Gleanings In Bee Culture 



Published by The A. I. Root Co., Medina, Ohio 



H. H. ROOT, Assistant Editor E. R. Root, Editor A. L. BOYDEN, Advertising Manager 



A. I. ROOT, Editor Home Department j. T. Calvert, Business Manager 



Entered at tlie Postoffice, Medina. Ohio, as Second-elaus Matter. 



VOL. XXXVII 



SEPTEMBER 1, 1909 



NO. 17 



Editorial 



By E. R. Root. 



GETTING NEW HONEY ON THE MARKET EARLY. 



Every year, for some reason, there seems 

 to be an unusual delay in getting new comb 

 honey, or extracted either, for that matter, 

 on the market just when there is a clamoring 

 demand for it. We have no doubt that there 

 are many thousands of pounds of choice new 

 comb honey ready to put in shipping-cases; 

 but e.xperience in the past shows that it will 

 be a month, or perhaps two, before it is ready 

 to be shipped. As it is, it all comes on the 

 market with a rush — the inevitable tendency 

 of which is to depress prices. If it could be 

 shipped out, a little of it beginning the mid- 

 dle of August, continuing tlirougn Septem- 

 ber and along till October, no faster than the 

 market can take it, prices will seek and hold 

 a good level. 



Those who know they have some choice 

 honey should immediately seek out the buy- 

 ers, state quantity and quality, and secure 

 bids. 



honey SODA-WATER. 



Our old friend Percy Orton suggests a new 

 outlet for honey of a strong aromatic flavor. 

 He writes: 



I think I have found an extra-good market for fine- 

 flavored extracted honey of the light-colored varieties 

 — namely: At soda-fountains where fruited cream is 

 sen'ed, use in its place a large spoonful of extracted 

 honey on the ice cream. I am selling raspberry, white- 

 clover, locust, and basswood blend, at $1.25 per gallon 

 can. Write this up for the benefit of others, and try 

 the sale yourselves. Percy Orton. 



Northampton, N. Y., Aug. 18. 



While raspberry and clover have mild fla- 

 vors, basswood is strongly aromatic, and in 

 our opinion it would show its individuality 

 on cream more than some of the milder hon- 

 eys. It occurs to us in this connection that 

 some of these strong-flavored honeys that 

 are a little too strong for table use would be 

 iustthethingforfruited cream. Forexample, 

 honey from noarhound is so bitter and strong 

 that no one can eat it; but a little of it in 

 candy is very delightful. In the same way 

 it would seem to us that a hoarhound-honey 

 soda would take well with the general pub- 

 lic, especially in the winter time, for those 

 who are inclined to coughs or colds. Per- 

 haps buckwheat, so much prized in the east- 

 ern parts of the United States, would make 

 '|uite a run at the fountain. We suggest 



that bee-keepei-s everywhere try using it. 

 Get the proprietors of the soda-fountain to 

 put up cards advertising honey cream sodas. 



ELECTRICITY OR A LOW BAROMETER FAVOR- 

 ABLE TO THE SECRETION OF NECTAR. 



On page 441 of this issue reference is 

 made to " electrical conditions " just preced- 

 ing a rainstorm, that are thought to be favor- 

 able for the secretion of nectar. Like Mr. 

 Holtermann we doubt whether electricity has 

 any thing to do with the matter. Just pre- 

 ceding a heavy rainstorm in mid-summer the 

 atmosphere is heavy and muggy, not to say 

 uncomfortable to a human being. While it 

 is undeniable that, just preceding a down- 

 pour, nectar seems to be secreted more free- 

 ly at times, we would attribute that condition 

 to the atmosphere— a condition that affects 

 both thermometer and barometer. The 

 electric display in the heavens that often fol- 

 lows or accompanies a storm is probably on- 

 ly an incident to a low barometer. There 

 may be a low barometer, a spurt of nectar, 

 but no lightning or thunder. 



THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AT SIOUX CITY, lA. 



Attention is drawn to the fact that the 

 next convention of the National Bee-keepers' 

 Association will be held at Sioux City, Iowa, 

 Sept. 22 and 23. The meeting at Detroit last 

 year was one of the largest and most enthu- 

 siastic ever held in the history of the Associ- 

 ation. While this is an off year for bee-keep- 

 ers, yet we hope there will be a good atten- 

 dance. It was never before held in Iowa, 

 and the bee-keepers of that State and vicini- 

 ty should make a special effort to go. Edi- 

 tor York, of the American Bee Journal, writes 

 that he expects to be present, and, nothing 

 preventing. Gleanings will be represented 

 by one or more of its editorial force. This 

 will mean, probably, E. R. and H. H. Root. 



The railroad rates will be l>i fare for the 

 round trip for 200 miles each way. Board 

 and lodging will be furnished by the Sioux 

 City Y. M. C. A. lodging at not to exceed .50 

 cents, and meals at 10 cents up. The pro- 

 gram will be given in our next issue. In 

 the mean time, make your plans to go if pos- 

 sible. 



HOT or COLD UNCAPPING-KNIVES; STRAIGHT 

 OR OFFSET BLADE. 



Considerable interest seems to be arous- 

 ed over the question of honey-knives — the 

 shape of the blade, whether hot or cold, or 



