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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



November 



Crop Reports and Market Conditions 



CROP AND MARKET REPORTS 



There is little to report since our last issue as to 

 change in estimates of crop totals. Many reporters state 

 that they have had only about a third of a crop, while 

 many others are nearly normal. A slow fall flow through- 

 out the middle west has put the bees in good shape for 

 winter and made some little surplus. 



HONEY ON HAND— SALES— PRICES ASKED 



A majority of beekeepers reported all or nearly all 

 honey sold and at satisfactory prices. Many others stat- 

 ed they had still some on hand but that it was moving 

 freely to regular markets. 



The demand for honey is still excellent, both from the 

 local buyers and from the larger buyers. The larger buy- 

 ers, however, seem slow to accept offers of 15 cents made 

 b}' the beekeepers, though they are more than willing to 

 take all that is offered at 12j-^ to 13 cents for white honey. 

 There is still some demand for export, for which 15 cents 

 is being paid f. o. b. New York. 



One party in Michigan is holding a car load for which 

 he was offered and refused 15 cents. Several other bee- 

 keepers are holding amounts from 5,000 to 15,000 pounds 

 to "see where the price will go." Still several others have 

 sold at 15 cents, and some few as high as 17 cents whole- 

 sale for white extracted. 



Following is a partial list of honey still held by our 

 reporters and prices expected: 



Colorado, 10,000 pounds white, asking 15 cents. 



Colorado, 2 cars amber, asking 12^ to 14 cents. 



Montana, 22,000 pounds white extracted, asking 15 

 cents. 



Idaho, 1 car whi^e extracted, asking 14 cents. 



Wyoming, 40,000 pounds white extracted, asking 15 

 cents (large buyers have offered 12}/^ cents for this lot). 



Idaho, 10,000 pounds white extracted, asking 13>4 cents, 

 containers to be furnished by purchaser. 



California, 5 or 6 tons, asking 12j4 cents. It is light 

 amber. 



It is true that the large buyers are slow to buy at the 

 prices at which this honey is being offered. When we 

 look at the other side of the matter, however, there is 



less honey riglit now in the hands uf the beekeepers, 

 probably, than there was in January last year. Without 

 a doubt comb honey is practically all out of the pro- 

 ducers' hands. It is now selling at from $4.00 to $5.00 per 

 case for No. 1. 



If the local demand for honey continues, and there is 

 little reason for a change, many small beekeepers will 

 be out of stock and will have to buy to supply customers. 

 Such stocks as are left on hand should be able to com- 

 mand, surely, prices as asked above. 



CONDITION OF HONEY PLANTS 



If we are to judge of the crop next year by the reports 

 of honey plant conditions coming in, then we are in for a 

 crop in 1918 that will help maintain bumper yields during 

 the war period. 



Throughout the whole East, and the central West re- 

 ports are that plants are in much better shape than a year 

 ago, and in many instances even better than in the fall 

 of 1915, when all reports indicated a good yield for the 

 following year. 



Even in the West, Colorado and Idaho especially, 

 where the plant condition in the fall is not taken as a 

 criterion, many reports are to the eft'ect that sweet clover, 

 that is the young clover, is extremely thick, which would 

 tend toward a larger yield from this source next year. 



The larger part of Texas is still without sufficient rain 

 and conditions are not flattering. Through the rest of 

 the South honey plants are about normal, as they are in 

 other parts of the country not especially taken up. 

 CONDITION OF BEES 

 In most places bees are going into winter in good shape. 

 New York reports colonies as a little short of feed, as do 

 reports coming in from parts of Michigan and Wisconsin. 

 The fall flow has helped to build up colonies in the cen- 

 tral States, and the long protracted fall has also allowed 

 a slight flow in the West, which has added young bees 

 to the winter cluster. One report from California is to 

 the effect that bees did not breed up this fall as usual, 

 with the likelihood that they will not come through in 

 quite as good shape next spring. Otherwise conditions 

 are about normal. 



HONEY AND BEESWAX 



New York, October 20. — Comb honey: On 

 account of the season being late this year, 

 arrivals have been slow coming in, and 

 while there is a fair demand, it is not as 

 good as in former years, on account of prices 

 asked being so much higher. We quote No. 1 

 and fancy white at from §4.50 to $4.75; lower 

 grades, mixed and dark, at from $3.75 to $4.25, 

 according to quality, in crates of 24 sections 

 each well filled. Extracted honey is in good 

 demand, with fancy grades of white selling at 

 from 14c to 15c; lower grades, mixed and 

 dark, at from 12c to 13c. West India average 

 quality at around $1.35 to $1,45 per gallon, 

 duty paid, according to quality. 



