THE DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE IN HONEY BY THE HYDROMETER METHOD

Abstract

The hydrometer method of testing honeys has been shown to give results as satisfactory as those obtained by other methods provided that; (1) a large sensitive hydrometer is used, (2) the percentage of moisture is calculated from a proper honey table and not from the usual sugar tables, and (3) a shallow layer of water is added to the surface of the honey after the hydrometer has been introduced. A suitable, specially constructed hydrometer is described, and a table of true honey densities has been drawn up. For accurate work the observed densities should be corrected for the slight error which would otherwise arise from the smaller buoyancy thrust of the water layer as compared with a honey layer of the same thickness.