38 A Modern Bee-Farm * 
she is slowly disgorging.* In like manner each following 
bee continues the process, until the cell is nearly full, 
and the mouth of the same is gradually sealed over with 
pure wax. It will be readily understood that were it not 
for this process of moistening’ the sides of the cell, the 
honey would not always adhere to the dry surface, and 
hence much waste space would be the result. Much of 
the honey does not, however, remain where first placed. 
If the bees have room in the stock combs, it is distributed 
as much as possible, and when the excess of moisture is 
evaporated it is carried above. 
The bees that leave an air space just under the capping 
are Blacks, Carniolans, and some hybrids. Ligurians give 
a thinner sealing and are not always so careful to retain 
the clear space, but their comb honey is quite presentable 
and of a really fine appearance, though that of the former 
is often preferred for its snowy whiteness. Cyprians, 
Syrians, and Palestines, however, leave no space whatever ; 
in fact, it would appear that they even moisten the inside 
of the cappings, and fill the cell as tight as possible, 
hence their comb honey is not at all saleable. The reader 
will therefore use his own judgment in the matter, and 
only work these stocks for comb honey that are known to 
produce the whitest comb surface. 
As soon as the wants of the rapidly increasing brood 
nest are supplied, stores begin to accumulate, and presently 
we find the upper portion of the central combs filled with 
honey and neatly capped, while one or more of the combs 
* This observation was made in 1878 by the use of glass rail 
sections. As it has been denied that the bee uses her tongue as 
stated, by a writer in the ‘‘ American Bee-Keeper”’ for Feb., 1907. 
I repeated the experiment with the same result, and must re-affirm 
that the worker does so moisten the cell wall, while the honey leaves 
the tongue, or by the tongue, as of course this member is not 
extended as when collecting the honey. 
