210 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



June 



Crop Reports and Market Conditions 



CROP AND MARKET REPORTS 



The Government report for May 1 has just been issued. 

 It gives a general summary of the following factors : 

 Winter losses, number of colonies compared to May 1 

 last year, condition of colonies compared to normal, and 

 condition of honey plants compared to normal. Our sum- 

 mary which follows is a combination of our own reports 

 with those of the government. 



WINTER LOSSES 



In New England, the losses are about average, those 

 colonies wintered in cellars appearing in worse shape 

 than those wintered outside with protection. Spring 

 dwindling has been common there as well as in New 

 York, and, in fact, all the East, with losses about the 

 same as in New England. 



For the Central States conditions are probably nor- 

 mal, or a little better, with losses averaging around 10%. 

 In fact, the whole country has an average loss, according 

 to the Government report, of 10%, as against a loss of 

 13% last year. Heavy losses prevail in the following 

 states: North Carolina 30%, Montana knd Wyoming 

 20%, Idaho 46% and Utah 30%. 



The number of working colonies for the crop is much 

 larger than last year, owing mostly to the excessive crop 

 of the Central States, where the increase has been 

 marked. 



CONDITION OF COLONIES 



No doubt but that condition of colonies was below 

 normal on May 1, as reported by the State Department, 

 but the last two weeks have seen a remarkable change. 

 The early cool weather caused general dwindling and 

 losses v/ere not infrequent. In the north half of the 

 country the bees' condition is still below normal, but in 

 the South Central States bees are beginning to "boom," 

 and swarms are reported. 



The queen-breeders and pound-package men of the 

 South have been under a handicap on account of the late 

 spring, and most of them are overwhelmed with orders 

 which ordinarily could have been filled weeks ago. Pur- 

 chasers should make due allowance for this. 



HONEY PLANT CONDITIONS 



Clover prospects in the Eastern States are normal, 



with a fair crop prospect. In the Central States the 

 clover plants are from 75 to 90% of normal, with condi- 

 tions improving as the time of the clover flow draws 

 nearer. In North Carolina a good flow is now on. Flor- 

 ida reports the early crop good, but the weather too cool. 

 The whole Southeast is in a similar condition, with pros- 

 pects below normal. In Texas the first crop has been a 

 failure and prospects are not flattering for the later 

 flows. 



It is too early to estimate general conditions for the 

 West, though they seem about normal. On the coast 

 line prospects are fair, and poorer inland. 



SALES, OFFERS, PRICES 



Generally speaking, all old honey is cleaned up. Very 

 little of the new crop is ready for the market. One 

 Chicago firm offers a car of white California extracted 

 at 13c, which they consider a bargain, as the bulk of the 

 new crop will not be in for a month or more. 



A few sales in advance are being made at prices rang- 

 ing from 8c to 10c for white honey. The bulk of the 

 producers, however, prefer to wait till the crop is har- 

 vested before selling. 



It is the opinion of most reporters that there will be 

 an active demand and the price will be very high. One 

 noted California producer, who is not selling ahead, 

 states that it is not difficult to find buyers if you but set 

 a price. One large bottler is offering 9c for white ex- 

 tracted and furnishing the containers. 



The demand for foreign shipment is extremely large 

 and bottlers seem anxious to buy a season's supply be- 

 fore exporting commences. Many reporters insist on a 

 minimum price of 10c for extracted, and a few think it 

 should be worth 12c in a wholesale way. 



Almost everyone states that local sales are going to 

 be larger than ever before, and at good prices. What 

 with the sugar shortage which will be felt, especially if 

 exportation is not curtailed by the curb of the sub- 

 marine warfare, honey prices should rule high. Honey 

 should, as one reporter remarked, command a price in 

 proportion to its worth. 



With such conditions and in order to carry out the 

 suggestions of what is best for our country, let us all 

 strive by every means to make the 1917 honey crop as 

 large as possible. 



t 



I 



Quality Service System 



BUY MARCHANT'S QUEENS AND GET RESULTS— RE-QUEEN NOW 



We have in operation over 1000 nuclei. We are prepared to take care 



of your orders, both LARGE AND SMALL. Our queenbusiness'for the 



past two months has been larger than ever before. Why ? Because our 



stock gives results. We are offering queens at the following prices for 



JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER: 



I 

 Untested Ji.oo 



Tested i.so 



Select tested... 2.00 



Never before has this strain of bees been put on the market at such a 

 low price. Take advantage and requeen your yard with the best strain on 

 the market. 



J. E. MARCHANT BEE & HONEY CO. 

 Columbus, Georgia, U. S. A. 



(77/« Jiomc of the southern honeybee.) 



QUEENS of MOORE'S 

 STRAIN of ITALIANS 



PRODUCE WORKERS 



That fill the supers quick 

 With honey nice and thick, 

 rhey have won a world-wide repu" 

 lation for honey gathering, hardiness, 

 gentleness, etc. 



Untested queens- $1 00: 6 Is 00; 12. to 00 

 Select untested, $[.2^: 6 $6 00: 12. $11 00 

 Safe arrival and satisfaction guar- 

 anteed- Circular free. 



J. P. MOORE 



Queen-breeder Rt. 1, Morgan Ky. 



Southern Beekeepers 



Get the famous Root goods here; veils. 6;c; 

 smoker, ooc; gloves. 65c: wire imbedder, 3sc; 

 honey knife, 80c; i-lb. spool wire. 35c: me- 

 dium brood foundation. I to 11 Ibs.sScper 

 lb ; 11 to 25 lbs-. 56c: 50 or ico lb. lots. 53c: lo- 

 fr. wood zinc excluders. 50c each, Hoff- 

 man frames. 3 75 Per 100- Honey extractors 

 for sale- I am paying 28c cash and 20c in 

 trade for wax 



J. F. ARCHDEKIN, Bordelonville, La. 



