428 A Modern Bee-Farm 
is inferior in food value until it may be again rectified by 
the bees as they manipulate and store it; just as they 
change crude nectar into honey, fit for sustaining life. 
There appears to be no reason for the supposition that 
formic acid is added to honey by the bees, as many have 
imagined. Rather is it likely that the bees obtain their 
own formic acid involuntarily by the natural process which 
crude honey is subjected to under their manipulation ; as 
this acid is also developed in connection with the usual 
manufacture of ordinary sugar. 
The Crude Nectar, 
on being disgorged by the bee from its honey stomach, 
does not form honey as we use it. The newly gathered 
liquid is distributed over as large a comb surface as the 
number of vacant cells will allow ; and thereafter the heat 
and ventilation afforded by the prosperous condition of the 
colony at the time, together with the constant circulation 
of air maintained in a systematic manner by the vibration 
of their wings, kept up by a regular force of workers, in 
due time ensure the evaporation of all excess of moisture. 
The honey then being ripened is gradually shifted to the 
upper and outer margins of the combs, where the cells are 
being purposely lengthened for storage (or to the super 
space when provided) and ultimately capped over, as. 
filled. 
In addition to evaporation by ventilation, the bees are 
able while flying to discharge a great deal of the excess 
of moisture; while chemical changes are carried out while 
the honey is being shifted as above. 
Medicinal Qualities. 
Honey requires no digestion, but enters immediately into: 
the system ; it is productive of heat, and by its regular 
use, the entire organism is benefited in a high degree, as 
