28 



GLEAJSINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan 1 



cure yields which may seem impossible to 

 those who do not follow the movable system 

 of bee-keeping. Modern apicultiirists who 

 devote study and knowledge to effect a com- 

 plete understanding of the problems sur- 

 rounding the collection of honey are just as 

 anxious to secure a price for their honey 

 from merchants equal to its actual value, or 

 the system in which it is held, and accord- 

 ing to the class to which it belongs. In this 

 part of Spain it is somewhat difficult to re- 

 alize on our honey for want of a depot or 

 honey-selling agency. 



Our honey, especially that proceeding 

 from orange-flowers, in the kingdom of Va- 

 lencia, Murcia, and Andalusia, also that 

 from the rosemary, is alway appreciated, as 

 also that gathered from the flowers of the 

 wild thyme, and other mint flowers having 

 an exquisite aroma, and which are proper 

 to the Mediterranean region and the coast 

 of Spain. These have to come in competi- 

 tion with honey derived from clover, sain- 

 foin, alfalfa, rape, and other kinds of various 

 origins, which are more abundant in outside 

 regions, but which we are certain are not su- 

 perior to our Spanish honeys. We propose, 

 then, to compare the prices obtained in oth- 

 er countries with those in our own, as a 

 guide to our bee-keepers. 



Berlin. — The price of extracted honey 

 there is always firm enough; \ kilo (a little 

 more than 1 lb.) extracted honey, 30 cts. ; 

 ^ kilo (a pound section) comb honey, 37^ 

 cts.; 1 kilo (2^ lbs), 59 cts. 



Bremen. — Honey (in sections) per lb., 80 

 cts.; honey (extracted) per lb., 27^ cts.; 

 honey (strained), per lb., 20 cts. 



Ai Reichenberg, Bohemia, Austria, the 

 price of honey in the market is approximate- 

 ly as follows: i lb., 20 cts.; 1 lb., 36 cts.; \\ 

 lbs., 56 cts.; 2^ lbs., $1.00. 



It should be understood this is for honey 

 which is new, and put up in a jar. 



G'ermaw^/-— Already we have quoted the 

 prices obtained for honey in the capital city 

 of the nation, giving the figures obtained at 

 the end of last October. These prices make 

 a very suggestive comparison when put 

 alongside the prices obtained for Spanish 

 honey, and it is certain the quality is in no- 

 wise superior to ours. The sale of honey at 

 these prices is very considerable, and may 

 be indicated as never under 30 cents nor 

 over 37^ per lb. (17 oz.). It is understood, 

 of course, the honey is in glass. For bass- 

 wood, locust, and similar kinds, which are 

 considered very good, but which are certain- 

 ly not superior to orange olossom or wild 

 thyme, a price of 50 cts. per lb. is obtained. 



in Denmark the best honey is sold by the 

 producer directly to the consumer, and the 

 average price obtained is in the vicinity of 

 28 cts. per lb. in the bottle. 



In France the course of prices for honey 

 in Paris is almost stationary, and for light- 

 colored high-class honey the stores never 

 seem to have enough. 



In Switzerland the honey is generally very 

 good, and as much as 60 cts. per lb. (in jars) 

 is often paid for it. 



Now we have some sort of data on which 

 to base the future production and sale of 

 honey in Spain, with respect to the chances 

 of exporting our honey to foreign countries, 

 more particularly as we have noted the large 

 importations of honey from South America 

 into Hamburg, Germany, which would indi- 

 cate there is always a remunerative sale for 

 good honey elsewhere. 



But, on the other hand, here in Spain all 

 kinds of good honey which can be guaran- 

 teed as the pure nectar of the flowers, and 

 which the intelligent buyer knows to have 

 been extracted by centrifugal force, and pro- 

 duced by the movable-frame system, can 

 generally be sold with facility. In addition 

 to this there is this about this system, and it 

 is a very important feature, tnat, provided 

 there is no other bee-keeper in your locality, 

 it is quite possible to secure from an apiary 

 25.000 lbs. of honey — a superb result. 



It is important that much study be devoted 

 to apiculture, for our country is lamentably 

 deficient in this respect, and clings to the 

 old-fashioned plan. Our present limited pro- 

 duction is simply due to superior natural ad- 

 vantages only. Our system of production is 

 faulty, and so also is our system of selling 

 to foreign countries, for the superior quality 

 of our honey ought to insure for it a ready 

 sale in foreign markets. In our November 

 number it may have been noticed that, 

 through the medium of the government and 

 the department of agriculture, it had been 

 officially determined that apiculture would 

 receive more attention in future from the 

 Grand Institute of Agriculture, and also in 

 the schools of practical agriculture, so that 

 the true system of apiculture, theoretical 

 and practical, will be taught. 



Pedro Villdendas Hbrrero. 



A BELGIAN BEE-KEEPERS SOCIETY AND ITS 

 DOINGS. 



One of the most active and energetic bee- 

 keepers' society in all Europe is that of 

 Bourg-Leopold, in Belgium. During the sea- 

 son just passed it held a number of meet- 

 ings which, in some cases, were held at the 

 apiaries of members. For the year 1908 the 

 committee of management have decided on 

 a program that, to say the least, is praise- 

 worthy. 



1. To change the race-of bees in the coun- 

 try, and to substitute Americans, Italians, 

 and their crosses. 



2. As far as practical, to increase the bee 

 pasturage. 



3. To maintain hives on scales so the' val- 

 ue of the various localities^for bees may be 

 determined with certainty. 



4. Official participation in all bee-exhibi- 

 tions, agricultural fairs, food expositions, 

 etc., with the view of popularizing the 

 honey of the Campine. 



5. To maintain a committee whose busi- 

 ness shall be to promote the sale of honey 

 belonging to members. 



6. To study the bee flora of the Campine 

 and to propagate plants which yield honey. 



