not many people 

 cai'e to eat honey on hot breakfast foods. 

 Of course, there are exceptions; but the 

 average person, Ave will say, if he uses 

 honey at all on breakfast foods, prefer it 

 on a cold cereal like cornflakes, etc. To 

 take advantage of this fact, we should not 

 be too strenuous in insisting that honey 

 never be placed in a refrigerator. It 

 should not be stored there indefinitely, that 

 is true ; but it is greatly improved if it can 

 be placed in the ice-box for a few hours 

 just before it is served on the table. Even 

 hot biscuits taste better if the honey is thick 

 and cold. 



HONEY FOR BliOVPNING PANCAKES. 



Tt has been suggested before, but is well 

 worth repeating here, that a little honey 

 stirred in with pancake batter serves an 

 excellent purpose in permitting the cakes to 

 be baked to a rich golden brown without 

 danger of burning. It is not necessary to 

 use enough honey to sweeten the cakes. 

 Every one likes griddle-cakes better if they 

 have the proper color, instead of being pale 

 and white. 



BUCKWHEAT HONEY FOR VINEGAR. 



One of our subscribers, Mr. Chas. A. 

 Johnson, of Battle Creek, Mich., comment- 

 ing on the fact that honey vinegar is so 

 often pale or water-white, points out that 

 if buckwheat honey is used the color is 

 exactly the same as that of vinegar made 

 from apple cider. 



HONEY USED IN LATHERING THE FACE PRE- 

 PARATORY TO SHAVING. 



The beneficial effect of honey on the skin 

 has long been known. There have been many 

 preparations using honey in the various 

 creams and ointments for rubbing on the 

 hands and face. Men who shave themselves 

 may be surprised to .learn that lather con- 

 taining some honey is delightfully cool and 

 creamy compared to the thin and -quick- 

 drying lather so often produced, even from 

 the best of shaving-soap (advertisements of 

 the soap in question to the contrary). We 

 have incorporated the honey in the soap, 

 making a very satisfactory paste or cream; 

 but the most convenient way to use honey 



when shaving is to put a small amount of 

 honey on the end uf tlie brush and then use 

 whatever soap is desired, in the regular 

 way. Put three or four drops on the end 

 of your- wel brush, and then use your fa- 

 vorite soap. You will find at once that the 

 advertiser's " dream " has come true. The 

 honey is soothing to the skin, and the lather 

 remains smooth, moist, and creamy, even if 

 it takes fifteen minutes to shave. 



HONEY AS A CURE-ALL. 



Soon after the announcement of this 

 special number we received quite a good 

 many so-called cures for such serious trou- 

 bles as cancer, erysipelas, etc. We have 

 taken the position that, before publishing 

 the recipes for these salves, ointments, and 

 lotions Ave should have the signature of at 

 least one reputable physician with a report 

 of his experience using the cure in question. 

 Such salves might not do any harm, but Ave 

 seriously doubt whether they Avould be of 

 any benefit whatever. 



A simple remedy for a cough, Avhich we 

 have found of especial A^alue for small 

 children, is a mixture of honey and common 

 vaseline. Equal parts may be stirred to- 

 gether, foiTning a paste; and as much as a 

 spoonful of this may be given at a time 

 witliout danger of disturbing the stomach. 

 Ordinarily half a spoonful is enough. All 

 ciiildren like it. 



The Troubles of an Editor; Quality 

 versus Beauty only 



In our issue for SejDt. 1, page 699, we 

 have an editorial headed "Can Good Queens 

 be Raised and Sold for 50 cts. ? " We went 

 on to state that there were times in the 

 season, especially at the close of it, when 

 the breeder could afford to sell his surplus- 

 age of queens at 50 cts. apiece in order to 

 reduce stock; but Ave added that Ave did not 

 belieA'C that, as a regular proposition, Aveek 

 in and Aveek out, he could afford to do so 

 tln'ough the entire sea.'^on, and Ave still think 

 so. Two of our standard advertisers, good 

 men, and who furnish good stock, seem to 

 think Ave had them specially in mind Avhen, 

 as a matter of fact, we Avere not referring 

 to any one. At all events, they put the 

 shoe on just the same, and, of course, think 

 we ha\'e been unfair. 



In looking at the adverti.sement of one 

 of them (the one Avho makes the loudest 

 holler) we notice that he has a " surplus of 

 young queens," heading his advertisement 

 with the words " Special Oft'er." 



Our editorial, as Avill be seen, wa.s not 

 criticising queen-breeders Avho are dispos- 

 ing of " surplus stock " or making " special 



