Honey of a superior quality is obtained by allowing it to ooze from the honeycomb. Although a large amount of honey is supplied in our own country, yet a great quantity is also imported from some of the West Indian islands. A plea for California honey was made by J. E. S. Bell, in Amer. The best honey is stated to be produced from linden flowers. Most of the genuine honey therefore, is decidedly laevo-rotatory.
Honey also contains formic acid , which the bees deposit in the honey in order to preserve it.
Adulterations and Tests. If the honey be thin and slow to crystallize, it is probably adulterated with water. Honey is also liable to be adulterated by the addition of solution of cane sugar, or of glucose syrup. The presence and quantity of cane sugar may be established by determining the reducing power of the honey in question upon Fehling's solution before and after inversion with diluted hydrochloric acid. An increased reduction after inversion is due to the presence of cane sugar.