Bee-hef p'vnq i'li Victorid. 



43 



as to when honey is ripe ; it depends upon the source from which 

 the bees gather the nectar and the degree of luimidity of the atmo- 

 sphere at time of storing liy the bees. 



Wliile honey from different plants varies considerably when fully 

 ripe in the percentage of water it contains, ripe honey from one and 

 the same source, but gathered in different localities, or even in the 

 same locality but under different atmospheric conditions, will contain 

 water in varying proportions. 



During the summer months, in districts north of the Dividing 

 Range which have a rainfall not exceeding 30 inches, honey is con- 

 sidered ripe when the combs have one-half to two-thirds of their 

 surface capped over by the bees. In the country south of the Divide, 

 and in districts with a heavy rainfall, it is better to leave the combs 



Fig. ."5. — An Apiary in Ideal Bee Country. 



on the hives till nearly capped all over. This also applies to the 

 northern districts during early spring and late autunm. 



On the other hand, during very dry weather honey may become 

 over-dense and difficult to extract, even when not sealed. This some- 

 times occurs when a cold change, without rain, follows hot weather 

 with a good honey flow. It is always best not to take off honey when 

 the weather is cold, unless it is unavoidable. The combs must then 

 be stored, and the extracting done in a warm room. 



Beginners often have difficulties through damaging the combs 

 whilst in the extractor. This may result from several causes; the 

 honey in the combs may have been too cold, the extractor may have 

 been turned too fast at the start, the combs may have been too warm 

 and soft, or the frames may not fit evenly against the wires of the 

 extractor-baskets. 



