1909 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



509 



averai?e crop has been produced. So far as the South 

 is concerned, a fair crop has been produced in the two 

 Caroliiias, Georijia, Louisiana, ancl Texas, and a irood 

 crop in Florida. 



We are receivintr letters richt alontr from the above- 

 named Southern States, askinir as to the market condi- 

 tion, quite a number of them from producers whom we 

 have not heard of before, which would certainly indi- 

 cate that a fair to irood crop has been harvested. As 

 to Colorado and Utah and other Northwestern States 

 we assume that there will be a fair crop. This may be 

 said of Arizona. 



As to California, the first reports were very discour- 

 asrintr. and it seemed as if not much honey would be 

 produced in Southtrn California. This, however, has 

 been the same old story from the coast; "short crop" 

 has been the cry for several years past, which seems 

 to be the habit in California. We have always found 

 that there was enouuh California honey to gro around, 

 even with the reported short crop, and some of it is 

 carried over every season. 



When California reports 200 cars to be the crop pro- 

 duced, we generally fitrure from 350 to 400 cars, and 

 think we come pretty close to the mark. Judtring- from 

 the offerings we are receivintr from the coast, we are 

 inclined to believe that a good crop has been produced. 



New York, Aug. 2. Hildreth & Segelken. 



In the circular letter which we sent out to 

 prominent bee-keepers throughout the Unit- 

 ed States wp requested that these corres- 

 pondents answer on a postal by number. 

 Read carefully the circular letter, and then 

 the replies will be understood. — Ed. 



Dear Sir.— In our Auer. 1st issue we prepared a report 

 of the honey-crop conditions, based on the best infor- 

 mation we could Rather from various correspondents 

 and friends. With a view of revising the same, we are 

 taking the liberty of asking you to answer,as best you 

 can, the following questions. In your replies it will 

 not be necessary to repeat the question, but simply 

 give the number opposite each answer. 



1. Has there been much honey-dew gathered in your 

 locality? 



2. If so, is it mi.xed to any considerable extent with 

 white honey? 



3. As compared with a fair average year, what has 

 been the yield of clover, basswood, alfalfa, or what- 

 ever is your main source of supply? 



4. In your judgment, will prices on honey be higher 

 or lower than last year in your locality? 



If you will help us in malting up a revised report you 

 will be conferring a great service on the bee-keeping 

 industry at large, for these reports have a direct bear- 

 ing on the all-important question of prices. 



It would be a most serious mistake to report the 

 yield lower than it is in order to boost prices, because 

 in the end the true facts would be discovered, and the 

 result would be a general slump that will bring prices 

 considerably below what they would have been had 

 the facts been accurately given at first. We have se- 

 lected you, as we believe you will give a fair and ac- 

 curate statement; but we mentioned the effect of under- 

 stating the market, only that you may not be misled 

 by prejudiced reports from those in your vicinity. 



We would appreciate it if you could get these replies 

 to us as early as possible, for the reason that the first 

 prices that are established would have considerable 

 i^earing on the prices that are maintained throughout 

 the season. E. R. ROOT. 



Medina. Ohio, July 28. 



These replies, arranged alphabetically by 

 States, are as follows: 



Crop is off about three-fourths in this locality; too 



much rain; nearly 40 inches of rain since February 1. 



Montgomery, Ala., July 23. J. M. CUTTS. I 



Honey crop up to date has been very poor in most 

 places. Compared with the 1908 crop it falls short at 

 least one-half, perhaps more. Wm. Lossing. 



Phoenix, Arizona, July 8. 



1. Very little; 2. Can not say; 3. Perhaps''half— not 

 more; 4. About the same. 



The Southwestern Seed Co. 

 Fayetteville, Ark., July 31. 



The honey crop is turning out better"" here than the 

 arly spring gave promise for. Quality is mostly dark 

 in color, but the taste is good. A. P. Herrick. 



Campo. Cal., July 21. 



I am informed by good authority that the honey crop 

 in the S;in Joa(iuin Valley will be very short, perhaps 

 not more than half a crop. Now as to conditions in 

 this valley, our crop will be a bout the same as last year. 

