930 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 1 



PRICES ON HONEY FOR 1908; WILL THEY BE LOW- 

 ER THAN LAST YEAR? 



The flow of clover honey in the central-eastern 

 States has been exceptionally heavy and of good 

 quality; but this does not signify by any means 

 that there has also been a great crop in other sec- 

 tions of the country. In some parts of New 

 England the season has been good to poor. The 

 same is true in parts of New York and Pennsyl- 

 vania. In Ohio the flow has been remarkably 

 good; and it has been fairly good in Michigan, 

 Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin; in 

 Iowa, fair to poor. 



Some unfavorable reports come from Kansas 

 and Nebraska. Missouri reports fair to good. 

 In California the latest advices show generally a 

 poor season except in the orange districts. Re- 

 ports from Texas are a little more encouraging. 

 Advices from Colorado are not as yet very defi- 

 nite as to what the season is to be. 



We see no reason why the general market 

 should take a slump; but the Chicago and New 

 York markets, as well as those intervening, will 

 probably have plenty of clover honey, and prices 

 will necessarily be a trifle lower than last year. 

 In Cleveland the buyers are very shy. They do 

 not know what to offer. Along this line we 

 quote from a private letter from one of the largest 

 concerns in that city. As they had no knowl- 

 edge that they were to be quoted we do not feel 

 at liberty as yet to give their name. 



We are not ready to make an offer on comb honey until we 

 have further information from the section where we usually buy 

 our honey. We are confident, however, that the price will be 

 much lower than usual this season. The abundant fruit crop and 

 general condition of the trade, which affects the line of luxuries 

 most, are reasons for our thinking this, and the large crop of hon- 

 ey in Ohio, we are afraid, will prevent our selling much in sec- 

 tions where we have sold it before. 



We wish to off^er the suggestion that the large 

 producers seek out markets where there have not 

 been good crops, and seek them early. Be care- 

 ful, also, to avoid a center that is being glutted. 

 Do not, under any circumstances, send a large 

 shipment without first making careful inquiries ; 

 and avoid sending to new houses. 



It possibly may be advisable in some cases, 

 with a well-known reliable houee, to send on 

 commission ; but send only a small shipment at 

 first; and it that goes well, try another one im- 

 mediately. 



Gleanings is always willing to co-operate to 

 the end that bee-keepers may get the best prices 

 obtainable; but it would be the height of folly 

 for us to attempt to " bull " the market when the 

 conditions would not support it; for any bee-keep- 

 er who waits for better prices will be likely to be 

 disappointed in that he may have to accept less 

 than his first offers. Along in September the 

 market will become more stable, but not higher 

 probably. The number of offerings at present 

 is making the buyers somewhat cautious. 



Later. — After writing the foregoing, the fol- 

 lowing from one of the best and most reliable 

 commission houses in Chicago has been received. 

 As this has a direct bearing on prices we are glad 

 to give it right here: 



Mr. Root: — The honey yield of this season is beginning to 

 come on the market. At this writing the demand for it is limited, 

 but we usually have a very good demand by the beginning of 

 August. What sales are being made now are on a basis of 15 

 cents (or fancy white comb. For lots of any size this would be 

 shaded, say a cent or so per pound, although a determination not 

 to accept lower prices is our purpose at this time, as we believe 



the fine quality of the honey will create a demand for it that will 

 pay this price. The consignments received up to this writing 

 are most desirable, in that the sections are well filled, and the 

 honey securely fastened to the same, giving promise that mucn 

 of the honey will grade A No. 1 to fancy. 



August and September are favorable months for transporting 

 honey, as the wax is strong and there is seldom any of it brokei 

 in transit. Indeed, we think that, at this time of the year, honey 

 shipped without being crated in carriers of six or eight cases comes 

 quite as safely as that in the carriers. 



The demand for extracted for family purposes is quite limited, 

 and will be for a little while to come: meantime, clover is being 

 sold from 7 to 8 cents per pound; amber, 5% to 6/4. The varia- 

 tion in price is caused by quality, flavor, and style of package. 

 Beeswax sells freely at 30 cents per pound when clean and of 

 fair color. R. A. Burnett & Co. 



Chicago, 111., July 22. 



THE PICTURE ON THE COVER FOR THIS ISSUE. 



Something like twelve or fifteen years ago I 

 purchased a rhododendron of the Storrs & Harri- 

 son Co., of Painesville, Ohio. I think the plant 

 cost .$1.50. It was about a foot and a. half tall, 

 and it was in full bloom when I received it. The 

 rhododendron, or flowering evergreen, as it has 

 been sometimes called, is a plant that can be 

 shipped safely when in bloom, without injury. 

 Yes, it is said that you can take a plant out of 

 the garden and set it on the dinner-table, and 

 plant it back in the garden again when in full 

 bloom, without any setback. Perhaps this might 

 be done with a small plant; but the one on the 

 cover page is now taller than my head, as you will 

 notice, and from five to six feet across. It has a 

 beautiful round head of bright glossy evergreen 

 leaves, and has stood safely the frosts of more 

 than a dozen winters, and has always given us 

 more or less bloom in the month of June. Each 

 bunch of blossoms is nearly the size of my cap, 

 as you will notice; and there were perhaps over a 

 hundred trusses of bloom like the ones you see. 

 The color is a beautiful pink; and inside of each 

 flower there are pencilings as if a skillful artist 

 had dipped his brush in some golden paint and 

 dextrously touched the blossom here and there. 

 I explained to the grandchildren that these pic- 

 tures inside of the beautiful flowers are done by 

 God's fingers. The glossy evergreen leaves roll 

 up in the winter whenever the temperature is 

 much below freezing. When the sun comes out 

 they will unroll in a very few minutes. But 

 when a freezing blast starts up suddenly they will 

 curl up in about as short a time. I think this 

 plant stands the weather best on the north side of 

 the house. It then gets shade when the weather 

 is very warm, and the sun is not so likely to start 

 it early in the spring. I do not think I ever in- 

 vested money in any flowering shrub that gave 

 me more satisfaction than this one. 



On either side of me you can get a glimpse of 

 some blood-red Japanese maples. They too have 

 passed through many winters without any protec- 

 tion; and their brilliant foliage, especially in the 

 spring, when the new leaves are out, is as hand- 

 some as a beautiful flower; and it is a flower that 

 is alivays in bloom. Of course the leaves drop 

 off in winter, unlike the rhododendron, which al- 

 ways has foliage. 



When I asked Ernest to give the readers of 

 Gleanings a picture of that beautiful plant in 

 full bloom I did not contemplate putting myself 

 before you so prominently; but he said I needed 

 to stand up among the flowers in order to give 

 you a fair idea of the size of the trusses of bloom. 



A. I. R. 



