94 A Modern Bee-Farm 



CHAPTER XV. 

 THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. 



THE system hereafter to be described will be based upon the 

 non-swarming principle just explained ; the Reader will there- 

 fore understand that though not always expressed it is understood 

 that the vacant space, having only empty frames, is to be provided 

 either below or in front of the brood nest, according to the style 

 of hive in use. 



EXTRACTED HONEY 



is that which is removed from the combs by centrifugal force, 

 without breaking them up ; while the liquid is consequently clear, 

 and of far superior quality to that which by old-fashioned methods 

 was obtained by straining the whole mass of honey, pollen, comb 

 and larvEe, through a cloth. 



A common practice is to remove the honey before the cells are 

 capped over, and large weights of such "greenstuff" are often 

 boasted of. As a matter of fact, however, such honey never 

 equals that left in the upper tiers until thoroughly " ripened " by 

 the heat and perfect ventUation of the hive. When the combs 

 are at least two-thirds sealed extraction may commence, when 

 generally an article of good consistency will be procured. 



In the process of ripening, this green honey loses con- 

 siderable weight by evaporation of the excess of water, and being 

 passed over a series of heated plates, its quality is inferior in every 

 respect, as both the colour and usual characteristic aroma of 

 honey is impaired. The sooner bee-keepers give up these honey- 

 ripening fads the better it will be for themselves and their 

 customers ; the best article only is that which will create a demand. 



