THE HONEYBEE AND BEES IN GENERAL 257 



flowers, but gather nectar, which is later transformed into honey. 

 The nectar is lapped up by the tongue (Fig. 129, /), and trans- 

 ferred to the honey sac (Fig. 134, hs.), where it is stored while the 

 bee is in the field. Part of the water contained in the nectar 

 may be excreted before the hive is reached. Nectar is placed 

 in open cells in the well- ventilated hive until all but 18 to 20 per 

 cent of the water contained in it has evaporated. When a cell 

 is finally filled with " ripe " honey, it is sealed with a cap of wax. 



The flavor of honey depends upon the kind of flowers from 

 which the nectar is collected. " Among the most important 

 producers of the best honey in the East and North are white clover, 

 basswood. buckwheat, and the fruit trees and small fruits; in 

 the middle states are the tulip tree, sorrel tree, sweet clover, and 

 alfalfa; in the South are the mangrove, cabbage and saw 

 palmettos, and sorrel tree; while in the West are alfalfa and white 

 sage. The best and most of the California honey is from the 

 wild white sage " (207, p. 529). The amount of honey produced 

 in one hive in a fair season ranges from an average of about 

 thirty pounds of comb honey to possibly fifty pounds of ex- 

 tracted honey. This will net the beekeeper from ten to fifteen 

 cents per pound (218). 



CLEANING THE HIVE. The health of the swarm depends upon 

 the cleanliness of their domicile, since perfect sanitary conditions 

 are necessary where so many individuals live in such close quar- 

 ters. Dead bees, pieces of old comb, the excreta of the queen, 

 drones, and others that remain in the hive, and any other waste 

 material is immediately removed. 



VENTILATING THE HIVE. Fresh air for the hive is obtained 

 by the exertions of certain of the workers. Many bees near the 

 entrance, and at other places in the hive, are busily engaged in 

 vibrating their wings, and creating a current of air, which keeps 

 the hive fresh, and aids in ripening the nectar. The loud buzzing 

 which accompanies this activity is often heard at night after a 

 large amount of nectar has been collected (191). 



GUARDING THE HIVE. The hive is guarded against the intru- 



