BEE-KEEPING. 807 



COMB HONEY. 



It wDl generally be best for those keeping but a few colonies to buy the 

 hives already prepared with the needed fixtures. I would advise the use ol 

 Bections holding not more than 3 pounds, one lb. is better and not over \% 

 Inches wide. The comb is more apt to be built straight in the narrow sections 

 than in the wider ones. 



Fill each section with a very thin comb f oimdation, fastening it firmly at the 

 top, letting it come within i^ of an inch of each end and J^ of an inch of the 

 bottom of the section. If it is not desirable to use so much foundation, cut it 

 into triangular pieces, long enough up and down to reach within % of an inch 

 of the bottom of the section. If fovmdation is not used, it will hasten and aid 

 the bees in starting in the sections to procure some nice white pieces of comb 

 and cut and use as directed for foimdation. 



Be sure and have everything in readiness for immediate use, for a few 

 days after makes the difference between a good supply of honey and none at 

 all. 



If the colony is strong, (and none other should be kept), and it is gathering 

 honey, the sections may be put on as soon as the wires are removed from the 

 transferred combs. The honey secured from fruit bloom is dark colored and 

 usually bitter, and may be extracted and kept to be fed back to the bees if at 

 any time they should need feeding, or it can be used in making honey vinegar. 

 When the sections are nearly filled with honey, and the bees are still gathering, 

 they should be raised up and another tier prepared like the first placed undei* 

 it on the hive. The bees will usually commence at once to work in the new 

 and also finish the old ones. As soon as the old ones are finished they should 

 be removed, for the longer they are left on the hive the darker they will be- 

 come, for the bees do not always have clean feet When the second tier of 

 sections is nearly finished, remove the imder tier, and should the honey flow 

 continue, they should be raised and another tier put under as at first, and the 

 operation should be repeated as often as necessary. After being removed 

 from the hive, comb honey should be kept in a warm dry room, never in a eel 

 lar, unless warm and dry, and never allowed to freeze. 



EXTBACTED HONEY. 



In addition to the appliances already on hand as before spoken of, a honey 

 extractor and a honey knife will be needed if extracted honey is to be secured. 

 An extractor can be had from $6 to $25, the price depending upon the size and 

 style. A good one can be bought for from $8 to $14, and a knife for from 50 

 cents to $1.50. 



Procure a hive the same as for comb honey, but in place of the sections, 

 etc., get one or more extra stories with frames, to put on the lower hive. Some 

 of the most successful producers of extracted honey use upper stories only 6 

 inches deep. Fill the frames with foundation, or put in starters, as directed 

 tmdar tTMisferring. If the colony is strong and gathering honey rapidly, tbgi 



