January, 1913. 



American "Bee Journal j 



on the market,"and"should see that the 

 demamd for comb is supplied." 



This is a little confusing. "Has there 

 been so much change in so short a 

 time? and if so, why ?" are questions 

 easily asked, but difficult to answer. 

 Without attempting a full answer, we 

 may at least consider one phase in the 

 case, the market reports, although it is 

 possible, even with p'ain figures, to 

 make wrong deductions. Suppose we 

 compare the reports of September, 

 1910, with those of the same month in 

 1912, taking in each case the highest 

 quotation of those who quote by the 

 pound in the market reports of the 

 American Bee Journal. In 1910 the 

 average price of comb honey was 77 

 percent higher than that of extracted. 

 In 1912 it was 67 percent higher. So 

 far as these figures indicate, they show 

 that in the past two years the price of 

 comb honey, as compared with ex- 

 tracted, instead of rising, has fallen. 



A Visit to Ontario 



On Nov. 11, the Editor started for 

 the Ontario Bee-Keepers' Convention 

 at Toronto. The Ontario Agricultural 

 College at Guelph was visited, c?i route, 

 and a very pleasant day was spent with 

 the apiary students and teachers who 

 showed us the well-known trait of 

 Canadian hospitality. 



The college apiary is composed of 

 only a few colonies, but great care v/as 

 taken of them for wintering. The 

 hives, gathered in groups of four, are 

 packed in large outer cases, with warm 

 absorbents, one entrance on each side 

 of the case. 



An hour or two spent in the office of 

 the Provincial Apiarist, Mr. Pettit, in- 

 dicated the methodical manner in 

 which the bee inspection is conducted 

 in Ontario. The card system is used. 

 Every bee-keeper visited during the 

 season is recorded upon a separate 

 card, which shows the number of colo- 

 nies he possesses, the style of hive 

 used, the condition of the bees at the 

 time of the visit, the race of bees, etc. 

 By this method the central office will, 

 after a few years, possess an exact 

 record of the state of bee-culture in the 

 Province. Of course, the changes must 

 be noted, but the most difficult work is 

 surely in getting the original record 

 established. Centers of infection of 

 disease will be clearly delineated, and 

 the planning of inspection work made 

 more easy, as the task continues. An- 

 other very good plan for success in 

 eradicating foul brood is that of having 

 two blanks, for report by the deputy 

 inspector and the apiarist. The deputy 

 fills out the first blank, and upon it is 



an agreement to treat the diseased 

 colonies with a specified time, which 

 the apiarist is required to sign. The 

 second blank is a statement which he 

 is to date, sign and forward, that he has 

 treated the diseased colonies as per 

 promise. This acts as a reminder, and 

 I am told that they are much less likely 

 to defer or neglect treating their bees 

 when they know that an account is 

 kept of the work through this method. 

 The inspectors who do not have some 

 such plan would do well to write Mr. 

 Pettit, at Guelph, for sample copies of 

 these blanks. 



The meeting at Toronto was well at- 

 tended, probably as many being pres- 

 ent as in the largest State meetings on 

 this side of the line. 



Synopsis of the meeting is given 

 elsewhere in this Journal. Two things 

 loomed up in the mind of the listener. 

 The alarming European foul brood 

 is not much feared by the man who 

 keeps pure, active Italian bees. From 

 all sides came the assertion that black 

 bees are unable to cope with the dis- 

 ease as do the Italians. Whatever 

 might be the differences of opinion on 

 the methods to pursue in inspection, no 

 one differed in regard to the advis- 

 ability of keeping a good breed of 

 Italians. 



The other great point brought out is 

 the gain of co-operation. The Ontario 

 bee-keepers have a honey-sale's com- 

 mittee, and we gleaned, from the 

 statements made, the evidence that by 

 each apiarist reporting the amount of 

 his crop to this committee, the mem- 

 bers became informed of the extent of 

 the crop. Following the advice of this 

 committee, the price was maintained, 

 and none of the members present 

 secured less than 12 cents per pound 

 for their extracted honey, when a few 

 years ago many sold it as low as 8 

 cents. We may well look up to our 

 Canadian friends for example in this 

 matter. The United States cover a 

 much larger territory now, but there is 

 no reason why co-operation cannot be 

 secured as well in a large field as in a 

 comparatively small one. 



By rising early on the morning of 

 the second day, we were enabled to 

 visit the Ontario Horticultural Exhibit, 

 at the beautiful exhibition grounds, on 

 the shore of Lake Ontario. We have 

 seen nothing finer anywhere, in fruit, 

 apples, pears, etc., in vegetables and in 

 honey. Two large pyramids of honey 

 were conspicuous, mainly extracted 

 honey, for this is the staple product of 

 Canadian apiarists. Middlesex county, 

 represented by six exhibitors, had the 

 most dainty display that we have ever 



seen anywhere. 



Freight Rates and Honey 



We call the attention of our readers 

 to the article bearing this title in our 

 contributions. Mr. Smith is a railway 

 agent and speaks knowingly. The 

 railroad managements are often to 

 blame for arbitrary rates, charging 

 much more for a short haul where 

 there is no competition than for a long 

 competitive haul. But Mr. Smith 

 touches the weak spot in honey pack- 

 ing by the average bee-keeper, unless 

 he has had long experience. Any one 

 who has handled shipments of honey 

 and beeswax from all parts of the 

 country knows how often a package 

 arrives at a destination without any 

 marks whatever, or worse, perhaps with 

 the name of a big soap or cereal firm 

 which has not been erased from the 

 box. If we desire to secure better 

 rates, we should learn to pack our 

 goods carefully, distinctly, and in ac- 

 cordance with schedules. Until we 

 are careful ourselves we must not 

 blame others for being careless. 



Parcels Post 



The new parcels post law is in force 

 from and after the first of Januaiy. A 

 few months' trial will most likely con- 

 vince our retail trade that they are in 

 no danger of losing their customers 

 from this cause. The rates are still 

 too high, and evidently aim to protect 

 the Express companies; but this is an 

 entering wedge, and we will soon catch 

 up with other nations which have led 

 us in this years ago. 



The maximum weight that may be 

 sent is 11 pounds, in one package. The 

 rate for the 11 pounds is : 



Within the delivery limits of your 

 Post-office, 15 cents. 



Within 50 miles,? .35 cents 



150 " .46 " 



300 " .57 " 



600 " .68 " 



" 1000 " .79 " 



" 1400 " 1.00 



" 1800 " 1.11 " 



For all distances greater than 1800 

 miles, the rate is the same as the inter- 

 national rate, or $1.32 for the maximum 

 of 11 pounds. 



But we are still above the interna- 

 tional rate in "samples of merchan- 

 dise." You may send samples of your 

 goods in lots not exceeding 12 ounces 

 to the end of the world, in the Univer- 

 sal Postal Union, for one-half cent per 

 ounce, or 6 cents for the 12 ounces, 

 with a minimum rate of 2 cents ; but 

 you cannot send the same package 

 within the United States, in the third 

 zone, less than 300 miles, for less than 