 The honey-flow checked very suddenly, and may not 

 resume again; if so, we shall be short. I am laying off 

 half of my men at the end of this week, so you see how 

 I feel about it. Phoenix will probably have a normal 

 crop. J. w. George. 



Imperial, Cal., July 19. 



From all reports which have come in, we expect to 

 have a little better than half a crop this season. In 

 some portions of the San Joaquin Valley there will be 

 no honey produced this year, owing to heavy losses 

 caused by European foul brood. The quality of the 

 honey will be about the same as usual for the summer 

 crop— that is, amber to dark amber. G. A. Faris. 



Fresno. Cal., July 13. 



1. None at all; 3. Just an average crop; 4. About the 

 same price. S. T. Pettit. 



Aylmer West. Ont.. Can., July 31. 



1. Not a large quantity; 2. No; 3. About two-thirds; 

 4. No lower and probably a little firmer. 

 Ealing. London. Ont.. Aug. 3. F. J. Miller. 



1. No; 2, 3. One hundred per colony from clover; 4. 

 Likely to rule a trifle lower than last year; quite a 

 general medium crop in most parts of Ontario from 

 clover, and prospects for buckwheat are good. Bass- 

 wood has done very little, hardly worth mention. 



Mt. Joy, Ont, Can., July 30. J. L. Byer. 



Answering yours of July 23 I would say there has 

 been a great deal of honey-dew on plum, apple, and 

 other fruit-trees secreted by aphides. The bees very 

 conspicuously worked on this honey-dew before clo- 

 ver-bloom. For those who have been careful, it has 

 not injured the clover crop, and in this section of the 

 country fir-t-class clover honey has been secured. If 

 bee-keepers are not careful, bees may not winter well, 

 owing to the presence of this honey-dew in the brood- 

 chamber as stores for next winter. The clover-yield 

 has been above the average, probably the best for 

 years; basswood promised well, but did not yield much, 

 although from the amount of flying conspicuous, more 

 was expected. The bees gathered as much thistle hon- 

 ey as basswood. The above is the sole source of sur- 

 plus honey. Owing to the high price of other produce, 

 and the failure of much of the apple crop, and the 

 growth of our country in population, if bef -keepers do 

 not lose their heads we are likely to obtain the same or 

 about the same price for our extracted honey as last 

 year. We do not anticipate much competition witli 

 foreign honey, as the quality of our own is exception- 

 ally fine; and if, for lack of proper distribution, there 

 should be too much honey in any section we hope to 

 be able to secure a sufficient export demand. 



Brantford, Ont., July 31. R. F. Holtermann. 



1. No honey-dew gathered here; 3. The crop has 

 been about an average one, perhaps rather more gath- 

 ered from alfalfa than usual; 4. The same or higher. 



Grand Junction, Col., Aug. 3. J. A. Green. 



1. No; 2. No; 3. Too early to answer; prospects for 

 average crop; 4. Perhaps a little lower. 

 Denver, Col.. July 28. Frank Rauchfuss. 



1. There has been no honey-dew this year; 2. Quali- 

 ty of the honey is good, and there is as much white 

 honey as we generally have, and most of our honey is 

 water-white; 3. The crop looks to be an average, 

 though not as good as 1907 was. The bees are now 

 ready for the second bloom of the alfalfa; and if it 

 yields as it should, a surplus of 75 lbs. may be secured; 

 4. Locally, prices will be lower at first than last year; 

 but new honey is selling above the old honey prices 

 now. Wesley C. Foster. 



Denver. Col., July 30. 



1, 2. No mention has been made of honey-dew, from 

 our source of information; 3. Our yield in sections or 

 areas outside of Savannah territory has been 50 per 

 cent; 4. Prices have not been disturbed. 



Savannah, Ga., July 30. HOWKINS & Rush. 



Honey crop is the poorest in many years. 

 Norwalk, la., July 24. D. K. BROWN. 



A small amount of honey-dew is mixed with clover 

 in localities where hickory-trees are. Two yards of 

 mine are nice clover, not mixed; basswood, no yield 

 to mention. Clover made an average of 19 sealed sec- 

 tions per colony, of 4.50 colonies. 



Maquoketa, la., Aug. 4. Fi?ANK Covhrdale. 



