PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 195 



fine flavor, preferred by some, even, to that from 

 white clover. 



In some of the western States, the golden rod and 

 other wild flowers afford large quantities of honey of 

 good quality. 



PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 



The production of honey, which is the most desira- 

 ble, and at the same time the most remunerative prod- 

 uct of the bee, should be the aim of every bee- 

 keeper ; hence, to so manage the apiary that the 

 largest possible yield of the precious nectar is ob- 

 tained, and at the same time leave the stock in good 

 condition at the close of the season, is the great 

 desideratum in bee-keeping. 



This result can be secured with the greatest cer- 

 tainty by making a small increase in the number of 

 stock each year. This increase may be either by 

 artificial colonization or natural swarming, as suits 

 the owner's convenience. Thus, if a watch can be 

 kept so as to secure the swarms when they issue, it 

 is best to let them stand until they fill one set of 

 boxes ; (which a part of the stocks usually do before 

 swarming, while others only partially fill them) these 

 are then to be taken out, and if increase is preferred to 

 honey, then form a colony as directed in Chap. xvn. 

 Then after one interchange of combs between the 

 colony and the parent hive, place other honey boxes 

 in the chamber, to allow them to resume storing 



