The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-09-17
CRu T G. HERMANN

CBy T. q.
Extracting honey from the combs is
how a very general practice, and n
that is 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 wax 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 hat all honey, when
taken from the hive, is ripe.
If II is allowed to remain in the
hive until there is no doubt of its
ripeness, there need be little fear of
fermentation.
Fermentation is said to be caused
in some instances, by the presence in
the honey of pollen grains, but if the
brood nests are properly managed, it
is 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 superfuous water from the
honey by evaporation, the sealing OF
the cells takes place because the honey
is then in q condition which the bee
keeper terms r~ipeness.
We do not exact during the honey
flow, unless we have absolutely nc
room left. and there Is q prospect OF
the continuation of the crop.
To be sure, 1t 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
ty 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 1t.
On removing the super it should be
placed in a warm room, and IL the
work of extracting can be carried or
at once, while the honey Is warm, II
will be an advantage, as it will flow
more freely than if allowed TO get colo
by standing a day or so in a cold room
The Gaping, or cell covers shoult
be shaved of with a sharp knife
warmed by standing it in a pitcher o
hot water, and If cut from the bottom
with a saw-like motion while the toI
Of the frame is held forward, the cap
pings will remain in q sheet and fal
into the pan held below.
When the uncapped combs are pu
into the cages Of the extractor, the!
should be so placed hat the bottom
bars go around first, for thus the hone!
Is more easily thrown out as it leaves
the cells in the direction of the pitcl
given them by the bees when the,
are building their combs.
1t is always advisable to return
combs wet with honey in the evening
SO that the excitement they aus ma.
be over by the morning. Returnin,
such combs at unsuitable times, anC
placing scraps OF comb about for thu
bees to clean, are undoubtedly tn
cause of much robbing.
Before putting honey into kegs, keel
the kegs in a very dry place, driving
up the hoops occasionally. Through
tin and glass no moisture a pass.
The wood can be made a little lik'
glass by paraffining IT.. Have you
kegs hot by standing in the sun o
otherwise, pour two or three pounds
OF hot parafin into the kegs, bun,
tight, roll the keg ove and over, tiI
ping it on each end, then knock GU
the bung and pour out the p~araffin.
If you have been lively about il yol
will get most OF your parafin back, Blu
a thin coating will be all over tn
inside surface.
About the worst thing you a dc
is to have the wood of the keg soake'
so the hoops are very tight befor
putting in the honey. The honey will
suck all the moisture out OF the slaves
loosen the hoops, then ferment, an
perhaps burst the key.
There are ether things besides bee
and hives needed in producing extract
ed honey. A honey house becomes
necessity, even when the apiary 1
very small, though of course If one IA
only a h~alf-dozen colonies or SO,
small roo or tent may be used |
lieu of a honey house especially bull
for the business. particularly whea
comb or section-honey is produced.
Extracted honey reduction needs