1907. AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 45 



for the bees to cap it, is shown up by in readymade combs. Extracted 



the fact that not one of the advocates honey more properly comes under 



of that method will consent to feed a the head of evaporated honey and no 



dark-colored mixture. doubt the percentage of raw sugar 



There may be times when very lit- will often be found considerably 



tie of the syrup is carried into the above that laid down by the U. S. 



supers; but it is a questionable prac- Department of Agriculture as the 



tice, one that always casts a suspicion true standard of purity in honey. 



over the honest work of the bees. The freer disposition of extracted 



It is well-known bees do not change honey to granulate proves quite con- 

 the color or flavor of anything they clusively that it did not undergo the 

 gather and store, nor can they add proper changes. I would not be un- 

 flavor when it is lacking. That which derstood as claiming this to be the 

 is of an inferior nature at the start is sole cause of the increased tendency 

 of the same poor stufif when it has of extracted honey to granulate. Ex- 

 been deposited in the combs. posure to air and especially cold air 



Bees may be able to change raw has much to do with it. Honey bot- 

 sugar syrup into the grape sugar of tied and sealed while hot will remain 

 pure honey by partial digestion. But in the liquid state a much longer time, 

 was ever a bee known to be so lazy Comb foundation does not permit 

 as to allow the syrup time enough to of such rapid storage as the corn- 

 undergo the proper changes in her pleted combs, but the work is still 

 honey sac when there was a lot more carried on much faster than when 

 of it waiting to be licked up and plen- bees are forced to build their own 

 ty of empty combs at her disposal? combs. The broad expanse of foun- 



A cooked potato is different in some dation enables a large force to en- 

 respects from a raw one, the starch in gage in the work at the same time 

 it has been changed and is therefore and the side walls are quickly drawn 

 more easily assimilated by the sys- out. If there be a rush of the incom- 

 tem. The process of cooking has ing nectar, can any one doubt that 

 partly digested it; but who will say much of it is prematurely stored in 

 the potato is not still a potato? Such the partly completed combs? 

 is the case with sugar syrup, the In a state of nature,, the foundation 

 bees may make it more available, per- of the comb is laid by a very small 

 haps, for immediate digestion but its force of bees. No matter how urgent 

 identity remains the same. But it may be the demand for comb, the 

 does not necessarily follow that all work can not be unduly hurried for 

 pure nectar becomes pure honey in only a given number of bees can work 

 the strictest sense of the word. Man at the same time. 



here again intervenes, or rather in- Right here I wish to say however. 



terferes with the work of nature by that I don't believe comb is ever 



the untimely aid of comb foundation constructed merely for storage pur- 



and ready-drawn combs. This was poses. I have all due respect for 



not the original purpose, for honey those who think differently, but I 



stored in virgin comb — comb con- must be shown. If figures don't lie 



structed for the occasion — is the only in this case, they are, to say the least, 



kind that really comes up to the true very misleading. The septum of 



standard of excellence. drone comb offers no advantages for 



It is always riper when capped over rapid construction over that of work- 

 in the combs though its density may er comb. The side walls in either 

 not be any greater than that stored case can be drawn out ten times as 



