34 THE PRACTICAL BEE GUIDE. 



hive sufficient honey to serve as food for a considerable time, 

 and even for the production of wax in her new home (18) ; 

 how, in the winter season, she can feed from the contents of 

 the honey sac during several days without having recourse to 

 the~comb-cells. 



59. Water in Honey — When nectar, thus converted into 

 honey, has been deposited in the cells, it becomes necessary 

 to evaporate from it a quantity of water. Dr. Smyth says : — 



" In order to complete a pound of sealed honey in their comb-cells 

 the bees must evaporate at least half a pound, and frequently a pound 

 of water from the cells, and cut of the hive."^Irish Bee Journal. 



This is done by raising the temperature of the water and of the 

 interior of the hive, and by fanning (14) the moist and heated 

 air out through the doors. On occasions of extreme humidity 

 of the atmosphere outside, evaporation within the hive becomes 

 arrested and the gathering of nectar ceases for a time. When 

 a cell is almost filled with honey, it is sealed with a capping of 

 wax, and in that condition the honey will keep indefinitely in 

 a warm, dry place. 



60. Honey as Food — As an article of food, honey is very 

 valuable. It requires no digestion; is a great heat producer; 

 a gentle laxative ; and a purifier of the blood. 



61. Honey Dew — An unpleasant, dark, rank-flavoured sub- 

 stance called honey dew, is sometimes gathered by bees, much 

 to the annoyance of their owner. During a spell of hot, dry 

 weather, with absence of moisture and rain, this objectionable 

 deposit may be seen upon the trees, and the bees eagerly 

 gather it. Its name is due to an erroneous opinion by which 

 it was described as a dew of honey falling upon the leaves. 

 Investigation, however, has shown that the substance is a dis- 

 charge from the bodies of aphides, which suck the sap of 

 certain trees, and discharge it continuously as a saccharine, 

 viscous fluid. In the absence of rain to wash it off, it adheres 

 to the leaves, and is resorted to by both bees and ants. Ants 

 (368) are particularly fond of it, and may often be seen literally 

 milking the aphides. It is stated by Lubbock, who made a 

 special study of the subject, that certain species of ants " farm " 

 aphides in their nests, feeding them with the leaves required, 

 and enjoying the saccharine produce of these " milch cows." 

 Honey dew is sometimes produced without any action of 

 aphides, as an exudation (Miellee) from the leaves. 



62. Beeswax.— Beeswax has a specific gravity of between 

 .g6o and .970, and will melt at 144° to 148° Fahr. It 

 is a natural secretion, produced in a liquid state by the wax 



