342 THB bbb-ksbpbr's guidb ; 



hives, one above the other, and fed to the bees right in the 

 apiary. This will never do except on a very large scale, as it 

 would cause robbing. If nearly full they may be sold in the 

 local market. They may be extracted and the sections used as 

 decoys the next year. Occasionally we can feed extracted 

 honey, and have them filled. This is likely to cause robbing 

 unless very carefully managed, and usually fails to pay. 



Of course, all sections must be scraped, as any stain or 

 show of propolis makes second-grade honey. Scraping requires 

 much care, or the honey will be bruised, which would make a 

 bad matter worse. Special boxes of convenient height, with 

 shelves at ends to hold sections so that the edge of section may 

 be flush with edge of the shelf, are used to advantage in clean- 

 ing sections. Some have used machinery, such as moving 

 belts, wheels, or moving sandpaper, to accomplish this work. 

 Most use the common case-knife, and usually, especially with 

 the small bee-keeper, that is the best. The box, however, to 

 catch litter, and with end shelves to bear the sections, first sug- 

 gested by Mr. Boomhower, of New York, is a valuable feature. 



If there is any possible danger of moths, the comb honey 

 should be fumigated by use of burning sulphur (see Bee-Moth). 

 Bisulphide of carbon may be used instead of sulphur. It is 

 equally good, and requires less labor. As this last is thought 

 to kill the eggs, it is much to be preferred. This is a wise pre- 

 caution, even though the bee-keeper rarely sees one of these 

 insects. A single moth can stock several cases of sections 

 with the fatal eggs. 



R. Li. Taylor, one of Michigan's most successful bee- 

 keepers, who produces large harvests of comb honey, gives 

 the following points to be heeded in producing comb honey : 



1. Bees must winter well. 



2. There must be a goodly amount of honey in the hive in 

 the spring. Bees never prosper on scant rations. 



3. Keep colonies warm in spring. 



4. Tier up and leave sections on the hive till just at the 

 close of the season. 



5. When removed, pile the cases of sections one upon 

 another, fumigate, and keep in a warm room till sold. 



The above are points well worthy consideration, and may 

 be called the axioms of comb-honey production. 



