COMB HONEY—HONEY FLOW AND HARVEST. 
CHAPTER XIV. 
The successful production of comb honey, as we have clearly shown 
(page 9) requires greater skill and more experience than does extracted- 
honey production; and yet, there is no denying that fancy comb honey is 
indeed beautiful in appearance, and those who prefer it to the extracted 
will perhaps be willing to go to extra trouble in order to produce it. 
Before the Honey Flow. 
The necessity for maximum strength of the colony at the opening of 
the honey flow is even greater in comb honey than in extracted-honey pro- 
duction; for a weak colony, that might harvest some surplus honey in 
extracting-supers having drawn combs, is not at all likely to harvest any 
surplus in the small comb-honey sections wherein combs have first to be 
built by the bees. In order that the colonies may build up to maximum 
strength in time for the harvest it is especially important that the colonies 
be kept warm during the spring and that they have good queens and plenty 
of stores at all times clear up to the honey flow. Also, as soon as the colo- 
nies are strong enough to occupy two stories, a second story of combs 
should be given as suggested in the production of extracted honey. If the 
weather is still cool the extra hive-body may be placed below instead of 
above the old brood-chamber. This will leave the most of the brood in the 
warmest part of the hive where there will certainly be no danger of its 
chilling. If the queen is thus given access to two stories as soon as the 
colony can occupy them, she will have plenty of room to lay and the colony 
will build up rapidly, with little danger of swarming before the honey 
Comb honey in the section boxes. Those in the lower row were filled during a good 
honey flow, hence are better filed than those in upper row. 
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