1905.] Preparation of Honey for Market. 



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positive ; while it was easy to predict disaster a year ago at this 

 time, it is not so easy to be sure of success in the future, how- 

 ever good the present prospects may be. 



A. D. Hall. 



THE PREPARATION OF HONEY FOR MARKET. 



The bee and honey classes of the shows now held during 

 each season, both in London and the country, have taught the 

 consumer what to require in a first-class honey. Comb-honey 

 (in section cases) should be translucent, showing the clarity 

 and light colour of the contained honey, evenly and delicately 

 worked out to the sides and bottom of the section, and with a 

 scrupulously clean surface. The finest liquid, extracted-honey, 

 should be bright and clear, of a light straw colour, and delicate 

 in flavour and aroma. Granulated extracted-honey should be of 

 fine, even grain, creamy white in colour, and of good flavour. 

 There are many grades of medium and dark-coloured honeys 

 below this first-class standard, but the latter is what the bee- 

 keeper must strive to attain, in order to command a ready sale 

 for his produce. 



In regard to comb-honey, the preparation commences with the 

 fitting of the wax foundation in the section boxes. To ensure 

 a well worked out section this should be cut so as just to clear 

 the sides of the box and hang to within one-sixteenth of an inch 

 of the bottom, thus allowing for a slight stretching of the founda- 

 tion caused by the heat of the bees clustering on its surface. 

 The fitted boxes must next be placed in the section rack, with 

 separators between the rows, reaching to within three-eighths of 

 an inch of the top and bottom, and wedged up perfectly square 

 and tight ; this is important, for the bees will place propolis 

 over every crack or small space, causing disfigurement and 

 extra work in cleaning ; also sections " out of square " are much 

 more liable to breakage when packed for travelling, owing to 

 the unavoidable spaces between them. The rack must be placed 

 perfectly level on a hive containing a strong colony of bees, 

 it will then be filled with good, straight, and even combs. 

 Removing filled racks from the hives should be done with as 

 little disturbance to the bees as possible : the best method is to 



place a " super-clearer " on a stool or box by the side of the hive, 



P P P 



