346 THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



seems to be much milder than any freshly gathered by the 

 bees. 



Honey, when taken from the bees, should be carefully 

 pu^ where it will be safe from all intruders, and where it 

 will not be exposed to so low a temperature as to candy in 

 the cells. The little red ant, and the large black ant are 

 extravagantly fond of it, and unless placed where they can- 

 not reach it, they will soon carry oif large quantities. I 

 paste paper over all my boxes, glasses, &c., so as to make 

 them air-tight, and carefully store them away for future use. 

 If it is drained from the combs, it may be kept in tight ves- 

 sels, although in this state it will be almost sure to candy. 

 By putting the vessels in water, and bringing it to the boil- 

 ing poin^, it will be as nice as when first strained from the 

 comb. In this way, I prefer to keep the larger portion of 

 my honey. The appearance of white honey in the comb, 

 is however, so beautiful, that many will prefer to keep it in 

 this form, especially, if intended for sale. 



In my hives, it may be taken from the bees, in a great 

 variety of ways. Some may prefer to construct the main 

 hive in such a form, that the surplus honey can be taken 

 from it, on the frames. Others will prefer to take it on 

 frames put in an upper box ; (see p. 231.) Glass vessels of 

 almost any size or form will make beautiful receptacles for 

 the spare honey. They ought always, however, to have a 

 piece of comb fastened in them, before they are given to 

 the bees; (see p. 161) and if the weather is cool, they must 

 be carefully covered with something warm, or they will 

 part with their heat so quickly, as to discourage the bees 

 from building in them. Unless warmly covered, glass ves- 

 sels will often be so lined with moisture, as to annoy the 

 bees. This is ocasioned by the rapid evaporation of the 

 water from the newly gathered honey, (see p. 335.) All 



