February, 1915. 



American Vae -Jonrnal 



Emi Western W Bee-Kexping 



Conducted by Wesley Fostee. Boulder. Colo. 



Natitnal Comb Honey Grading Rules 



The National Beekeepers' Associa- 

 tion adopted grading rules for cornb 

 honey at the Cincinnati convention in 

 1913. 



These rules have been published in 

 the bee journals, but it is doubtful if 

 they have been used to any great ex- 

 tent throughout the country. The 

 writer is aware that upon a casual 

 reading of the rules, the average bee- 

 keeper will gather that there are a 

 numberless set of diflferentgrades. This 

 is very nearly true. But that is not 

 saying that every beekeeper who 

 grades by these rules will have num- 

 berless grades. As an actual fact, he 

 will have not more than three or pos- 

 sibly four. 



If the beekeeper will grade his honey 

 carefully according to the rules, each 

 case will be uniform in the make-up 

 of that ease, so far as weight, color of 

 honey and finish is concerned. He will 

 have, if he is an average beekeeper, no 

 extra fancy comb honey at all. This 

 grade is illustrated in Fig. 1, which is 

 just as the name implies. There is 

 enough of this honey produced so that 

 there is justification for the grade. 



In Fig. 2 is shown a case of fancy 

 comb honey. No attempt, of course, 

 is made to thowthe color of the honey, 

 or capping!, or the weight. These 

 items would be impossible to show by 

 picturet, and it is noi necessary. 



Fig. 3 shows one side of a case of 



No. 1 comb honey. This honey is 

 slightly off in finish, but it is No. 1 in 

 all that the name implies. 



Figure 4 shows one surface of a case 

 of No. 2 comb honey. This honey is 

 marketable and includes honey that, 

 under Colorade rules, would be called 

 cull honey. Cull honey is not a com- 



mercial shipping honey, while this 

 honey that has been classed as cull is 

 worthy of the market. In fact, such 

 honey as this No. 2 is quickly picked 

 up on the big markets. Its ready sale 

 is testimony enough that it is not cull 

 stock, and should not be so classed. 



The greater bulk of anyone beekeep- 

 er's crop will be made up of fancy. No. 

 1 and No. 2. According to his expert- 

 ness, will he be able to reduce the num- 

 ber of cases of No. 2 and increase the 

 numbers of first grade and fancy. 



With the enactment of the Federal 

 Net Weight Law, it will be necessary to 

 put sections of uniform weight together 

 in cases, as the rules specify this and 

 the law makes it advisable. In this 

 way, Fancy White, Fancy Light Am- 



FIG. i-FANCY. (NATIONAL RULES.) 



t» l u i ^ ■ ^ ■N li^iw l- H^ 



_--lV...^ .1 



-1 f 



*>^ -: A^r -. i t ^ i L 



FIG. I.-EXTRA FANCY (NATIONAL RULES, 



ber, Fancy Amber, etc., would have 

 each section stamped with the weight, 

 while on tie end of the case would be 

 stamped the grade and color and actua 

 net weight, if desired, or the heavy, 

 medium, or light could be used. 



The outstanding advantages of the 

 rules 're that amber honey does not 

 have to be sold at a No. 2 price if it is 

 fancy in finish and quality. 



It is possible to secure the maximum 

 value for each section of honey if it is 

 very near in finish, color and weight to 

 every other section in the case. 



As beekeepers gain more knowledge 

 of the demands of the market and be- 

 come more careful in grading and 

 packing, the rules will be more fully 

 appreciated. It is not argued that they 

 are perfect. The writer thinks there 

 are some minor changes desirable, 

 but the principle upon which the rules 

 are founded is correct. 



These rul -s do not give opportunity 

 to the buyer of a car of honey to 

 "grade up" the lot by repacking. For 

 this reason, it will be hard for some 

 beekeepers to make sales if grading 

 by these rules. One's market, of 

 course, must be studied and what is 

 best for each one followed. But the 

 trend will be toward this careful differ- 

 entiation of different finishes, weights 

 and color of comb honey. 



