SEPTEMBER 15, 1916 



THE DANGER-POINT IN HEATING HONEY 



BY GEORGE SHIBER 



On page 98, Feb. J, Mr. Doolittle says 

 that gTanulated clover and basswood honey 

 will be as clear as when tiist extracted Avhen 

 heated to no more than 145 degrees. The 

 latest edition of the ABC that I possess, 

 1903, on pages 130 and 132, gives 160 de- 

 grees as the highest point that granulated 

 honey can be heated. Of course that was 

 orthodox some years ago; but I believe that 

 later editions have lowered the figure. 



My experience makes me feel that all of 

 the above temperatures should be lowered, 

 and that 130 degrees is as high as we can 

 go if we wish to preserve a fancy article 

 that has gTanulated. My experience has 

 been entirely with basswood and clover 

 honeys. Mr. Doolittle's "time," tho, is about 

 what I allow for seven one-gallon cans. 



I have a square galvanized boiler three 

 or four inches higher than the one-gallon 

 cans. A wooden false bottom on which the 

 cans re.st, about l^^'o inches from the bottom 

 of the boiler, protects the honey in the 

 bottom of the cans. The boiler is filled 

 with Avater, and slowly heated to 130 de- 

 grees — no higher — and left to remain at this 

 point for three hours. The honey will be 

 practically as clear and fine-flavored as 

 when first extracted. But it will lack just 

 the least little bit in color and flavor. To 

 tell the truth, I have not found a perfect 

 plan for liquefying candied honey. Of 

 course, this slight difference would not be 

 detected, as a rule, except by those who are 

 experts in honey taste; but if we allow tlie 

 temperature to reach 145 or 160 degrees the 

 color and flavor will deteriorate to a very 

 marked degree. 



The directions on my labels say that the 

 water should be no hotter tlian one can 

 bear the hand in. This is not very definite ; 

 but one can feel sure that the honey will 

 not be burnt. However, I have seen my 

 own clover honey, originally fine and light- 

 colored, made like black molasses by a 

 customer who thought he knew just how to 

 do it. I do not know of any way that 

 clover honey can be put up for the trade 

 that will be granulation j^roof, but I am 

 studying the question. Heating it to 130 

 degrees and sealing while hot, or at once, 

 is the best way I know of, and works very 

 well; but there is an occasional exception 

 where such honey will granulate. 



THE SAVIXG OF STORES IN A CELLAR. 



On page 314, Feb. 1, Mr. J. L. Byei- 

 figures on 35 pounds net as the safe amount 



of stores for winter in Ontario, and he 

 estimates the cost at 6 ets. a pound, which 

 would be $2.10. Looking at it from every 

 angle it seems to be expensive wintering. 

 Western New York has some pretty cold 

 weather, as a rule; yet I would feel safe in 

 wintering outdoors with 25 pounds net, 

 costing, according (o the above, $1.50. This 

 is expensive enough. 



A few years ago I changed from cellar 

 to outdoor wintering, and wintered fairly 

 well. I found out one thing, however, and 

 that was that it took more stores to carry 

 tliem thru to settled weather in the spring; 

 and while I have never weighed stores to 

 see how much had been consumed, I think 

 inside wintering can be done at a saving 

 of one-third in stores up- to the time the 

 colonies are carried out in the spring. T 

 feel pretty sure that 12 to 15 pounds 'will 

 carry strong colonies thru the four to four 

 and a half months of confinement; and 

 those same bees, if wintered packed out- 

 doors, would consume, I believe, four or 

 five pounds more. This would make a sav- 

 ing of twenty-five or thirty cents, and that 

 would pay for earryin'g them in and out. 

 But I would rather have colonies which had 

 consumed only 12 pounds during confine- 

 ment than those which had used 18 pounds 

 during the same time. I should consider 

 that, the more they had eaten, the weaker 

 they would be. 



WHEN IS THE GREATEST LOSS IN WINTERING? 



My experience says after about the mid- 

 dleof February, whether wintered outdoors 

 or in the cellar. The wintering problem is 

 very easy up to that date; but after that 

 time is Avhen the losses occur. Some years 

 I have liad the greatest loss in April; and 

 judging from reports I see others have had 

 the same experience. The strong colony 

 that consumes the least and stays quiet 

 usually makes the best showing. These are 

 some of the reasons why I have dispensed 

 v/ith packing-cases and have almost all the 

 bees in the cellar according to the way T 

 used to winter, and the method I have 

 found the most satisfactory. 



On page 116, Feb. 1, the editor says. " f f 

 you can shake more than three pounds on 

 tlie average from your colonies in early 

 spring, you are going some." Well, I should 

 say so; and ho might add to the above lliat 

 one could take 12 frauiers too. AVIiy, there 

 is many and many a colony of but two 

 pounds of bees the last of April (or early 

 spring) that will be up to the mark when 



