568 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



September, 1919 



least one big producer out of the lot. Immediately 

 upon such a union, we endeavor to add the supers 

 in order to provide ample room for the strong colony, 

 and also to eliminate the possibility of swarming 

 proclivities. We do not regard queens, and, as you 

 mention, let them fight it out. 



We do not usually re-divide after the harvest, as 

 you state in the August issue, since this method 

 would create an untold amount of extra labor; and 

 besides, we contend that a good, strong colony with 

 sufficient stores will winter better than a weak one. 

 Besides, such a colony invariably winters well and 

 turns out in fine condition in the spring, giving 

 dividing possibilities, with prospects for two or 

 even three producers out of the one, providing they 

 ai'e properly and timely manipulated. 



In adding empty supers we have no definite plan 

 to follow. Sometimes we put them below the partly 

 filled, and again above. The transaction just de- 

 pends upon the amount of timei we can spare. Per- 

 sonally, I am inclined to believe that the best meth- 

 od is to add the supers to the top. This condition 

 usually results in complete and nicely filled sections, 

 as the natural instinct of thei bee seems to inspire it 

 to finish one job before taking on another. Of 

 course, if the bottom supers are completely filled, 

 then it is undoubtedly advisable to insert the empties 

 bellow in order to prevent the unnecessary travel 

 stain and extra distances before reaching the place 

 of deposit. 



At the present writing it looks as if our crop 

 will run in the neighborhood of ten cars. 



AN OLD FRIEND IN NEW GUISE 



Honey 'bonbons Bring Novelty 'J^rices. 

 Comb Honey Cut in Squares, Drained, 

 Wrapped, and Sold in Fancy ^oxes 



By Dorothy Quincy Wright 



THERE is 

 probably no 

 beekeeper 

 who has escaped 

 entirely the ir- 

 ritation of find- 

 ing unfinished 

 sections of 

 comb honey at 

 the close of the 



honey flow. In this part of New England 

 the vagaries of flow make this nuisance 

 quite a serious drawback to obtaining the 

 maximum profit from section honey. This 

 fact and the breakage loss in shipi^ing comb 

 honey to retail trade inspired the invention 

 of the ''honev bonbons,'' which have been 



comb honey not 

 finished enough 

 to market, mak- 

 ing twelve out 

 of a four-by-five 

 s e c t i'O n . The 

 squares not 

 wholly capped 

 were discarded, 

 and the perfect 

 ones dripped overnight on the racks from 

 the extractor. Each square was then wrap- 

 per in wax paper and packed in a fancy one- 

 pound candy box, 12 to a box. The dainti- 

 ness of the package and the fact that sticki- 

 ness was eliminated in eating the honey, 

 made these boxes so popular for gifts and 



The squares nf honey are wrapped in wax paper and packed in a fancy-one-pound candy box, twelve to a 

 box. These boxes are quite popular as gifts and prizes. 



enthusiastically received as a novelty in the 

 candy line. 



My Start in Bonbons. 

 When the idea was first developed I 

 simply cut into iiJCh squares the sections of 



prizes that the demand soon exceeded the 

 supply, In 1916 I changed over my entire 

 section-honey equipment to the exclusive 

 production of this form of comb honey, and 

 SO when the sugar and candy shortage creat- 



