278 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. [December, 



ward. Air bubbles and foreign sub- page 287, gives the specific gravity 

 stances that run into the tank with as from 1.439 to 1.448; while "Ency- 

 the honey cannot possibly rise to the clopaedia Britannica" gives it as i 410 

 surface through a deep body of it, So you see there is a big difference, 

 and the same applies to much of the and therefore we get very little as- 

 moisture; hence, in many cases it is sistance for our purpose from these 

 run off into the marketing packages figures; consequently we must rely 

 in an unmatured condition, with the chiefly upon our own observations, 

 result that, even where there happens with regard to the tests I have made, 

 to be no excess of moisture, a nasty i went through the t\<^enty samples 

 scum rises to the surface in the tins, very carefully indeed, some with a 

 which IS not at all enticing to the Twaddell's and some with a Fletcher's 

 purchaser. hydrometer, after testing them togeth- 



Depth of Tanks.— As to the best er and finding them alike. The read- 

 depth for tanks, opinions may differ, i"gs varied, the lowest registering 

 but my own is that they should not i-350 and the highest 1.430. It was 

 exceed twenty-four inches; but I pre- very noticeable that the better the 

 fer them twenty inches, and as big honey the greater the specific grav- 

 as you like superficially. Probably ity. The average of the eleven sam- 

 some of you may remember Mr. Alex- Ples that went 1.400 and upwards was 

 ander, in one of his articles, when i-4io io-i2ths, and most of them were 

 speaking of the depth of his tanks, ^rm and dry, while those below were 

 considered they were too deep. They more or less moist, although all were 

 were thirty-six inches, and he intend- granulated— one, at 1.385, had just 

 ed reducing them to thirty-two inches, started fermentation. The conclusions 

 so he is not in favor of deep tanks. I have arrived at over the tests are. 

 Testing Honey for its Ripeness.- ^^''^^ ^^1 ^^^^'^ registering 1.410 and 

 To come to the matter of testing "P^ayds were thoroughly ripe, and 

 honey for its ripeness. I spoke tS ^'O^^d ^^^P ^"'^ any length of time 

 you a short time ago about testing ""der ordinary conditions. Those be- 

 lt for its specific gravity, that is tS ^^^^" [-4°° f ^ 1.410, if not so ripe 

 find out its weight as compared with ^^ '^ 'K ^•' \ ?"^ ' "^ 1 



water. You will fully understand the ^ose registering belo\y i 400 seemed 

 matter when I explain the experi- 5° /"f, ^ ^^ doubtful in this respect, 

 ments I have just been carrying out ^ ^'^^ ^ ^^7 specimens of each as you 

 in a series of tests with various sam- ^^f them for testing by ime. Now, 

 pies of honey obtained by myself in 7^^^,^ "^'^^ y°" ^" to do is to ob- 

 retail packages from different mer- ^^""1 the apparatus yourselves, that is,. 

 chants in Auckland and Waikato, each individual, and try for yourselves, 

 specimens of which are here before ^° ^hat you may learn to know ,for 

 you. So long as the instrument is "" "^-ta-nty when your honey is ripe, 

 correct, there is no more certain meth- and not depend upon guesswork. The 

 od of testing for ripening than by appliances hydrometer, glass, and 

 the hydrometer, an instrument which thermometer only cost about 7-6 m 

 you are all, no doubt, more or less ^\^' f° ^^at they are within the reach 

 familiar with, and which is most sim- 9^ ^'^ °f y°"; ^t ^", ^Y^^ts he matter 

 pie in its use '^ °"^ ^° much importance that 



. ^, . . ■ ,0 -^ ^ • if they cost six times as much you 

 Authorities on the Specific Gravity, ^ught to have them. Be sure also 

 —The different authorities I have ^j.^^ making tests to record them 

 looked up vary largely m the figures ^^n f^j. ^^,^,^^6 reference, or they will 

 given as to the specific gravity of ^e of very little use to vou. Make 

 honey. For instance m the • British ^ests of the honey directly it is ex- 

 Bee Journal for 1885 (December) the tracted, and on each day afterward, 

 editor in reply to a correspondent, ^ set of instruments will be kept at 

 gives figures ranging all the way from the 'state apiaries, where tests may 

 1.261 to i.4So,_ obtained from various ^^ ^^^^e by any bee-keeper. 

 works, but gives it as his opinion 



that 1.350 would be a conventional Heating Honey-House at Night.— 

 standard for ripe honey, although he Before concluding, it may be well to 

 remarks that clover honey, in a dry mention a suggestion that was made 

 season, is found to be 1.370. "Thorpe's to me the other day by your president 

 Dictionary of Applied Chemistry," and Mr. Hutchison, and one that I 



