1901 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



83 



selling when they do not have a bushel of 

 wheat in their bins ; but it is no way for a 

 man to sell honey when he has not the goods 

 where he can lay his hands on them and de- 

 liver at once. Many producers think we can 

 agree to co operate, then when a car of honey 

 is contracted let each individual deliver his 

 goods at the shipping point, and so load a car, 

 and no need of a wareroom. I want to point 

 out to each and every reader why this plan can 

 not be made & general success. 



When you and I, brethren, make purchases 

 we do not like to buy "out of sight and un- 

 seen." People's idea of what the goods ought 

 to be, differ ; and there is always a suspicion 

 that, when delivery is made, ihere may be 

 something wrong, the buyer not getting what 

 he paid or bargained for. A minimum carload 

 of honey is 30 000 pounds; and if ten or 

 twenty producers are to deliver that much 

 honey at a given place on a certain day of the 

 week, almost invariably someone or more fail. 

 It may be sickness, bad roads, bad weather, 

 carelessness, or something ; or it may be some 

 one has had a better offer on the honey from 

 some other source, and the high bidder gets 

 it. All these and many more reasons I could 

 set forth make such a scheme very untrust- 

 worthy and unsatisfactory. Such plans usual- 

 ly cause the early demise of the co-operative 

 concern, and the disgust and dissatisfaction of 

 the co-operaiors 



There must be storage centers, and there 

 must be provision to supply cash to the pro- 

 ducers when they deliver the goods. Do not 

 forget the financial part of the matter. Cash 

 must be on demand when goods are delivered 

 in storage. If the plan contemplates a coop- 

 erative business, then the producer should not 

 receive all his money down. Enough should 

 be withheld so that there be no loss when the 

 honey is marketed ; but if the plan is to be an 

 outright buying and selling, then the pay 

 should be in full at delivery of stuff. 



I think for several reasons the business 

 should be neither all co operative nor all out- 

 right buying and selling, but a combination 

 of both methods. Some will want to sell hon- 

 ey outright, get cash, and be done with it at 



once, and provisiom should be made for such. 

 Circumstances may almost or quite compel 

 some to sell for spot cash. 



Then there are others who would prefer to 

 put their honey in on commission. On this 

 plan they may be able to get more money, for 

 there is no questioning the idea that, if one 

 buys outright, putting cash into goods, the 

 margin must be absolutely safe, hence a less 

 price will be paid, so that the risks may be 

 fully covered ; but on commission the produ- 

 cer helps carry the risks, and so 

 of right ought to get more pay in 

 the end. With a plan of this kind 

 — both outright buying and com- 

 mission, the business can be more 

 mutual and also co-operative. It 

 will bring together the greatest 

 number of those who ought to be 

 in the association. 



One of the very first things to be 

 accomplished is to get the produ- 

 cers together and co-operating. 

 Get a general knowledge of crop 

 prospects, and of its gathering in. 

 Let the central office determine if 

 the crop will probably equal the 

 demand or otherwise, and indicate 

 to branch offices about prices that 

 ought to prevail. In doing this 

 the head office should get very fre- 

 quent reports of the crops, and of 

 the kind and grade, and when it 

 will be available to ship. Remember, it is 

 never available for shipment until delivered in 

 warehouse. 



The head office should be fully informed of 

 the stock in hands of the various dealers in all 

 principal markets, and so would know about 

 how soon any given point could use a car or 

 two. When honey is needed or wanted, there 



Fruit Growersc 



OP LOV^UAND' 



Market Their FRu^TS. 



KitCarson 



las/Animasi 



Granada 



would be no difficulty in pointing out to buy- 

 ers where it can be had, and sellers to where 

 there is a buyer. 



This looks like a big undertaking, and it is 

 quite large, I admit ; but that it will abun- 



