Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-09-08
AFTER HONEY HARVEST.
Protection Against Robbers - RemoviGn
the Marketing Honey.

the Surplus Marketing Honey.
The usual honey harvest generally
closes by midsummer at least, but the
work should not be dropped by any
means, for we can probably save more
just at this time by strict attention than
any other time in the year. Concerning
this point, A. H. Duff gives some prac-
tical suggestions in Farm, Field and
Fireside:
Each colony should be in good shape
to protect itself from robbers, for now
is the time they get in their work. Two
principal things should be looked after,
and one is to arrange all hives so that
no cracks or openings are left, except the
entrance proper, that will admit bees.
The next and most important is to see
that each colony has laying queen
that is, queen that is properly fertile,
as some queens may lay without being
fertile, being what is termed drone lay
ers. Drone laying queens are good for
nothing and really worsethan none. Such
queens may be detected by the appear
ance Of their brood, it being the same
as drone brood, but found in the worker
cells, and the cells containing it are
raised or heightened, and the cappings
are oval or rounded, while the Gaping
of worker brood is fiat. This brood will
also be found irregularly scattered
through the combs
A queenless colony and also a colony
containing drone laying queen are al
ways subject to being robbed, and just
after the honey harvest, especially if
there has been much swarming, is the
time these defects present themselves.
If not supplied the result is robbing
and the loss of all these colonies, be-
sides much damage being done good
colonies from the effects of it. A colony
of bees may be strong, and as far as
numbers are concerned plenty able to
protect their hive, but they will Tot do
it when thus queenless, and the pres
ence of a good queen will have the de-
sired effect even if the colony is very
weak one. Young brood, from the egg
up, will have the same effect, and be-
ing thus supplied with it the bees can
rear queen. Frequently a frame of
brood is given them for this purpose in
stead of giving them queen.
All surplus honey should be taken
away from the hives and bees, provided
it is intended for market, for it will be-
come darkened-that is, the surface of
the comb-and this destroys its appear
ance. It will not damage the honey by
any means, as its quality and flavor is
improved by leaving it until fall on the
hives
In regard to marketing honey, the
journal mentioned offers this advice:
Substantial. attractive packages should
be used to market honey in. Many
farmers raise considerable honey in the
comb in ordinary frames of large size
and do not take the trouble to use the
section box. Frequently it is taken to
market in dauby mess, which makes it
so announcement to handle that it is of
but little value. Many would pay as
much or more for this old fashioned
honey as the finest of section boxes
would bring. if in shape SO that it could
be handled and not wasted. Nice comb
of this kind may be cut in attractive
squares and placed in glass jars and sold
at good profit, and you would be sur
prised at your success i'll finding plenty
of customers for it.
Of course the convenient package for
comb honey is the section box, and all
should use it in connection with other
improved fixtures in the way of hives,
etc. For extracted honey the glass jar
as retailer is the best, and the quart
size the best to use, being of proper
size to sell readily. Square tin cans
holding so pounds each are the best to
ship honey in or to store it if but lin
tied quantity is raised.