MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

128 DR. miller'sQ. Is it safe and right to feed bees honey that has soured?A. Yes, if fed in the spring at a time when bees are fiyingdaily, and at a time when there is no danger of its going intosurplus. They will use it for breeding.Honey, Thinning.—Q. How do you thin down honey to feedbees? If I mix it with water it sours.A. Merely stir the honey and water together—all the better ifthe water is hot. It will not sour if fed within a day or so, and itought not to be allowed to stand longer.Honey, Unripe.—Q. What is ''green" or "unripe" honey? Isnot honey good to eat as soon as it is capped over?A. Green or unripe honey is that which has not been in thehive long enough to become sufficiently evaporated. Generally itis sufficiently ripened when sealed, but there are exceptions.Fortunately, the exceptions are rare.Honey-Board.—Q. How is a honey-board made? Is it just aboard with a bee-escape in the underside? Would it pay to usethese for extracting honey; put them on in the afternoon beforeyou expect to extract and then just take off the supers and framestogether, and wheel them into the house?A. Honey-boards were in use long before bee-escapes wereheard of. A honey-board was one placed over the top-bars, witha beespace between, there being in the board holes or slots, overwhich were placed surplus-boxes. Latterly a board with an escapein it is sometimes called a honey-board, but it is better to simplycall it a bee-escape. Opinions are divided as to using bee-escapesin the way you mention, some highly approving them and othersnot believing them worth while. I suspect that bee-eseapes workbetter for some than for others, either because of the differencein bees or for some other reason.Honey Comb (See Combs.)Honeydew.—Q. How can one tell when there is honeydew?A. I don't believe I can tell you in words how you can decideas to honeydew. I couldn't tell in words just how an orangetastes. The dark color of honeydew and peculiar taste help todecide, but I can't tell what that taste is. If you know the beesare working on some tree where there are no flowers, you may besuspicious.Q. Does honeydew ever appear before July 1st?A. Yes, it does, sometimes.Q. Does honeydew come any time of the year? My bees