The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-09-17
CBy +. G.. HERMANN

EXtTaCtlnS money from lne COMBS ID
now a very general practice, and one
that Ia to be strongly recommended
in working colonies for large returns,
for much work Is saved the bees and
more honey is obtained, seeing that
much that would otherwise be used
In the production OF way for building
the combs, is carried up into the SUI
per, thus adding considerably to the
surplus.
Honey, unlike many other commodi-
ties, will keep good almost indefinitely
If properly taken and stored,
Fermentation and the consequent
spelling of honey should be avoided
by making sure that all honey, when
taken from the hive, is ripe.
II 1t is allowed to remain in the
hive until there is no doubt OF its
ripeness, there need be little fear of
fermentation
in some instances, by the presence in
the honey of pollen grains, but If the
brood nests are properly managed 1t
ls seldom that pollen will be found at
all in the supers,
When the heat in the brood-cham-
Der, generated by the bees, has ex-
tracted the superfluous water from the
honey by evaporation, the sealing of
the cells takes place because the honey
is then in a condition which the bee
keeper terms ripeness.
We do not extract during the honey
flow, unless we have absolutely 70
room left, and there is a prospect OF
the continuation OF the crop.
To be sure, it is much pleasanter to
take out the honey while there is still
nectar in the field, as we are not an
noyed by robber bees, but with a lit
tie care robbing is avoided, and the
honey extracted after the crop, is usu-
ally the best,
Yet we find very little objection to
extracting the fall crop from knotweed
and Spanish needle as fast as har-
vested, for this honey is usually pref
~ ripe when brought in by the bees
For some reason there is much less
danger of fermentation in the fall
honey than in any other, unless apple
or grape juice has been added to it,
On removing the super it should be
placed in warm room. and if the
work of extracting can be carried on
at once, while the honey is warm, it
will be an advantage, as 1t will flow
more freely than if allowed to get cold
by standing day or so in a cold room.
The Gaping, or cell covers should
be shaved off with sharp knife,
warmed by standing 1t in a pitcher of
hot water. and If cut from the bottom
with a saw-like motion while the top
Of the frame is held forward, the cap
pings will remain in a sheet and fall
into the pan held below
When the uncapped combs are put
into the cages Of the extractor, they
should be so placed that the bottom
bars go around first, for thus the honey
is more easily thrown out as 1t leaves
the cells in the direction of the pitch
given them by the bees when they
are building their combs.
1t is always advisable to return
combs wet with honey in the evening
so that the excitement they cause may
be over by the morning. Returning
such combs at unsuitable times, and
placing scraps OF comb about for the
bees to clean, are undoubtedly the
cause of much robbing.
Before putting honey into kegs, keep
the kegs in very dry place. driving
up the hoops occasionally. Through
tin and glass no moisture can pass.
The wood can be made little like
glass by paratiining it. Have your
kegs hot by standing in the sun or
otherwise, pour two or three pounds
of hot paraifn into the kegs, bung
tight. roll the keg over and over, tip
ping 1t on each end, then knock out
the bung and pour out the paraf'ln.
II you have been lively about 1t you
will get most Of your parafiin back, but
g. thin coating will be all over the
inside surface
About the worst thing you can do,
Is to have the wood OF the keg soaked
SO the hoops are very tight before
putting in the honey. The honey win
suck all the moisture out OF the slaves,
loosen the hoops, then ferment, and
perhaps burst the keg.
There are other things besides bees
and hives needed in producing extract.
ed honey A honey house becomes a
necessity, even when the apiary is
very small. though OF course If one has
only a hIlfGozen colonies OF so, a
small room or tent may be used in
lieu Of honey house especially built
for the business, particularly when
comb or sectionhoney Is produced.
Extracted honey reduction needs a