THOUSAND ANSWERS 123 



and end of the honeydew flow. Indeed, it is the same if the dark 

 honey comes from any other source. 



Honey, Foaming. — Q. In a covered tank I have honey har- 

 vested a few months ago. Whenever I dip it up with a spoon 

 and fill a glass it becomes all foamy and runs out of the glass. 

 Does it show that the honey is not ripe? I don't remember if it 

 was all sealed. 



A. The probability is that the honey was very unripe. 



Honey, Freezing. — Q. It is the custom here in Russia to keep 

 and sell honey in wooden tubs without any covers. Usually it 

 granulates in October or November. It is kept all winter in build- 

 ings without stoves, where the temperature is under freezing 

 point. Does freezing injure honey? 



A. Freezing does not in any way injure granulated honey. 

 It hastens the granulation of liquid honey, and may crack the 

 combs of comb honey. 



Honey, Harvesting. — Q. What month can honey be harvested? 

 (New York.) 



A. Comb honey is generally ready to be harvested whenever 

 it is fully sealed over. That probably means in your locality that 

 most of it will be taken off in July and August and still later if 

 there is a late flow. The same rule applies to extracted honey, 

 only some of the best beekeepers prefer to leave all on the hives 

 until the close of the season. 



Q. A day or two ago I removed a super of honey, either bass- 

 wood or sumac, which was entirely sealed over. Upon tasting the 

 honey I found it left a raw taste in my mouth. I suspect it was 

 green, and gave it to the bees again. How can I tell when it is 

 ripened ? 



A. Generally honey is ripe when it is sealed, and it may be 

 that the objectionable taste comes from some peculiar plant. If 

 that be the case, the bad taste maj' or may not disappear. Indeed, 

 basswood itself has the reputation of a raw taste until it has at- 

 tained a certain age, and that taste may disappear, even if the 

 honey be off the hive. I know of no way you can tell when it is 

 ripe except by the taste and the consistency. 



Q. (a) When is the best time to take honey from the bees, at 

 noon, in the morning, or in the evening? 



(b) How can I kill bees and save the honey? I have two little 

 swarms that are not worth keeping. 



(c) How can I get the bees separated from the honey after 

 it is taken off? 



A. (a) That depends somewhat on circumstances. Generally 



