JULY 1, 1912 



395 



specimen sections, two or three of each grade, the 

 poorest that are to go into each grade, have these 

 specimens properly marked, and kept before the 

 grader at all times, with instructions not to put any 

 thing into a grade poorer than the specimens ; and 

 if in doubt about a section, to put it into the next 

 lower grade. 



A sensitive spring scales, with large dial, plainly 

 indicating V2 ounces, is needed for weighing doubt- 

 ful sections. A scales especially adapted for the work 

 can be bought for $1.50. After using the scales for 

 a short time most graders will find that but a small 

 part of the crop needs to be weighed, as they soon 

 get very efficient in judging weights. 



The front sections of honey in a case must be 

 alike in color and finish, and a true representation 

 of the contents. 



COMB HONEY NOT PERMITTED IN SHIPPING GRADES. 



Honey packed in second-hand cases. 



Honey in badly stained sections. 



Honey showing signs of granulation. 



Leaking, injured, or patched-up sections. 



Sections containing honeydew. 



Sections with more than 50 uncapped cells, or a- 

 less number of empty cells. 



Sections weighing less than the required weight. 



Such honey may be sold around home or render- 

 ed. 



Don't put off. Case comb honey as soon as taken 

 fiom the hives, and market while weather is warm. 

 Tlie early market is usually the best. 



Don't haul without springs, and don't allow cases 

 to get soiled or dusty. 



Don't ship comb honey in less than car lots unless 

 packed in carrier crates holding 8 cases each, with 

 straw in bottom. 



Don't ship by express, except very short distances. 

 Freight is cheaper and just as safe. 



\otice. — As practically all beekeepers are now 

 using separators between each row of sections, no 

 provisions are made in tiie grading rules for half 

 and non-scparatored honey. 



To EXTKACTED-HONEV PRODUCERS. "Do nOt get 



honey contaminated by excessive use of smoke. 



Be sure honey is thoroughly ripened and well 

 strained before putting into cans. 



Put sixty pounds net in each five-gallon can. 



Adopt the plan of marketing each extracting with 

 a different number or letter, as there is usually a 

 variation of color and flavor in the different extract- 

 ings. If a good-sized sample is kept of each lot with 

 the mark and number of cans in lot on it, it is easy 

 to satisfy an intending purchaser as to quality and 

 color. 



Cases should be nailed with 7-penny cement-coated 

 box nails; and for long-distance local shipment the 

 ends should be strapped with band iron or wire. 



The grading of any article, honey not excluded, 

 is a simple matter if the person doing the grading 

 will follow the golden rule and put himself in the 

 place ol the buyer. 



We note that tlie foregoing rules differ 

 from former ones in the following particu- 

 lars: They noAv provide for a "fancy 

 white." The old rules did not go further 

 than No. 1 white. They also provide for 

 another grade — namely, "choice," as an in- 

 (ei-mediate grading between 1 and 2. Grad- 

 ing "fancy Avhite" and "No. 1" provides 

 for com.bs being attached to all four sides 

 of the section. This is a most excellent re- 

 quirement, and will do much to avert trou- 

 ble between the producer and the buyer. 

 No comb should be considered fancy or No. 

 1 unless it is attached to all four sides. 

 And, again, we notice that the new rules 

 as well as the old ones place a limit as to 

 weight. The old rules yn-ovided for the 

 limit on the case itself. The new rules pro- 

 vide a limit on the individual sec^/oH-s them- 

 selves. A little consideration will show that 

 this is a decided improvement. In the first 



lilace, a limit on the sections practically 

 tlii'ows out all unseparatored or half-sep- 

 aratored honey. It renders it absolutely 

 necessary, in order to get a grading of 

 fancy and No. 1 and choice, that all supers 

 on tlie hives be separatored. Any producer 

 who will attempt to go along the old lines 

 in the production of honey without sepa- 

 I'aiors or half separators will find his prod- 

 uct barred by the Colorado rules as now 

 revised. The individual limit set on the 

 sections as to weight will shut him out, be- 

 cause he can not afford to put into his 

 cases a 15, 16, or 17 ounce section and get 

 a credit of only 13^2 ounces. The under- 

 weight sections — those under 13^/^ ounces 

 — ^Avill not be accepted at all. Under the 

 old grading rules a ten-ounce section and 

 a fifteen-ounce section could both go into 

 the same case, providing the whole case of 

 24 sections Aveighed not less than 22 lbs. 

 net. Clearly the unseparatored man is out- 

 classed and ruled out. No more will the 

 "average" be accepted. Hereafter every 

 section in the case must come up to a cer- 

 tain limit; and not only that, combs must 

 not project beyond the wood. Tliey may 

 weigh more than IS^/o ounces, but must not 

 weigh less. 



Another very important suggestion is 

 tlmt for scraping the sections. It should 

 have been incorjiorated in the rules, for it 

 is very important. It would raise the stan- 

 dard of the goods put on the market and 

 shut out the slovenly beekeeper Avho will 

 not take the pains to put his goods up in 

 proper shape. 



We are not sure but Eastern beekeepers, 

 with some slight modifications, perhaps, 

 could adopt these rules to advantage. In 

 our judgment it would be an excellent idea 

 for a committee of representative beekeep- 

 ers and a committee of representative buy- 

 ers to meet in Chicago and agree on some 

 uniform system of grading. Both com- 

 mittees should be m.ade up of Eastern and 

 Western men as well as representatives 

 from the South. It will be impossible for 

 the producers to adopt a set of rules unless 

 the large buyers are willing to accept them. 

 There should be friendly co-operation, to 

 the end that tliere may be a uniformity of 

 product and a clear understanding of Avhat 

 is meant by a "fancy," a No. 1, a "choice," 

 and a No. 2. This will avoid a great deal 

 of misunderstanding, lawsuits, and put the 

 business of comb-honey in-oduction on a 

 safe and sane basis. Gleanings will be 

 glad to co-operate with any intelligent 

 movement toward bringing about a uni- 

 form system of grading; and we suggest 

 that the Colorado rules be used as a basis. 



