234 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. 1. 



can hardly see how they can be better than 

 those reared in spring or summer, under proper 

 conditions.— Ed.\ 



HONEY VINEGAK. 



KOT SUITABLE FOR PICKLES; HOW TO MAKE 

 HONEY LEMONADE. 



By C. Davenport. 



My experience in making honey vinegar may 

 be of interest to some of the readers of Glean- 

 ings who are thinking of making some of it the 

 coming season. A few years ago I tried making 

 it on quite an extensive scale in a number of 

 barrels which were set up from the ground in 

 an open shed facing the south. The heads of 

 the barrels were removed, and they were kept 

 covered with light cloth in order to exclude dirt 

 and insects, but still ailmit plenty of air, which 

 I found to be a very important factor. I had no 

 difficulty in maklngstrong vinegar, the strength 

 depending. of course, upon the amount of honey 

 used. Clover and basswood honey made vinegar 

 of fine flavor; but that made from dark and in- 

 ferior honey had a somewhat bitter taste, and 1 

 doubt whether there would ever be much de- 

 mand for that made from such alone; and there 

 is seemingly an objection to that made from 

 clover or basswood honey; for, while the flavor 

 and strength are all that could be desired, it 

 seems to cut up or soften pickles that are made 

 with it. I noticed this at our own place; and a 

 good many to whom it was sold complained of 

 the same thing. Most of the vinegars of com- 

 merce, instead of cutting or making pickles soft, 

 harden them. Of course, that made from hon- 

 ey is all right lo use on lettuce, salads, or pick- 

 les that are to be used soon; and if the defect in 

 it which I have mentioned could be remedied, 

 there could be a large amount of honey very 

 profitably used in this way; as I found that IK 

 lbs. would make a gallon of very strong vine- 

 gar, and it can be made in large quantities 

 without much work or outlay. Here we have 

 to pay from 20 to 35 cts. per gallon for vinegar, 

 and the cheaper grades are not fit to use. 



There is much more vinegar used than any 

 one who has not inquired into the matter would 

 believe. Possibly a small amount of some kind 

 of drug or acid could be put into honey vinegar, 

 which would overcome its tendency to soften 

 pickles. 



There is another way some honey can be very 

 profitably used by bee-keepers, and that is by 

 converting it into honey lemonade, ;is occasion 

 may offer. Ever since I read that article in 

 Gleanings, by John C. Wallenmeyer, in which 

 he spoke about honey lemonade, I have had a 

 desire to test the matter; and as the people of 

 our town celebrated the Fourth of July last 

 year, I resolved to give the matter a trial that 

 day. I was not able to leave home myself, but 

 I got twoyouugmen in the neighborhood inter- 



ested in the matter, and they were eager to try 

 it on shares. We took a low wagon with a big 

 hay-rack on it, and fitted a canvas top over it 

 and to one side. The other side was left open 

 except for a strip of canvas at the top, on which 

 was printed in large letters of red and blue — 

 "pure honey lemonade." 



I furnished a number of newly built combs 

 in brood- frames to hang up on the back side of 

 the rack. Quite a display was also made of 

 section honey, and extracted in glass of differ- 

 ent sizes; a frame of bees with a queen, in an 

 observatory hive, and two boxes with wire cloth 

 on both sides, containing bees, were also used to 

 attract attention. The whole was decorated 

 with evergreens, flags, and flowers I furnished 

 a steady team so the boys could haul the " rig " 

 around where the people were the thickest. 



Before and after the Fourth we had some 

 very hot weather; but the glorious Fourth was 

 a cool, cloudy, even chilly day, compared with 

 the weather just before; and on this account 

 our sales were not what they would have been 

 on a WMr""> ' ly. Many of the other lemonade- 

 stands dio not pay expenses; but the boys gave 

 me $13.45 as my share of the profits on ihe sale 

 of lemonade. The whole time the three of us 

 spent in arranging the wagon was not over half 

 a day. The lemonade was made just the same 

 as any, except pure extracted clover honey was 

 used to sweeten it, instead of sugar. While I 

 do not know that many would like its taste any 

 better than that sweetened with sugar, it is 

 certainly much more refreshing, aud has a 

 pleasant or stimulating effect. We used a large 

 amount of it at our place last summer; and 

 many of the neighbors who drank some, bought 

 honey to make it. 



In selling honey lemonade at a public stand, 

 those who buy it seem to notice its refreshing 

 effect, and return for more. I believe it is a 

 very healthful drink, and I am going to see if it 

 will keep when bottled up air-tight. If it will I 

 intend to put some of it on sale this summer 

 among druggists and grocers. 



Southern Minnesota. 



[Friend Wallenmeyer says all honev, as a 

 sweetener, is not as good as sugar and honey; 

 but, besides what Mr. D. says, quite a number 

 have testified that lemonade where honey only 

 is used as a sweetener is first class. There 

 might be, of course, a difference in tastes. — Ed.] 



BEE CELL AE AND HIVE CARRIER. 



BiiA\ youiKj. 



As there were some inquiries made about a 

 year ago about cheap bee- cellars or caves I 

 herewith send you an illustration of a cheap 

 one I built, and a very good one, I think, or at 

 least it looks as though it would last for many 

 years. It is made as follows: 



I first dug out a place 6 feet deep, 8 wide, 16 



