You can customize the final comb if you want by placing starter strips of
foundation in the jar to begin with. Cut small strips and stick them to the
inside of the jar around the circumference, in stripes up and down, hanging
from the top of the jar (the bottom actually), having them go from one side
to the other, singly or in crosses or multistrips....your imagination is the
only limitation. Let the bees draw the comb, fill then cap during a honey
flow, certainly. Cover the jar with something easily removable (AL foil) to
keep the outside clean while it is in the hive. Once capped, harvest, clean
as good as possible then fill with liquid honey. Quart jars sell in the
neighborhood of $10. each at some farmer's markets when made this way.

Kim Flottum
Editor, Bee Culture Magazine
1-800-289-7668 x3214
623 W. Liberty St. Medina OH 44256

http://www.airoot.com/beeculture/index.htm


-----Original Message-----
From: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Allen Dick
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2000 11:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Comb in glass jar


> To get the bees to put comb in a glass jar, take an inner cover and put a
> hole in it the size of the jar's top (actually a little smaller).  Put the
> cover on and place the jar upside down over the hole.  Cover the inner
cover
> hole.  To get it done faster, you would have to do it during the honey
flow
> and keep the bees cramped up.

I've never tried this trick, but from making lots and lots of comb honey, I
have
learned that bees draw comb best in the dark, so covering the jar would be
wise.
Another consideration is the heat of the sun in the jar on a hot day might
otherwise melt the comb and even harm the bees.

I should think that if I were doing this trick and had a chunk or two of
nice
new white burr comb handy, I would cut it to size and slide it in there to
give
them start.  Of course the idea is -- after they are done, to allow the bees
to
leave the jar and fill it with fancy honey.  Hmmmm .  Maybe I'll try it
sometime.

allen
--
A Beekeeper's Diary: http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee/Diary/
Package installation & performance experiments, winter loss, fondant
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