80 



Texas Depabtment op Ageicultuee. 



throughout the season that result in larger profits from his apiaries 

 than could otherwise be obtained. 



TAKING OFF HONEY. 



The farmer-beekeeper, or the amateur, with only a few colonies of 

 bees, will have no dififtculty in taking some nice combs of honey 

 whenever any of them are full. However, there are certain precau- 

 tions that should be followed. During the main part of the season 

 the supers of honey may be left on the hives, and only so much re- 

 moved as needed for the table, or as otherwise required. The length 

 of time it remains in the care of the bees improves it in both qual- 

 ity and flavor. In other words, it becomes riper and thicker, or 

 "cures," on the hives. 



When examining newly built combs of honey, which are very 

 fragile, and therefore break easily in handling, especially during 

 warm weather, the practice of handling the frames, as illustrated. 



■>8 T "1 



Method of handling the frame. 



should be adopted. In fact all combs, brood combs as well as those 

 with honey, should be handled in this way. The trick of handling 

 all combs thus will soon become automatic with the operator and pre- 

 vent many disagreeable mishaps to the combs. A comb removed 

 from the hive is examined on the side nearest the operator, and is 

 then raised up with the left hand and twirled around to bring the 

 other side forward. The right hand is next raised up and the comb 

 examined on that side. The comb is always kep1> in a vertical plane, 

 or on its edges, and never flat. To replace it in the hive, the exact 

 reverse motions are applied, which brings the comb into its original 

 hanging position. 



Care must be taken not to leave comb honey on the hive too long 

 after the main season, as the bees soon soil the beautiful white cap- 

 pings, by continually traveling over them and by adding discolored 

 wax and propolis. The supers should be removed in due season and 

 stacked up in a dry room to prevent this. The combs should be ex- 

 -amined occasionally, as the minor wax moth larvae depredate, and 



