Soft Candy for BeesGates, Burton N. (Burton Noble)
Science
Soft Candy for Bees
Gates, Burton N. (Burton Noble)
Bee culture
[Illustration: FIG. 1.--These are the usual and convenient types of
candy box or feeder. The right-hand one is placed as it would appear on
the top of the frames. Notice that one end is slightly elevated. To its
left is a box of candy, which is darker, being made with "Coffee A"
sugar; the glass side of this faces out, as also in the upper box. The
box at the extreme left shows the surface of white candy, made with
granulated sugar; it also shows the projection which tilts the box. Upon
it is a pie plate filled with the candy, which may be inverted upon the
frames. (Author's illustration.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 2.--Molds in the form of division-board feeders
(left-hand mold filled with candy; right hand, empty). The lower frames
are the standard Langstroth dimensions; the upper are Benton nuclei
frames. The central box shows the position of a feeder on top of the
frames. (Author's illustration.)]
As soon as the sugar has begun to dissolve, _prior to boiling_, the
spoon or paddle used in stirring should be removed from the kettle. _The
candy should not be stirred while cooking_; to do it will cause a coarse
grain. Remove from the stove and cool to 125 deg.-130 deg. F. (or 51.6 deg.-54.4 deg.
C.), when the specified boiling point has been reached. While cooling,
in order to equalize the temperature, the mass may be stirred; or
preferably, when cooled to the specified degree, it should be stirred
until it commences to grain. Mr. Fuller's directions are to stir
vigorously until the mass appears in color and consistency like boiled
starch or paste. At once pour into molds or feeders and cool.
_Fine-grain Fondant for Queen Cages._--Another way to cool the candy is
to prepare a marble slab 2 or 3 feet square with bars of square iron,
making a form. The candy may be poured upon the marble, and with broad
putty knives, similar to those used by paper hangers, the mass may be
beaten or worked upon the marble. Experience teaches that this, which is
virtually a confectioner's method, produces a finer grain and usually a
whiter fondant than when stirred in the kettle. This is the process in
preparing candy for use in queen mailing cages, or the transportation of
bees. By it, a firmer consistency is usually obtained.
As a warning or explanation it may be said that the higher the
temperature at which the candy is boiled the harder it will become;
consequently, by varying the boiling point at which the candy is removed
from the stove, the hardness or softness of the product may be governed.
Furthermore, as is the experience of confection makers, candy should be
boiled to one or two degrees higher on cloudy or humid days than on a
clear, dry day. By means of a thermometer and a little experience, these
features are readily learned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account