64- 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Nov., 190J 



mitted this, with the Victorian honeys, both kinds being without labels 

 or distinguishing marks. The Jamaica honey was preferred as being 

 milder and more like European honey than ours is, while importers and 

 dealers who had previously handled Australian honey had no difficulty 

 in picking out the Victorian samples from amongst the Jamaican — in 

 manv instances by the sense of smell alone. Others who had had no 

 previous experience of Australian honey objected to the strong and strange 

 aroma. 



At equal prices some of the importers indicated that they would be 

 prepared to give Victorian honey some preference for manufacturing 

 purposes on account of its greater density, provided regular supplies 

 could be depended upon. When I pressed for a valuation, it was given 

 as 2jd. to 2|d. at port of arrival for the palest samples — Yellow Box and 

 Red Gum — and somewhat less for others. 



The opinion of those connected wdth the honey trade in London and 

 Continental ports was that Victorian honey would in no way compete with 

 the home product, but ag'ainst honey imported from Jamaica, Chili and, 

 in some seasons, from California. 



A VICTORIAN APIARY- 



)MLs 01 ni I s 



Consumers of table honey are very conservative in their tastes, and 

 would rather pav more, or eat less, than take that which they are not 

 accustomed to. This is more especially so in England. In Germany 

 foreign honey is to some extent put up and sold for table use at about 

 two-thirds the price of the honey of home production. The prices ruling 

 tor Jamaica and Chili honey in London and Hamburg at the time of my 

 visit were from 20s. to 32s. per cwt. New Zealand honey which is 

 gathered from clovers and non-eucalypts, realizes up to 45s., but comes 

 forward onlv in limited quantities. It closely resembles English honey 

 in flavour, colour and granulation. 



Taking all these facts into consideration, it cannot be doubted any 

 longer that the honey gathered from our euoalypts possesses a distinct 

 flavour, not noticeable to Australians, who are used to it, but very evident 

 lo people in other countries. This flavour is not necessarily that of the 

 essential oil of the eucalypt, and thte term eucalyptus flavour does not 

 miply more than a description of the characteristics of honey gathered 

 from these trees. 



