128 DR. miller's 



Q. Is it safe and right to feed bees honey that has soured? 



A. Yes, if fed in the spring at a time when bees are fiying 

 daily, and at a time when there is no danger of its going into 

 surplus. They will use it for breeding. 



Honey, Thinning. — Q. How do you thin down honey to feed 

 bees? If I mix it with water it sours. 



A. Merely stir the honey and water together — all the better if 

 the water is hot. It will not sour if fed within a day or so, and it 

 ought not to be allowed to stand longer. 



Honey, Unripe. — Q. What is ''green" or "unripe" honey? Is 

 not honey good to eat as soon as it is capped over? 



A. Green or unripe honey is that which has not been in the 

 hive long enough to become sufficiently evaporated. Generally it 

 is sufficiently ripened when sealed, but there are exceptions. 

 Fortunately, the exceptions are rare. 



Honey-Board. — Q. How is a honey-board made? Is it just a 

 board with a bee-escape in the underside? Would it pay to use 

 these for extracting honey; put them on in the afternoon before 

 you expect to extract and then just take off the supers and frames 

 together, and wheel them into the house? 



A. Honey-boards were in use long before bee-escapes were 

 heard of. A honey-board was one placed over the top-bars, with 

 a beespace between, there being in the board holes or slots, over 

 which were placed surplus-boxes. Latterly a board with an escape 

 in it is sometimes called a honey-board, but it is better to simply 

 call it a bee-escape. Opinions are divided as to using bee-escapes 

 in the way you mention, some highly approving them and others 

 not believing them worth while. I suspect that bee-eseapes work 

 better for some than for others, either because of the difference 

 in bees or for some other reason. 



Honey Comb (See Combs.) 



Honeydew. — Q. How can one tell when there is honeydew? 



A. I don't believe I can tell you in words how you can decide 

 as to honeydew. I couldn't tell in words just how an orange 

 tastes. The dark color of honeydew and peculiar taste help to 

 decide, but I can't tell what that taste is. If you know the bees 

 are working on some tree where there are no flowers, you may be 

 suspicious. 



Q. Does honeydew ever appear before July 1st? 



A. Yes, it does, sometimes. 



Q. Does honeydew come any time of the year? My bees 



