MANIPULATION OF HONEY. 375 



bee must be wonderfully great, to change the nature of a 

 natural production in so short a time as that which inter- 

 venes between the extraction of the mellifluous juices and 

 their deposition in the cells. 



We shall now proceed to give the necessary instructions 

 for the manipulation of the honey, and the best means of 

 preserving it. 



In order to obtain honey of the first-rate kind, heat, ex- 

 pedition, and cleanliness are particularly required. As soon 

 as ever the combs are extracted from the hive, no time what- 

 ever should be lost in commencing the operation, and the 

 first step to be taken is the adjustment of the necessary 

 utensils. In the great honey districts of France and Ger- 

 many, the honey is almost always obtained by means of 

 a press, somewhat similar to the cider presses of this 

 country, or to the oil mills of Holland. In this country, 

 however, the collection is not so great, but that the whole 

 operation may be performed by the hand ; and it is certain 

 that the honey so obtained is better and purer than that 

 which is obtained by the press ; as in the latter case the 

 honey becomes adulterated by the admixture of bee bread, 

 abortive brood, and other noxious substances, which abound 

 more or less in every hive. 



A sieve is the first and most necessary implement that is 

 required, and it should be made about a yard long and two 

 feet broad. The bottom should be of tin, well perforated 

 with large holes, or it may be made of coarse hair cloth, suf- 

 ficiently large in its texture, so as to admit freely the passage 

 of the honey. Glazed earthen vessels are the best adapted 

 for receiving the honey, as wood, particularly deal, from its 

 resinous nature, is apt to impart an unpleasant flavour to 

 the honey, which is prejudicial to its sale. 



Previously to the combs being cut, they should be care- 

 fully examined as to the quantity of bee bread or brood 

 which they may contain, and which should be carefully cut 



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