324 
Beekeeping 
tion. On the other hand, there are connoisseurs in tea who, 
through education and cultivation of taste, are just as 
particular about the teas they use as the beekeeper is about 
his honey. Probably we could all become educated in teas 
but do not consider it worth while. Similarly, the consum¬ 
ing public could become educated in the flavors of honeys 
but it is not considered worth the effort. Therefore, it is 
to the interest of the beekeeper to furnish a honey which 
is the same in color and flavor year after year, so that the 
variation which comes with honey from one source may be 
eliminated. It is almost a crime in the eyes of a northern 
beekeeper to mix any other honey with that from white 
clover but, as he is not mixing honey for himself, he should 
give the consuming public what it demands. 
Heating honey. 
In mixing honeys from various sources and in liquefying 
for bottling those that may be granulated, they must be 
heated. Direct heat must not be employed and it is a bad 
practice to run steam pipes through the honey tank. Heat¬ 
ing must always be done in a double boiler and the tempera¬ 
ture of no part of the honey should ever exceed 160° F. A 
higher temperature darkens it and spoils the flavor. A 
high temperature not only drives off the volatile substances 
which give honey the aroma, but a decomposition of a 
small part of the sugars takes place, which causes darkening. 
In this decomposition, products are formed which cause 
honey to respond positively to one of the chemical tests for 
invert sugar, which is a common honey adulterant. The 
beekeeper who overheats his honey not only injures it but 
he may find himself accused of adulteration. The best 
plan is to bring the honeys to a temperature of about 130° F. 
and to hold this temperature for two or three hours or until 
every crystal has dissolved. The temperature is then raised 
quickly to 160° F., at which point the honey should be put 
into warm bottles and hermetically sealed while hot. The 
bottles should be filled as full as possible so that there will 
