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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



December 



Crop Reports and Market Conditions 



For our December issue we asked the following ques- 

 tions of reporters : 



1. How are bees going into quarters? 



2. Has the price and scarcity of sugar caused any bees 

 to go into winter short? 



J. How does the honey flora look? What is its condi- 

 tion compared to a year ago? 



4. How much honey do you know of still in the hands 

 of producers, and what price are they holding for? 



6. What is the demand for honey locally? 



6. What are the large buyers offering for extracted 

 honey? 



7. How much comb honey is left on hand? 



CONDITION OF BEES 



Bees seem to be going into winter in good shape in the 

 whole northeast section of the country. They are normal 

 as to young bees, possibly a little short on stores, which 

 will require close attention by the beekeeper when the 

 bees come out in spring. In the whole of the South ex- 

 cept Texas, bees are in fine shape and have sufficient 

 stores. 



In Texas conditions have not improved generally, 

 though some localities have had a fair fall flow, putting 

 the bees in good shape in young bees "and honey. In 

 other sections bees are still starving, and it is certain 

 that the losses will be heavy, especially among those who 

 dc not carefully feed. 



The Mississippi valley reports bees in fair shape. Some 

 sections have had a good fall flow, while others have had 

 to feed to insure plenty of stores. 



In the Missouri valley the condition is parallel. 



Colorado, Montana, Idaho and other inter-mountain 

 States report bees in fine shape. New Mexico reports 

 them as fair. 



In California bees will go into winter in good shape 

 generally. They have had to be fed in some localities. 

 In a few others a short fall flow has left some colonies 

 short in young bees. 



SUGAR AND STORES 



Taken generally, bees are likely shorter of stores the 

 country over than they have been for two or three years. 

 Most up-to-date beekeepers have fed where needed. 



Luckily, the extreme sliortage of sugar did not come 

 until the feeding period was over, so that it was possible 

 to get all the sugar needed if the price was paid for it. 



PLANT CONDITIONS 



The South is much encouraged over conditions of 

 plants for the year, being ahead of those of a year ago. 

 Ill the East conditions are much more favorable than a 

 year ago, though some rain is needed to put clover out 

 ot. droutli danger. 



The same condition applies in the Mississippi Valley, 

 especially in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa generally, Mis- 

 souri, Kansas and Nebraska. 



In Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota plant conditions 

 were so favorable a year ago that it is doubtful if they 

 are better this year. More rain is needed. 



In other sections plant conditions cannot be accurately 

 judged until the next season opens. 



HONEY ON HAND 



\'cry limited quantities of honey, relatively, are in the 

 liands of producers, probably not more than five per cent 

 or less the country over. Most local salesmen are either 

 cleaned of honey or selling out rapidly. What is still left 

 is commanding generally a price of 15 cents f. o. b. for 

 extracted and $4.00 f. o. b. for comb. 



Following is a list of some of the honey still unsold at 

 tlie time this was written, and the prices asked : 



One-half car white Idaho extracted, ISyi to 16 cents. 



3.000 pounds amber California extracted" at 14 cents. 



6,000 pounds California amber extracted at 13 cents. 



8.000 pounds Montana white extracted at 16 cents. 



200 cases Montana comb at $4.00. 



10,000 pounds Montana extracted white at IS cents. 



30,000 pounds Montana white extracted at 16 cents. 



40 cases Colorado comb at $4.50. 



800 cases Colorado comb; price not named. 



20,000 pounds Colorado white extracted at 16 cents 



40,000 pounds Colorado white extracted at 15 cents 



LOCAL DEMAND 



In almost all localities the local demand exceeds the 

 supply of honey, so that all stocks are fast being cleaned 

 up. 



OFFERS 



In a majority of cases large buyers are offering under 

 15 cents for extracted honey. There is no doubt, how- 

 ever, that the acute shortage of sugar in many localities 

 is going to make honey of even more ready sale Some 

 few beekeepers report the sale of large lots of honey as 

 high as 16 cents for extracted. 



COMB HONEY 



Probably in recent years there has not been such a 

 shortage in comb honey. The only large lot mentioned 

 in reports is the lot of 800 cases in Colorado, and this was 

 not reported directly by the beekeeper. 



SUMMARY 



Probably in no year before has there been such a 

 range in the price received wholesale by the beekeeper 

 for his honey. Some demanded 15 cents for extracted 

 white and got it. Others contracted ahead, some as low 

 as 8 cents for the best extracted. 



Even after markets materially advanced, many bee- 

 keepers did not keep themselves informed as to conditions 

 and accepted relatively lower prices. 



One organization in the West got around IS cents for 

 all extracted honey sold for members and a corresponding 

 price for comb. 



HONEY AND BEESWAX 



Chicago, November 17. — The movement in 

 honey of all kinds ha been quite free during 

 the past month, especially in extracted, for 

 which there has been an active foreign de- 

 mand, and as high as IBi^c per pound has 

 been paid, which has stiffened the market up 

 so that for the best grades of white clover and 

 similar goods 17c per lb. is obtained. Ambers 

 sell at from Ic to 3c per lb. less, according to 

 flavor and quality. White comb, Al to fancy, 

 brings 22c to 23c per section. Amber grades 

 range from Ic to 3c less. Beeswax is steady 

 at 35c to 37c per lb. 



R. A. Burnett & Co. 



New York, November 16.— The market on 

 honey IS in such an irregular condition that 



we do not feel justified in quoting any prices, 

 as they change from day to day. 



HlILDRETH & SeGELKEN. 



Kansas City, November 16. — In regard to 

 the honey market, will say that the supply of 

 comb honey on the Kansas City market is very 

 light, lighter than last year at this time by a 

 big per cent. The fact of the matter is that 

 none of the dealers have anything but a very 

 light supply on hand, and we are entirely 

 cleaned up for the present. No. 1 comb honey 

 would job at about $4.50. The market on ex- 

 tracted IS in good shape, with only a moderate 

 supply on hand, the very best selling at around 

 15 cents. 



While some of the smaller beekeepers may 

 be holding their honey, there is no large 

 amount being held that we know of. 



C. C. Clemons Produce Co. 



Denver, November 16.— Our present prices 

 to retailers are as follows: Extra fancy white 



com!) honey, $5.00; No. 1 white comb honey, 

 $4.50; No. 2 comb honey, $4.00. Extracted 

 white honey, according to quantity, 16-18c; 

 light amber. 14-15c. For clean yellow bees- 

 wax, delivered here, we are paying 38c in cash 

 and 40c in trade. 



The Colorado Honey Producers' Assn. 



Beekeeper's Guide, by A. J. Cook— 

 This book on bees is also known as 

 the " Manual of the Apiary." It is in- 

 structive and interesting, as well as 

 practically scientific. It has 544 paees 

 and295 illustrations. Bound in cloth. 

 Price, postpaid. Ji.jo; or with a year's 

 subscription to the American Bee 

 Journal, both for $i.8o. 



