41 



To avoid injury the honey, should not be heated many degrees above the 

 normal temperature of the hive in summer — say, about 110°. I am fully 

 aware that granulated honey wiU take a long time to liquefy at that tempera- 

 ture, but better that than injure it. 



REMARKS, 



The object of the foregoing chapter is to bring about a condition of 

 things generally wherebj' we shall have a reliable system for preparing 

 and placing on the market our honey in its best form, a matter to which 

 much attention has been given since it was first brought forward in the 

 previous edition of this bulletin. The use of the hydrometer in testing honey 

 for its fitness for market has been favourably commented upon by the editors 

 of American and Australian bee journals, and many of our beekeepers now 

 use the instrument. 



With regard to the question of ripening honey outside the hive, there 

 are stiU many who question the efficiency of this method, and others who 

 ■oppose it entirely. On the other hand there are an increasing number who 

 are giving it a trial, besides many who have accepted it. I would further 

 remark that what I have said on the matter is based not upon theory, but 

 upon actual practical experience. It remains, however, for each individual 

 beekeeper to please himself as to whether he will ripen his honey outside or 

 inside the hive ; but the question is of such vast economical importance in 

 the matter of profit and loss that it will be well for those in doubt to give both 

 methods a fair trial side by side and decide for themselves. 



III. DEALING WITH THICK HONEY. 



One of the few serious drawbacks beekeepers in certain districts have to 

 •contend with occasionally is thick honey — that is, honey that is too dense 

 to extract from the combs in the ordinary way. I say " occasionally," 

 because fortunately it is not met with every season, except, it may be^ in 

 apiaries situated near heavy bush, or where little else than flax or tea-tree 

 abounds, in which case it would be folly to attempt to raise extracted honey. 



Now and again beekeepers in the Waikato districts suffer considerable 

 loss and are put to extra trouble through the storage of thick honey, 

 although in the midst of clover country. The same occurs in a few other 

 districts in the Dominion. There are some parts — notably, nearly the whole 

 •of the country north of Auckland — where the honey is continuously of so 



