I20 AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 



for placing surplus boxes on when manipulating a hive. 

 There are barrows of different designs, but the one 

 illustrated I have found to be very useful and handy. 

 They are supplied by hive manufacturers. 



NUMBERING THE FRAMES OF EACH HIVE. 



In an apiary perfectly free from disease no heed need 

 be taken as to how the combs are changed about from 

 one hive to another, and at extracting time the combs 

 taken from one hive as soon as emptied may be given 

 in place of those taken from the next. Not so, how- 

 ever, where there is any taint of disease, as no surer 

 way of spreading it could be adopted than to promiscu- 

 ously change the combs. In this case every frame 

 should bear the number of the hive it belongs to, and 

 be returned to it, and all the combs from suspected 

 hives should be the last extracted, when they can be 

 kept by themselves. 



RIPENING EXTRACTED HONEY. 



The thorough ripening of honey before placing it on 

 the market is a matter of the greatest importance, both 

 to the owner and to the industry generally. When first 

 gathered as nectar, it may contain an amount of water 

 ranging from i8 per cent., up to 25 per cent., or more. 

 Honey containing an excess of moisture is unripe, and 

 if it remain in that condition it is certain sooner or later 

 to ferment ; it is then unfit for table use. But, if such 

 moisture be reduced below a certain percentage the 

 honey is said to be ripe, and it will then keep, with 

 ordinary care, for almost any length of time. At what 

 point the excess of moisture commences I have not 

 yet been able to ascertain, nor, so far as I am aware, 

 has it ever been decided by anal3'sts or sugar experts. 

 It is beyond the accomplishment of the average bee- 

 keeper to determine by evaporation the amount of 

 moisture in a given sample of honey ; but by close 

 observation of the specific gravity of the class of honev 

 he raises, he will in a short time have a serviceable 

 guide as to its fitness for market at any time. 