Beeswax market is easier at from 33c to 36c 

 per pound, as to quality. 



HiLDRETH & SeCELKEN. 



Chicago, Oct. IS. — In regard to the honey 

 market, it is just opening up. We had about 

 100 cases of small lots, jus.t in, which sold 

 from ISc to 20c per pound, and the market 

 is quotable at these prices. In extract honey 

 the market is from 14c to 14J^c. Beeswax 

 from 35c to 37c for the best grades. We look 

 for high prices to prevail on honey the entire 

 season. We sold about 8 carloads last year 

 and expect to handle 10 cars this year. 



Coyne Brothers. 



San Antonio, Oct. 16. — Practically no fall 

 flows of honey are in prospect in Texas and 

 nearly all honey has been sold. There are no 

 carlot offerings. Local lots in the hands of 

 producers are bringing 12 to 15c, extract basis. 

 Wax is very firm. Few offerings at 30c cash 

 and 32c exchange. 



Southwestern Bee Company. 



Chicago, Oct 17. — The market has been 

 active, receipts being taken upon arrival, so 

 that there has been no accumulation of either 

 the high or low grades. 



Fancy and A-1 ^rades of comb honey are 

 selling at 22 to 23c per lb.; No. 1 at 20 to 

 21c per lb. No ambers have been offered, 



but would bring within Ic to 3c per lb. of the 

 white grades. Extracted clover is selling freely 

 at 15c per lb., with clover and basswood bring- 

 ing the same price, whether individual or 

 blended. Different amber grades are from Ic 

 to 5c per lb. less, according to color, flavor 

 and body. Barrels bring within Ic per lb. ol 

 that in the five-gallon cans. 



Beeswax is without material change, bringing 

 from 35c to 37c per lb., according to color and 

 cleanliness. 



R. A. Burnett & Co. 



Kansas City, Oct. IS. — The honey market 

 is rather slow. Receipts are a little heavier 

 and prices a Uttle lower. No. 1 comb honey 

 we are quoting at $4.25, No. 2 at $4.10. Ex- 

 tracted white is quoted at 15c a pound and 

 light amber at 14c, and dark amber at 12 to 

 13c. This is in 60-pound cans. 



The market on beeswax is 40c. 



C. C. Clemons Produce Company. 



Denver, Oct. 17. — We are at present selling 

 new honey to retailers at the following prices; 

 No. 1 white comb honey, per case of 24 sec- 

 tions, $4.50; No. 2, at $4.00. Extracted white, 

 according to quantity, 15c to 16c. Light am- 

 ber, 14c to 15c. 



We are buying oeeswax at all times and are 

 at present paying 38c cash and 40c in trade 

 for clean yellow wax, delivered here. 



The Colo. Honey Produgers' Ass'n. 



F. Rauchfuss, Mgr. 



Western New York Meeting. 



The annual meeting of the West- 

 ern New York Honey Producers' As- 

 sociation will be held at the Genesee 

 Hotel, Buffalo, N. Y., on Tuesday and 

 Wednesday, November 13 and 14, 

 1917. All beekeepers are welcome 

 and invited to be present. An inter- 

 esting program has been prepared as 

 follows : 



Nov. 13, 10:30 a. m.— 

 Call to order by the President. 



Secretary-Treasurer's reports. 



"Wax Rendering" — C. L. Hershiser, 

 Kenmore,, N. Y. 

 1 p. m.^ 



Appointment of committees. 



"Beekeeping as a Business"— J. L. 

 Byer, Markham. Ont. 



"Producing Fancy Comb Honey" — S. 

 D. House, Camillus, N. Y. 



"Does It Pay to Recommend a Mini- 

 mum Selling Price for the 1917 

 Honey Crop?" 



Discussion. 

 Wednesday, Nov. 14; 10:30 a. m.— 



"Rearing Good Queens" — Chas. Stew- 

 art, Johnstown, N. Y. 



"Which Shall We Do. Keep More 

 Bees, Keep Better Bees, or Keep 

 Bees Better?"— E. R. Root, Medina, 

 Ohio. 



Discussions and Questions. 

 1 p. m. — 



Election of Officers. 



Reports of Committees. 



New Business. 



"Preparing for a Crop of honey" — J. 

 L. Byer, Markham. Ont. 



"Bee Diseases" — By State Inspector. 



Question Box. 



Adjournment. 



WILLIAM F. VOLLMER, 



Sec'y. 



The Arkansas Valley Beekeepers' 



Association of Kansas will hold their 



annual meeting at Witchita, Kans., 



November 23 and 24. A large attend- 

 ance is desired. 



J. L. PELHAM, Sec'y. 



