Nov. 2, 1008.] AgricuUural Gazette of N.S.W. 939 



Comparatively speaking, there is not a large quantity of honey consnmed in Great Britain, 

 and stocks take a long time to clear. IJuyers say tliat with a fid. standard for retail 

 price they cannot pay more than 2^d. per lb. wholesale, for after they have paid Id. 

 )>er lb. for handling, bottles, &c., the retailers' margin of profit is not great on an article 

 like honey, which is not of quick sale. Confectioners use fair quantities of honey for 

 manufacturing purposes. 



The samples sent were submitted to twenty of the most prf>minent and influential 

 wholesale honey merchants, retail distributors, manufacturing confectioners, as well as 

 two or three of the honey brokers. Tiieir opinions varieil widely, not only in regard to 

 (pialit}', l>ut also as to proljable ])rices which could be realised here. Afterweighing them 

 ad up carefully it seems jirobabk' that there is a market to be found here for Xevv South 

 Wales honey, and probaljly 801) to 500 tons could lie sold in a season, provided the ]irices 

 olitainable on tlie home market would be sufficiently attractive to New South Wales bee- 

 farmers. I had numerous offers and orders for sample lots as test shipments, but I only 

 mention the following, which are the best : — 



Batger & Co. — 5 tons No. 1, at £25 per ton. c.i.f. London. 



Clark, Richards, and Coombes, Ltd. — 1 ton No. 4 (equal sample), c.i.f. London, prompt 

 shipment, at 22s. per cwt. 



Liptons, Ltd.- 3 tons No. 4, at 28s. per cwt., c.i f. London, prompt shipment. 



Eagle Confectionery Co. — I cwt. No. 2, at 24s. per cwt., prompt shipment. 



Callard and Bowser. — 1 cwt. of Nos. 1 or 2, at 24s. per cwt., prompt shipment. 



Some of the firms interviewed informed me that honey of Australian origin had been 

 sold on the Mincing Lane markets at 14s. to 16s. per cwt., but the quality was not, of 

 course, as good as, say. No. 4 sample, or No. 1 and No. 2. On the other hand Jamaica 

 of fair to inferior (quality has jjeen sold at somewhere in the same region of price. 

 Merchants and others handling honey are generally prejudiced against Austi-alian 

 honey, and state that on the Knglisli markets English and Scotch honey rank first, 

 Narbonne French honey next, then Californian and New Zealand (the best of M'hich is 

 highly appreciated on this market), then Jamaica, of which there are all (pialities 

 obtainal)le, from inferior to fine ; tlien they place Australian. Handlers here are very 

 much afraid of the prejudice against Australian honey, because it is popularly supposed 

 to be flavoured with eucalyptus. In this connection the Hrms to whom I submitted the 

 s im])les expressed diversity of opinion, some stating that the honey submitted had a 

 sli.tjht trace of eucalyptus, others said there was no trace of eucalyptus flavour ; in 

 addition to which, one firm expressed the opinion that sample No. 5 had a slight trace of 

 tallowy flavour I only mention this to show the diverse views expressed. 



There was a decided concensus of opinion that No. 1 was the best, but the value of 

 this would undoubtedly be enhanced if it was set white. Then No. 4 sample was very 

 favourablj' commented upon as being of fairly good flavour, and it seems as if equality of 

 this sample to a little lietter would sell readily at about .£22 to £23 per ton. One 

 sample, whilst fairlj' good lioney. was, unfortunately, fermented, and consequently of 

 very little commercial value. Merchants, one and all, impressed the necessity for 

 bee-keepers to use only clean, bright tins, otherwise the honey becomes di.scoloured, and 

 may deteriorate and cause disappointment to shippers in the price realised ; and in 

 connection with the whole business it must be understood that shippers guarantee the 

 honey as absolutely pure. Some of the firms thought that No. 3 was too syrupj-. 



I attach a list of some of the firms called upon, together with theii- expression of 

 opinion, and I may sa.y, as far as possible, I am only submitting to you refiorts originating 

 from people in whom I have the utmost confidence, and I therefore think these reports 

 may be taken as sound and commercially valuable. 



1 ma^- add that the autumn and winter aie the best seasons for disposing of fairly 

 large (juantities of honey on these markets. 



Report from Messrs. Clarke, NichoUs, and Coombes. 



This firm will take 1 ton of No. 4 simple at 22s. per cwt. (not more) as this is the 

 price paid by them for Jamaica honey lately. 



The honey buyer, Mr. Matheson, is of opinion that all the honey is of a lietter class 

 than the ordinary run of Australian honey. The red honey he values at 20s. to2Is., 

 ■but tiiinks if they could be diawn white they would fetcli 30s. to 31s per cwt. 



Report from Messrs. Callard and Bowser. 

 This firm will take 1 cwt. as a sample of either No. 1 or No. 2 sample, at 24s. per cwt. 



