94 



Texas Depaktment of Agriculture. 



guarantee is, that it will not granulate within 30 days after shipping. 

 Although it is not always necessary to heat all honey at certain 

 times, it is well to be provided for it. While a single can at a time 

 is heated in a wash boiler, either on the kitchen stove or an out-door 

 fire, the result is slow and requires the burning of much wood. A 

 far better method is to make an improvised furnace, as here shown. 



Honey liquifying vat. 



It is constructed of several concrete blocks, simply laid together. 

 One with a hole through it and a round lard can with its bottom re- 

 moved set over this, serves as the chimney. The large vat holds six 

 cans which rest on a wooden frame so that the honey does not scorch. 

 It requires very little fire and attention. The cans must be left open 

 to prevent bursting. 



Although some honey can stand more heat than 152 degrees Fahren- 

 heit, it affects the color and mild flavor and aroma of most honey, 

 hence care should be taken not to injure these by overheating. 



SWAEMING. 



A natural desire to multiply their kind is the cause of bees swarm- 

 ing. When a colony becomes crowded, or other conditions, that man 

 does not fully understand, exist, preparations for a division of the 

 colony and the establishing of a new home are made. The first 

 evidence of this to the apiarist is the appearance of queen cells in 

 various stages of development on the brood combs. Ordinarily when 

 these cells are sealed and the weather conditions are favorable, the 

 colony will swarm. Bad weather may delay the swarm several days. 

 However, bees may swarm before the cells are sealed, or, as is fre- 

 quently the case with Italians, before the building of cells has 

 begun. 



Swarms, as a general rule, issue during the warmest part of the 

 day, between 9 a. m. and 4 p. m. Just previous to the issuance of 

 one, the colony will not be working as usual, while inside the hive a 

 great commotion exists. All at once the bees come pouring and 

 tumbling out of the hive entrance with a rush, as if pursued by some- 



