HEATING HONEY 



185 



each flavour required, and place them in the vat which 

 should be filled with water to within 3 inches of the tops 

 of the tins. If more than this quantity be used, it is 

 liable to flood over the bung-holes when heated. Gently 

 turn on steam; in this way one can regulate the heat to 

 a nicety. 



If one variety is candied, arrange to have a few tins 

 of this in all the time. When the liquid honey is heated, 

 the candied will also be hot. It is not a good practice 

 to "melt" 60 lb. tins of hard candied honey in less than 

 9 or 10 hours. As fast as the honey is ready, remove the 

 small cover of the tank and fasten cheese-cloth over the 

 mouth; the honey is then poured through. 



Tanks of % ton capacity take 48 hours to cool 

 sufficiently to skim. To do this, take a knife and cut 

 around the edge, remove the scum by pushing it across 

 to the opposite side of the tank, and hold it there with a 

 feather edged piece of wood. With the "scum" banked 

 up in this fashion, it is an easy matter to lift it clear with 

 a large ladle. The honey is now sparklingly clear, the 

 pollen grains having risen to the top together with the 

 albumen and air bubbles. 



THE PURE FOOD ACT. 



Now about tinning the honey; the Pure Food Act 

 precludes the use of second-hand tins. If not under the 

 impurities section, the clause dealing with misdescription 

 of goods places the liability on the bee-keeper. However, 

 whether new tins or otherwise are used, make a speciality 

 of labelling the entire tin. 



A tin treated to a nice label looks more attractive than 

 a "smeary" dirty one. On one side the name of the 

 apiarist and of the apiaries should appear in large letters, 

 and it will be found a splendid advertisement. Orders 

 will often come from people who notice the honey in 

 transit to other places. While there are many ways of 

 treating honey, the above plan has been tried out, and it 

 is sound and practicable for the handling of a large crop 

 of honey. That is to say, it is a payable way. 



