72 



" NOVICE'S " GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



The prices for extracted honey depend 

 on the color and </iiatifi/, ami range thus: 



Buckwheat honey from 10c. to 12c. pr. lb. 



Mixed " 10c. to 13c. " 



Basswood 13c. to 15c. 



White Cl'v'r " " 15c.tol8c. " 



'Mixed" honey means two or more 

 kinds together. We do not want honey in 

 glass jars; must be in luilk of 5, 10, 32 

 or 40 gallon packages ; have no objection 

 to candied honey. 



Comb honey ranges from 20c. to 30c. 

 per lb. ; same price for same quality of 

 honey in large frames as in small boxes. 

 National Bee Hivi: Co., 

 St. Charles, Kane Co., 111. 



Frum) Novice : — Your request for quo- 

 tations ree'd, which please find enclosed. 

 These quotations are based on the merits 

 of the several kinds of honey. Ycu will 

 observe that we quote basswood honey 

 lower than white clover. This is proper, 

 as we find in practice that white clover 

 not only sells better, but is preferred as 

 an article of food. We can sell 10 lbs. 

 white clover to one of the other. 



Sooner or later beekeepers will find it 

 to their interest to keep the several kinds 

 of honey as distinct from each other as 

 possible — otherwise they will have to sell 

 it as "mixed" honey. Yours truly, 



M. M. Baldwin, Sec'y. 



We regard the above rates as very fair; 

 but now comes another consideration, and 

 we hope no one will feel hurt unless they 

 are guilty, if we do speak plainly. 



It is this: we bee keepers want to be 

 s<ire of our money when we send it away. 

 I wo years ago we sold our honey to C. 0. 

 Perrine, of Chicago, who agreed to pay 

 for it as soon as received in Philadelphia. 

 Messrs. Shane, Shaw, White, Dean and 

 some others sent their honey also. We 

 got our pay by making deductions for in- 

 terior quality and leakage after about 

 three months; Mr. Shane also got his, but 

 the last three have as jet only got renew- 

 ed promises, and we are well aware that 

 the loss of the amount (about $300 or 

 over) has been keenly felt by all. We 

 don't know how much he yet owes, but 

 many similar complaints have been sent 

 us. 



Again, Baumeister & Co,, of Chicago, 

 this season, after receiving a sample of 

 honey from Mr. Shane, wrote him they 

 would pay him llic. for a barrel, and that 

 he should send it by express C. (). D. 

 On its arrival they refused to pay the 

 charges, amounting in all to about $15, 

 and Mr. Shane had no choice but to pay 

 the amount himself, leaving about L3c. 

 per pound for his honey net, or to get it 

 back as best he could. 



It seems to us that ordering 500 lbs. of 

 of honey by express C. O. D. is rather a, 

 queer proceeding. We leave our readers 

 to draw their own inferences. 



In regard to the standing of the Na 

 tional Bee Hive Co., wdiose card we have 

 given, we cau ordy state, that we don't 



find them quoted at all, and we have had 

 no time to make proper inquiries before 

 going to press. As they sent us no refer- 

 ence we hope they will excuse these re- 

 marks, fdr we Would caution our readers 

 to in all eases find out the precise respon- 

 sibility of the parties to whom they are 

 sending their honey. No honest man 

 will object to such a proceeding. A large 

 amount of honey is now being retailed 

 in towns near where produced, put up in 

 glass fruit jars. These jars are always 

 wanted in every family, and quart jars, 

 honey and all, are sold here for 75e. each. 



Grocers ate usually willing to sell them 

 for a commission of ten per cent., and n 

 the whole transaction is near home, thru 

 is no risk ami no loss. Bach jar should 

 have a neat label, with the name of the 

 honey and also of the producer. These 

 can be procured of T. J. Walton, Salem, 

 O.. printed in two colors, cutand gummed, 

 as follows: 1000, $3; 500, $2; 250, $1.50. 

 No less quantity than 250 printed. Sam- 

 ples sent on application. 



In conclusion : It costs too much to 

 produce a ton of honey to allow irrespon- 

 sible parties to cheat us out of it. We 

 have tried having honey sold on commis- 

 sion in New York, but it resulted in get- 

 ling about half what it was worth after 

 great delay. If your crop is not too 

 great, we advise having it sold by grocers 

 in your own neighborhood. 



HEADS OF «.H\IN FROM OlFFFR- 

 EKT FIF.JLOS. 



No. 90.— I have built a cellar, walled and 

 arched with rock*. Is it advisable for me to 

 l>ut niy bees in there this winter or leave 

 them on their summer stands '.' Inclosed you 

 will find one dollar for which you will send 

 inc a queen. If you can send her by mail all 

 right. But if that is played, you need not 

 send her as there isn't any express office near 

 me. My faith is very weak on Italian bees. 

 I have several hives and they are not as good 

 as my blacks. I will^ry a little longer and if 

 1 don't soon get better ones. I will stop try- 

 ing Italians. M. II. Milstkr, Frohna. Mo. 



Such a cellar if not damp we think 

 would answer excellently. As to whether 

 bees are bitter in doors or out as far 

 south as Missouri we are unprepared to 

 answer, but would suggest that our friend 

 try half of his hives each way and re- 

 port to us. As we learn that queen, are 

 still sent by mail by queen rearers gen- 

 erally, we shall continue sending them 

 thus, until notified to the contrary. The 

 difference in cost of a two cent stamp and 

 ordinary express rates is quite an item, 

 besides remoteness ot express offices 

 compared with post offices. Bear in 

 mind, however, that any writing in the 

 package whatever, besides the address, 

 subjects the writer to a penalty, and the 

 cages must be so put up that the P. M. 

 can, without trouble, ascertain the entire, 

 contents. This and the two following 

 letters sound Strang** to those well ac- 

 quainted with the Italians, but they only 

 show bow little we can judge of many 

 matters pertaining to bee culture from a 

 single or few experiments. 



