JULY 1, 1913 



Heads of Grain from Different Fields 



Grading Extracted Honey by Means of a Standard 

 System of Colors 



The matter of grading honey correctly is a ques- 

 tion of paramount importance to every one handling 

 either comb or extracted honey. Mr. G. F. DeMuth, 

 of the Bureau of Entomology, is quoted in your 

 report of the National Association at Cincinnati as 

 suggesting a scheme of colored cards to be used as 

 a standard of comparison by which to describe any 

 grade of comb honey as to color. This matter of a 

 standard color-guide has been in my mind for some 

 time ; and since the subject has been broached pub- 

 licly I am prompted to give my idea in the form of 

 a suggestion relating to extracted honey only. 



When extracted honey is viewed by transmitted 

 light (that is, by the light through the honey), the 

 color is lighter when the body of honey is small, and 

 darker in proportion to the increase in the body. 

 This, in the first place, suggested to my mind the 

 advantage of always viewing the specimen through 

 glass containers having the same diameter or dis- 

 tance through, so that, whether the specimen be 

 light or dark, its actual color is shown to a certain- 

 ty, and sample after sample can be compared to a 

 nicety. 



When this idea had been well considered I could 

 not but marvel that the business of judging the color 

 of honey has been done in the haphazard way it has 

 ever since extracted honey has been a marketable 

 product. The general use of a standard prescribed 

 container for observing honey to be judged, say a 

 test-tube % inch in diameter, would put the ques- 

 tion upon a fairly reliable universal basis. Assum- 

 ing that this were done, there yet remains the hu- 

 man factor to be considered, for the specimen nat- 

 urally looks to the seller much lighter than it does 

 to the dealer. The possibility of a dispute or at least 

 dissatisfaction can be avoided by the use of an ac- 

 cepted standard color-guide, to be viewed alongside 

 the honey contained in standard-sized test-tube. 



It seems to me that it would be appropriate for 

 the National Association to select and make official 

 and standard such a scale of colors made in glass 

 (which is most unchangeable), the original to be 

 kept by the secretary as the standard. The Associa- 

 tion could supply certified duplicates to all who 

 might desire to purchase. Every producer of ex- 

 tracted, and every dealer, should be provided with 

 such a means of grading the product properly be- 

 yond question. Such a color scale might be made a 

 permanent part of the standard-sized test-tube, there- 

 by simplifying all operations. 



The matter of grading extracted honey would be 

 thus made an exact science. Any person not color- 

 blind could grade honey. The seller could know 

 exactly his grade before shipping, thereby avoiding 

 any hocus pocus by the consignee. The demand for 

 extracted honey is increasing, and the importance 

 of standardizing the method of grading increases 

 correspondingly ; so that it would seem that this is 

 a matter deserving attention and action. 



New Jersey. C. D. C. 



Comb and Extracted Selling for the Same Price 



I started about ten years ago with two stocks of 

 bees, because I had a piece of land of about two 

 acres on which I grew small fruits such as straw- 

 berries, raspberries, and black currants. I also had 

 a small orchard of plum trees. I had a shop in the 

 main street of the town, so I thought if I was clev- 

 er enough to get any honey I should be able to sell 

 it retail over the counter and get full price for it. 

 I have gradually increased my apiary from two to 

 33 colonies of bees because I found I could make it 

 pay, and also sell all the honey I could get. When 

 I started I made up my mind to master the practical 

 side of beekeeping; so I joined the county associa- 



tion of beekeepers, bought the British Beeekeepers' 

 Guide-book, the A B C and X Y Z of Bee Culture, 

 and read up all I could about bees. Each year I 

 have bought more books and have taken bee jour- 

 nals regularly, so as to glean all I can about the 

 theory and practice of beekeeping. 



I can sell at retail all the honey I can get, and 

 most years have to buy some more in order to supply 

 orders. It is put up in V2 and 1 lb. screw-capped 

 bottles, and is sold at 24 cents per lb. I also sell 

 the sections at the same price. The seconds, or those 

 off grade, are all eaten at home. I make a profit on 

 an average of about five dollars per hive each year, 

 and some years more. This year was the worst for 

 several seasons, the average yield of honey being 15 

 lbs. per colony. Last year my average yield was 40 

 lbs., the highest individual hive giving 72 lbs. 



My district is the noted fruit-growing district of 

 Evesham, in Worcestershire, and stretches for several 

 miles on either side of the town. The farms are 

 gradually giving way to fruit culture and vegetable- 

 growing, so you see my honey is a mixture of fruit, 

 honey clover, raspberry, peas, beans, etc. The fruit 

 blossom comes early, and the bees build up quickly, 

 and some years fill a super on each hive from fruit 

 blossoms. I do not get any light honey around here. 

 It is generally medium-colored, of a good consis- 

 tency, and rich, thick, and of good flavor. 



I have gone in for showing, and have taken two 

 silver and three bronze medals, and about 35 money 

 prizes, mostly at local or county shows. The exhib- 

 iting is a great help in selling my honey; and if I 

 have a big lot I advertise in the local papers, and 

 give a guarantee with every pound of honey. 



WM. J. WOOLLEY, Jr. 



Evesham. England, Dec. 2, 1912. 



Sending Honey by Parcel Post 



On p. 94, Feb. 1, I note that different packages 

 are used in Europe for sending honey by parcel 

 post. I have been sending honey thus for about 

 three weeks, and have mailed about one can a day. 

 One 11-lb. can was sent to the third zone; some were 

 also sent into Massachusetts. All report that it goes 

 through well, and that the honey is fine. Of course 

 I am sending out nothing but the best of honey. 



I am using a can made in Franklinville, N. Y. 

 It has a 2*/^ -inch screw top, and is tight when 

 screwed down. I make a light wooden crate. The 

 ends are V4, thick, and the size of the can ends. I 

 then nail two strips on a side about M inch frojn 

 the corner. When it is all nailed I tie a strong 

 string around each end just back of the end; and 

 as I nail the strip a little from the corner, the end 

 corner sticks out so that the string can't slip off. 

 I have some strips of tin 3-16 wide, and long enough 

 to go around after it is all nailed, which I intend 

 to try. 



What we want is a reduced rate. It is quite sur- 

 prising to see how short a distance a 50-mile zone 

 is when you want to send a package. It is neces- 

 sary to take the precaution to have every tiling 

 tight and in good shape. I have been wondering 

 how far one of these packages would go safely. 



Dexter, Me., Feb. 6. A. R. Bodge. 



Alfalfa Honey Usually Granulates Quickly 



May 15, p. 329, Mr. J. E. Crane stands corrected 

 about alfalfa honey granulating. We know from 

 many years' experience with it that alfalfa honey 

 granulates the quickest of any kind we have ever 

 had any thing to do with. Our experience started 

 in Wisconsin; after which we spent thirteen years 

 in Michigan, two in California, five in Nebraska, 

 and for seventeen years have been in Colorado. 



Sedgwick, Col., May 22. Gail Crowfoot. 



