Ian Watson queried:
>>>
>>> << Is dark honey from the fall flow acceptable for comb honey? >>
 
Thomas Cornick answered:
>> Dark honey is prone to crystallize quickly so it limits what can be
>> used.
 
Another consideration, and perhaps more important, is that bees may not
be inclined to pull foundation into comb on a fall flow.  On a good
fall flow this is not a concern.  However, fall flows in these parts are
fickle.  Some years are great, others are best skipped.  If it's a so-so
year, the bees will start to pull and fill comb but will leave sections
incomplete, which is ok with extracting combs but failure when talking
comb honey.  I'd skip the fall flow for comb honey production.
 
In _Honey_in_the_Comb_, Killion strongly suggests that comb honey
production season ends in July.  Killion is located in Illinois.  In my
area (upstate New York) the season extends into August when good comb
honey can still be produced, but after the end of July I switch the comb
production hives over to extraction supers to avoid any incomplete
combs.  By the time fall blooms are starting my comb equipment is away
for the season.
 
I have mentioned repeatedly on this list _Honey_in_the_Comb_ by Eugene
Killion.  IMHO, _HitC_ is mandatory reading for anyone considering comb
honey production.  _HitC_ should be the comb honey producers' bible.
Also check out Taylor's updated book, _New_Comb_Honey_.  Killion's
method is very labor intensive, Taylor's methods are easier (especially
shook swarming, which is not a Taylor original).  Both methods yield
good results.
 
Ted Fischer adds:
>Color is not all that important.  What is more crucial is the floral
>source.  In my experience here in southern Michigan, goldenrod honey
>is water white, yet will crystallize in several days after extracting.
>
 
I may be wrong on this next statement (I've been known to be wrong
before) but I think the water white honey to which Ted refers comes from
asters, not goldenrod.  However, it does granulate VERY quickly.
 
Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!