THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



son, I would willingly give that sum rath- 

 er than return lo hand-work. 



Mr. W.— Friend A., I am glad I called 

 on you this morning. I have certainly 

 enjoyed a pleasant and profitable visit. 



Mr. A.— Thank )-ou, Friend W., it is 

 mutual. I have also enjoyed the call ex- 

 ceedingly, and profited by 3'our experi- 

 ence, and hope you will come again verv- 

 soon. 



Mr. W.— Thank you, I will. Good 

 morning Friend A. 



Mr. A. — Good morning, Friend W. 



Jackson, Mich. Feb. 4, 1S98. 



COMB HOXEY. 



Our Modern Improvements (?) are Robbing 

 it of its Delicate Deliciousness. 



C. G. FERRIS. 



T AM thoroughly disgusted with the way 

 ^ that producers of comb honey are go- 

 ing backzi'ard instead of improving their 

 product. About twelve years ago we had 

 a two-pound section box of good size, 

 that could be glassed, so as to protect it 

 in handling, also to keep out the ants and 

 vermin. The starter was of natural comb; 

 and honey stored in this manner was 

 profitable to the producer, and a lasting 

 joy to lovers of comb honey. My mouth 

 waters for some now. Who was it that 

 gave to the customer the idea of smaller 

 packages? Bee keepers, themselves. 

 Who was it that put a piece of artificial 

 comb in each box? Bee-keepers. It 

 looked nice, this artificial comb did, the 

 cells were regular and even, and it was a 

 pleasure to handle it in small square 

 pieces, for the boxes; besides, it makes 

 the honey tough to handle, and it stood 

 shipment better; but it was just as tough 

 to those who ate it. Say, when you get a 

 chance, I wish you would suggest to 

 foundation makers, to put in some of 

 Primley's, pepsin, to help digest the wax. 



Perhaps, by so doing, some of the ob- 

 jections may be overcome. 



Again, I ask, who is it doing this ret- 

 rograde work ? Bcc-keepcrs. Smaller 

 and smaller has grown the box. Narrow- 

 er and narrower goes the section. If this 

 thing goes on we will have a hard rib of 

 foundation with perhaps a little honey to 

 offer as an inducement to get rid of it. It 

 will be right in line, at present, for bee- 

 keepers to do something to keep up the 

 reputation of honey. 



As a bee-keeper of 22 years' experience, I 

 have always tried to have every comb, 

 ever}' hive, and everything so made as 

 to protect itself in some simple way. Sec- 

 tions made with wider sides than ends 

 protect the combs in handling. When 

 those familar w'ith the handling of them 

 will occasionally give them a dig, what 

 can be expected of the novice ? A very 

 vi\nd illustration of this arisesin my mind. 

 Seeing a crate of honey of modem style, 

 upon a counter in a Southern store, I ask- 

 ed the proprietor if he sold much of it. 

 He said no; it went awfully slow. But I 

 thought it was going quite fast; as the 

 ants had found it and were going and 

 coming in a long continuous stream. 

 The sections had been pulled out, as the 

 finger marks on each side of them clearly 

 showed. Honey was running, and a sad 

 mess it was. 



About the new fangled "glue-traps," 

 as Heddon calls them, just go back twenty 

 years and look in Ouinby's New Bee 

 Keeping, where he is describing sec- 

 tions, and see something new, perhaps, to 

 some yoting bee-men. This separator is 

 without doubt the most practical of any 

 thing ever used, as the bees have access 

 on all four sides. If I should ever use 

 boxes again to any extent I would not ask 

 for anything better. Say, I like Heddon's 

 article, it smacks of practice. I feel like 

 shaking him by the hand. No fine-spun 

 theories there. I wrote him the other 

 day in regard to fixing him up a wax ex- 

 tractor; about what kind he would want; 

 one of the single-basket, or with two. I 

 know now. He will want one with busi- 



