HEATHER HONEY ,97 



arrival at the heather. In placing the gauze over 

 the frames it is an improvement if it be mounted 

 on a light frame made of half-inch wood, which 1 

 will give a good bee-space above them. 



If the apiarist makes a regular practice of going 

 to the moors, he should have a three-inch hole 

 cut in the bottom-board, and covered with per- 

 forated zinc. A cover may, be made for this hole, 

 which is only required at this particular time. 

 The journey must be made at night, and the bees 

 released early next morning. 



As I have mentioned, heather honey cannot be 

 - extracted, but must be pressed out. For this 

 purpose a honey press is needed. In these presses 

 the combs are enclosed in cheese-cloth and crushed 

 between metal plates. The honey is thus extracted 

 and strained at the same time, ready for ripening 

 and bottling. As this method involves the sacri- 

 fice of the combs most bee-keepers elect to work 

 for sections in preference. 



A bee-keeper is doubly fortunate when circum- 

 stances give him access to two such crops as 

 clover and heather. He has not only a double 

 chance of securing surplus honey, but even in 

 years when the heather bloom is a comparative 

 failure he usually secures sufficient honey to feed 

 up the bees for the winter, and this alone is well 

 worth the trouble and expense of the journey to 

 the moors. 



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