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probably in most cases through not having a suitable tank for the purpose. Honey, like other commodities, must put upon the market in its most attractive form if we wish to encourage the demand for it.
SIZE OF HONEY-TANKS.
I prefer tanks not deeper than 20 in., and they should not, even when working on a large scale, exceed 24 in., but with regard to superficial area the only limit need be the convenience or requirements of the user. Mr. E. W. Alexander (whom it is a pleasure to quote) is using deeper tanks, but he finds them too deep, and recommends shallower ones.
For an apiary of, say, two hundred colonies, two such tanks as the double tank illustrated would in most cases answer the purpose. There is a great advantage in dividing the tanks into compartments, so that the honey from each day's extracting may be left undisturbed until it has matured and is ready to run into tins. It is unwise to run two or three days' extracting into the same tank, as the frequent disturbance is against the honey maturing properly.
Fig. 1. Double Honey-ripening Tank.
(Not drawn to scale.)
Fig. 1 represents a honey-ripening tank, 6 ft. long, 4 ft. wide, and 20 in. deep, outside measurements, capable of holding about 1,250 lb. of honey in each compartment. It should be made of 1¼ in. timber, and lined with good stout tin.
