186 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



To ascertain how much, honey is in a hive, we have a 

 rule or standard of calculation which comes near enough 

 to certainty in this matter. After deducting the weight 

 of hive, board, and bees, we reckon 5 lb. of honey for 

 every 7 lb. weight. Suppose a hive weighs 60 lb. The 

 hive and board may weigh 10 lb. joLatly, and the bees 

 8 lb., leaving 42 lb. In this case there are 30 lb. of honey 

 and 12 lb. of offal or refuse combs. Another hive may 

 weigh 100 lb., the hive, board, and bees of which may 

 be 23 lb. — leaving 77 lb. According to our standard 

 there would be 55 lb. of honey and 22 lb. of offal. In 

 the case of hives containing old combs, the yield of honey 

 is less in proportion to weight than it is in young or virgin 

 combs. Again, if the brood be all hatched, there wUl be 

 less offal and more honey. And we need not add that 

 the yield of poor lean hives will be found wanting; and 

 that in the yield of very fat ones there wiU. be found a 

 surcharge of honey. 



But let us come to the process of taking honey. As 

 soon as the bees are driven out, the honey-hives should 

 be carried into a warm room, and not allowed to cool, for 

 it is very difficult to impart heat to honeycombs. The 

 sticks crossing the combs are withdravm by a pair of 

 pincers, the combs removed from their hives, and the 

 honey portions of them carefully cut off and placed on a 

 flat dish or milk-pan, standing near the fire, but not so 

 near as to melt the combs. Any pure white comb may 

 be set aside for sale as it is, and all the rest containing 

 honey be broken up with a knife, and then put into a 

 bag of cheese-cloth or thin towelling to drain off into a 

 vessel placed underneath. The honey thus drained is as 

 pure as it possibly can be, and is much better than if 

 pressed out of the combs by the hands ; for honey so 

 pressed or squeezed out is impregnated with the taste or 



