The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1914-12-01

Or Bee Weed''-Its Excellent Quail.
ties and Care

his tau the IleIQS IN most local.
tiles in Lincoln, Garrard and ad-
joining counties and probably most
of Central and Western kentucky
were in part or entirely covered by
the plant commonly called Bee
Aster." During August copius rains
came relieving the discouraged
farmers, by finishing up the corn
crops and by causing an abundant
pasturaee Of fine grass. The aster
plant which had been stunted by the
drought benefited by the shower and
soon grew up and was also very
eagerly sought after by cattle before
the stalks became too woody. By
September 10th it had begun to
bloom and by October the fields in
many places resembled a field af-
ter a snow. Meadows, pastures,
corn fields, orchard, and all unculti-
waited and waste land had their
quota. Some farmers do not like
this plant while others claim it is a
help as cattle relish ic and it GER
tainly is a restOrer OF quilted land
and waste places. Like sweet clo-
yer it is making friends every
where. The aster is the bee-keeper' 5
friend because it comes into bloom
ing at a time when the bee hives
are depleted of their stores, the
summer honey having long since
been removed by the apiarist. Even
with colonies on the verge of starva-
ton, il the working force is of suffi-
cient strength and the weather fav-
Orable, it will be only compare
lively short time till the brood nest
is filled with sufficient stores to
last till May when spring flowers
will secrete nectar and attract the
attention of the busy workers. Ii
weather conditions continue favor
| able. the bees will store surplus
honey in the super, or surplus hon
ey receptacle. This is commonly
called a "crop" by southern peo-
pie, The fail honey stored this sea-
son is nicer quality than we have
ever seen for fail honey. The
drought kept Smartweed down ani
a very small crop of smartweet
bl 7Om kept much strong tasting, bit
ter Favored honey out OF the hives
The beautiful aster honey is eQua
to white clover honey for whltenes:
but candies very quickly with thu
coming of cold weather. Some PEG
pie who have Il limited experience
with honey think it is ruined ~hel
it candies. We might as well con
slider pail of water to be ruined
by freezing. Some prefer the call
died honey of the a,ter to any Othel
honey. All honey produced in Ken
lucky will candy. excepting the
honey from a tree affOrding mucl
bloom in the knobs and mountains
called sourwoo6:A gentleman il
Alabama has jar of sourwOO'
honey 23 years old but still liquid
Clover and locust honey harvested
in June begins to granulate by TIN
first freeze, and generally in from
10 to Is months is candied solid, II.
matter how large the quantity. Tn
change from a liquid condition
must not be taken as an evidenc
against the honey's genuineness
but rather the contrary.
1t is an easy matter to restor
candied honey to its liquid condi
ton. Simply keep it in hot waite
long enough; be sure it is not to-
hot. If heated above 100 degree
there is danger Of spelling the colo
and running the flavor.
Remember that honey contain
the most delicate of all flavOrs tina
of the flowers from which it is tax
en-. A good way is to set the vesse
containing the honey inside an
other vessel containing hot waite
not allowing the bottom of tn. on
to rest directly on the bot ON o
the other, but putting couple o
blocks of wood between. Let j
stand on the stove but do not let til
water boil. 1t may take half q da
or longer to melt the honey. If tn
honey is set directly on the reser
vuir Of cook stove it will be al
right IL, few days. In time it vii
2ranu!ate again when it can be melt