308 AUSTRALASIAN 
CHAPTER. 2S 
USES OF HONEY IN FOOD—DRINKS—MANUFAC- 
TURES—MEDICINE. 
In Chapter I. the great antiquity and universality of the use of 
honey has been dwelt upon with a view to impress upon the 
reader its importance as one of those gifts of nature so evidently 
intended by a bountiful Providence for the use and benefit of 
man; in this chapter it is proposed to glance at the variety 
of uses to which it is, or may be, applied at the present day, 
with the object of turning the attention of the bee-keeper to 
the practical question of developing a market for his produce. 
HONEY AS FOOD. 
Of the ordinary use of honey as a condiment for the break- 
fast or tea table it is unnecessary to say much ; every one 
knows, and has known since his childhood, the enticing ap- 
pearance of the luscious sweet in its delicate white comb—the 
aroma and the delicious flavour, so different from most other 
sweets; and of late years people are becoming accustomed to 
appreciate also the pure honey, separated from its comb (with- 
out any unappetising process of squeezing through cloths), and 
served either in its clear liquid state or in a thick granulated 
condition which is now gradually gaining favour with honey 
eaters. It is probable that the greater portion of all the honey 
now produced is consumed in this way—either as comb honey 
or in its extracted state, but still it has not reached the tables 
of the hundredth part of those who could afford to use it as a 
cheap luxury, if it were as generally produced as it might 
easily be, and brought within easy reach of all consumers at 
reasonable prices. It is capable of being made noz only a cheap 
luxury, but a really economical article of food, for those to whom 
strict economy is a necessity. Under proper arrangements it 
