GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



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Louis Scholl, New Braunfels, Texas. 



THE CONFUSION IN REGARD TO PROPORTION 



OF COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY IN A 



PACKAGE OF BULK COMB HONEY. 



There exists a great difference of opinion 

 among beekeepers, even in Texas, the home 

 of bulk comb honey, as to the exact way 

 this product should be put up for the mar- 

 ket. Although the packages used almost 

 universally are standard, and especially 

 adapted to the purpose, tlie mode of filling 

 these varies with different beekeepers. The 

 result is that occasional complaints are 

 made by honey-buyers, caused by receiving 

 packages which have not been uniformly 

 packed, due to the fact that the purchases 

 have been made from more than one pro- 

 ducer. A first purchase may consist of 

 packages containing more comb honey in 

 proportion to extracted than is ordinarily 

 put in. The next purchase may be made 

 up of less comb honey and more extracted. 

 The producers in each case have, perhaps, 

 tried to be honest, and have been willing to 

 furnish the best that could be supplied. The 

 first tried to give "full value" in putting in 

 as much comb honey as possible; but by so 

 doing found it impossible to make up the 

 required weight of the package. Comb 

 honey being lighter in weight than ex- 

 tracted, it naturally follows that the more 

 of it that is placed in a package the less the 

 weight will be. So while giving full value 

 by putting in more comb honey there must 

 be loss in weight of the entire package. 



The other beekeeper, then, tries to give 

 full value by giving full weight. To do 

 this it is necessary to make the quantity of 

 comb honey smaller and the extracted hon- 

 ey larger until the proper weight is obtain- 

 ed. Just what the proportion should be is 

 the question that should be decided upon 

 by producers and purchasers alike, so that 

 a standardized method of packing may be 

 adopted. 



No grading rules exist governing bulk 

 comb honey, and it is doubtful whether such 

 are necessary under present conditions. A 

 general rule, understood by all honest pro- 

 ducers and buyers, is that the honey must 

 be of good quality and flavor. This means 

 that both the comb and extracted honey, 

 which constitute the ])roduct known as bulk 

 comb honey, must give satisfaction so far 

 as quality and flavor are concerned. Rather 

 less attention, perhaps, is given to the color 

 of the honey. 



While it is generally undestood by many 

 producers as well as honey-buyers that the 



gross weight including the package is fig- 

 ured in the price of the honey, there are 

 many who do not know this. This causes 

 much confusion. If prices are quoted on 

 two 60-pound cans to a case, that would 

 mean 120 pounds at so much per pound. 

 Since the regular or standard 60-pound 

 cans do not hold this in net weight, some 

 buyers complain because of the shortage of 

 the contents. This is especially so with re- 

 tailers who sell honey in small quantities 

 and find that a 60-pound can, for which a 

 certain jDriee a i^ound has been paid, falls 

 from IV^ to 2 pounds short in weight. It 

 is a matter that should receive immediate 

 attention, and should be adjusted so as to 

 meet the demands of all concerned, as far 

 as possible, before the active shipping sea- 

 son begins. 



In this connection the pure-food laws 

 should be considered. It may be well to 

 think over the question of the tags used on 

 the shijiping cases. For example, a doubt 

 may arise over the meaning of a tag mark- 

 ed "One case two 60-pound honey," wheth- 

 er it be extracted or bulk comb. The point 

 in question would be whether the label 

 ought to indicate 120 pounds net or gross 

 weight, especially since the case of honey 

 is figured at 120 lbs. at so much per pound. 

 It is very rarely that honey-packages are 

 labeled by the Texas producers; but the 

 cases containing them for shipment usually 

 bear the above-mentioned wording on the 

 shipping-tag. Besides this the price lists 

 quote the various sizes in regular order, 

 "Two 60-pound cans to a case at — cents 

 l^er pound;" "ten 12-pound friction-top 

 pails at — cents per pound, etc.," which 

 may give the impression that this is intend- 

 ed for the net weight of honey, while it 

 ought to cover the gross weight, because the 

 regular standard cans do not hold the full 

 weight. 



We want to hear at once from all who 

 are interested in this matter, as to what 

 steps should be taken toward standardizing 

 the packing of bulk-comb-honey i^ackages, 

 as well as extracted honey, and the proper 

 labeling of the same, to prevent confusion 

 and the possibility of violating the pure- 

 food laws. 



Your opinions ai'e greatly desired, and 

 will be aj^preeiated ; so, let me hear from 

 you immediately. A few lines on a pOstal 

 will sutfiee if there is no time for a letter; 

 but a more lengthy discussion by letter 

 would be preferable. 



