434 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



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Louis Soholl, New Braunufels, Texas. 



THE HONEY-CROP REPORTS. 



The old saying, "There's many a slip 

 'twixt cup and lip," has once more shown 

 itself only too true when applied to this 

 year's honey season in the Lone Star State. 

 A little over two months ago I reported 

 most favorably on prosi^ects for a bounti- 

 ful honey harvest. Since then the tide has 

 changed, and the change is so j^ronounced 

 that it means that Texas will have the short- 

 est crop that we have ever experienced. 

 Nine weeks ago there was every indication 

 of a bountiful honey crop. Vegetation and 

 all kinds of nectar-yielding blossoms were 

 most plentiful. The bees were in excellent 

 condition, and beekeepers everywhere were 

 jubilant over the fine prospects. As it is 

 now, southwest Texas, where the bulk of 

 the honey of this State is produced, has not 

 had a crop. The main flows in the spring, 

 guajilla and eatsclaw, and also the mes- 

 quite, did not come out as usual; and the 

 horsemint, while abundant in most local- 

 ities, did not yield nectar. This is attrib- 

 uted largely to the unusual season — the 

 long-drawn-out winter, followed by a late 

 spring, and too cool nights that prevailed 

 long after spring finally opened. Although 

 there was a profusion of bloom, nectar was 

 very scarce, even when the bees were not 

 hindered by unfavorable weather from go- 

 ing to the fields. 



In a nutshell, the weather conditions 

 were not favorable to the jDroper develop- 

 ment of the blossoming of the honey-yield- 

 ing plants, and the atmospheric conditions 

 were not conducive to the secretion of nec- 

 tar in those blossoms that did exist. There 

 is still some hope of the mesquite yielding 

 a summer flow, especially in those regions 

 where recent rains have been plentiful. 

 Whether this will matei'ialize is hard to tell 

 as yet. The State, outside of southwest 

 Texas, is entirely different. Here the hon- 

 ey crops come somewhat later, as a rule. 

 Sometimes early crops in April are obtain- 

 ed also, where mesquite prevails. 



In eastern Texas basswood abounds in 

 several localities, and this year it yielded 

 an abundance of honey in May. 



All beekeepers who are located in the 

 cotton belt of central Texas and further 

 north are figuring on a good yield from 

 cotton. Recent heavy rains have made these 

 prospects most excellent. The bees have 

 just begun on the cotton; and as it is com- 

 ing into bloom rapidly, a harvest from this 

 source ought to be assured. The cotton 

 honey-flows are long and slow, and usually 



last until frost if weather conditions are 

 favorable. With too dry weather in the 

 fall the cotton plants usually cease to blos- 

 som, and also shed their foliage, so there is 

 no nectar to be had, and the flow is cut 



short. 



* * * 



BULK-COMB-HONEY PRODUCTION. 



On several occasions I have avoided writ- 

 ing on the above subject mainly because I 

 do not like to harjD on one theme contin- 

 ually. The inquiries have become so fre- 

 quent that it seems as though the siibject 

 might be of general as well as individual 

 interest. What is said about bulk-comb- 

 honey production in this department is 

 partly in reply to letters which can not be 

 answered promj^tly at this season of the 

 year, and partly because there is a some- 

 what extended desire for information on 

 bulk-comb-honey production, as indicated 

 bj^ the 'numerous letters from so many dif- 

 ferent States. That bulk comb honey has 

 found favor among beekepers in other 

 States than in the South is indicated by 

 numerous communications to this effect. It 

 is indeed gratifying to note this, since I 

 have always believed and have contended 

 that its more extended production would 

 mean a better distribution and a better 

 pi'ice for honey. 



There is as yet a very wide opinion as to 

 the best way of producing this honey, and 

 a still greater difference as to the way of 

 marketing it and putting it up to the best 

 advantage, and most economically for the 

 trade. It seems as though every producer 

 has a different way of marketing tliis prod- 

 uct. The sooner a uniform method of pack- 

 ing and marketing can be established, the 

 better. Since the pure-food laws came into 

 effect, the question of the proper weight of 

 the various Texas standard packages has 

 arisen, and a movement to regulate this is 

 on foot now. As soon as this is settled, it 

 will mean that all bulk comb honey in Tex- 

 as will be put up one way, and will be 

 known to producer and buyer alike. 



The question that arises is whether the 

 standard packages used in Texas would be 

 the suitable ones for other parts of the 

 country. I see no reason why they should 

 not be, especially since they are already of 

 standard manufacture. It is only neces- 

 sai-y to try these out to ascertain their 

 adaptability ; and for the information of 

 those who desire it, a full description of 

 the various kinds and sizes we use will be 

 given in a subsequent issue of this journal. 



