268 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



May 1 



General Correspondence 



PRODUCING HONEY ON A LARGE SCALE. 



Modification of Methods Needed. 



BY W. P. SOUTHWORTH. 

 Manager Western Honey -producers'' Association. 



It was with pleasure that I read Mr. 

 Greiner's article, page 133, March 1, as it 

 contains many good things and gives a very 

 clear idea of how he works with his bees; 

 but I am sorry to note that he thinks that 

 my former articles on extracted-honey pro- 

 duction are in any way making light of his 

 method, or of that of other bee-keepers, 

 provided the results are satisfactory. 



What I have said in regard to producing 

 extracted honey, and the importance of al- 

 lowing it to ripen in the hive, applies more 

 particularly to the extensive honey-produ- 

 cer; for it is he that gives directions to 

 his helpers in a general way, and they pro- 

 ceed to extract every thing that comes into 

 the honey-house, regardless of whether it is 

 ripe or not. The person who can afford to 

 put in his time with fifty colonies or less, 

 surely could have no excuse for extracting 

 green honey. 



When Mr. Greiner extends his honey-pro- 

 duction so that he has as many apiaries as 

 he now has colonies, and computes his crop 

 by tons, he will have to employ some help 

 and use different methods. No doubt he 

 will find engine-oil cheaper and more effec- 

 tive than elbow-grease to turn the extract- 

 or, and the removing of full supers of fully 

 capped combs more economical than taking 

 off four frames that are two-thirds finished, 

 and replacing them with empty ones; and 

 he will not imagine that the Western hon- 

 ey-producers use the half-depth frames, but 

 he will understand that the full-depth Lang- 

 stroth frame is the one for business all 

 around. The bees enter them more quick- 

 ly, and store more honey in them, and the 

 average wielder of the uncapping-knife will 

 slash them down even with the wood faster 

 than twice the number of shallow ones can 

 be handled. Many are claiming that honey 

 stored in virgin comb is better than that 

 stored in old combs. My belief in that 

 theory is my reason for uncapping deep; 

 and, in addition to good honey, more wax is 

 secured. 



It is true that we must all work in our 

 own harness, and handle our bees and har- 

 vest our crop as our individual equipment 

 and locality demand; and those who have 

 read my former articles carefully will note 

 that I have made due allowance for the use 

 of the method best adapted to the locality; 

 but I do not want to be misunderstood on 

 this one point — that honey must ripen in 

 the hive to be at its best. For better author- 

 ity on this subject, send to E. F. Phillips, 

 Department of Agriculture, Apiary Depart- 



ment, Washington, D. C, and get his bul- 

 letin on the production and care of extract- 

 ed honey. 



No doubt Mr. Greiner will think 1 am 

 making light of his methods again, if I 

 should say that extracted honey is not 

 ready for table use when put up right from 

 the extractor or strainer-tank, but that it 

 should be put through a process of clarify- 

 ing that removes the pollen grains and fer- 

 ment germs. The latter are taken up from 

 the air in the process of extracting, and 

 should be removed before the honey is fit 

 for consumption. 



Western honey-producers may be in ad- 

 vance of the times, as most bee-keepers 

 think their fresh extracted honey perfect; 

 but taking into consideration that our little 

 business has grown in four years from an 

 output of 40,000 to 250,000 lbs. per year, and 

 consumers are calling for more of that fine 

 honey, saying that it is the best they ever 

 had, there must be something in this refin- 

 ing process. 



All the honey we put out goes through 

 this clarifying and refining process. Ex- 

 tensive honey-producers are recognizing the 

 importance of this work, and iare sending 

 their honey to us to be prepared for market 

 instead of putting in the expensive equip- 

 ment that is required. 



One bee-keeper says, "I am sending you 

 my honey and buying it back from our gro- 

 cer, because it is better after you have treat- 

 ed it, and it is free from that peculiar sub- 

 stance that I am not prepared to take out 

 of it." 



In another article I will take up this sub- 

 ject of preparing extracted honey for market. 



Salix, Iowa. 



TOBACCO HONEY IN CONNECTICUT. 



Something Concerning the Possibilities of the 

 Tobacco-plant as a Source of Nectar. 



BY B. H. SHATTUCK. 



Connecticut, strictly speaking, is not a 

 honey-producing State, not over 50 colonies 

 being profitable in one location, and 20 to 

 25 being much more productive. The farm- 

 ers depend mostly upon tobacco, and thou- 

 sands of acres are raised in Hartford County 

 within reach of any apiary. 



Tobacco in this section has always been 

 raised in the open field; and when about 

 four feet tall each plant has been " topped," 

 and not allowed to "go to seed." The 

 "suckers" have been picked off up to the 

 time the crop is cut, between the middle of 

 August and September 1. 



The past season has noted a change in 

 the methods of harvesting the tobacco crop. 

 It is now being "picked" in the field in- 

 stead of being cut by the old method. The 

 plant is allowed to grow from seven to ten 

 feet high, and it goes to seed. The leaves 

 are saved by "picking," this work com- 

 mencing at the bottom, one row of leaves 

 being gathered at a time, and the top leaves 



