JULY 15, 1912 



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Australian Honey Crop Harvested in Kerosene-cans 



In reply to a question, Jan. 1, p. 18, the statement 

 was made that if second-hand cans had been used 

 for benzine, they would do to store honey in; but if 

 for kerosene, they would be of no use for the pur- 

 pose. I think you are wrong. Practically the whole 

 crop of Australian honey is put up in second-hand 

 kerosene-cans. By "second-hand" I do not mean 

 dirty or rusty cans. They are quite bright and clean, 

 but they once contained" oil. Many beekeepers pur- 

 chase tliem by the thousand at 75 cts. per dozen from 

 the dealers in Sydney and other large cities. 



The cans have first to be mended — that is to say, 

 the holes made to get the oil out have to be patched; 

 then the round bung is taken out, and then they are 

 ready for washing. A good solderer will mend 400 

 in a day ; but it takes two boys to wash the same 

 number in the same time. The method is as follows: 

 The cans are spread out on the ground in long lines, 

 about six deep. Boiling soda water is used (15 lbs. 

 of soda to 20 gallons of water). One quart of this 

 boiling soda water is put into each of six cans. The 

 cans are picked up one at a time, and vigorously 

 shaken, care being taken to see that the water gets 

 right around the tin. This water is thrown away. 

 The washer has a pad on each hand, with a piece of 

 cloth next to the tin, and a piece of thick leather 

 next to the hand. He picks up the can so that the 

 pad on the right hand closes the bunghole, and this 

 pad must be held tight, as shaking practically boil- 

 ing water generates steam, and if a firm grip is not 

 maintained there is every possibility of getting scald- 

 ed. 



After the soda water the same process is gone 

 through again with boiling water, then they are 

 rinsed with cold water, and turned upside down to 

 drain. After draining they are placed right side up 

 to allow the sun to sweeten them for a day, then 

 they are packed away in an airy shed, and before 

 being used each one is inspected, and if there is any 

 smell it is rejected and washed again ; but if the 

 boss is around to see that the lads do their work 

 well there are not many re.iected. 



The reason for using second-hand cans is one of 

 price. They cost 72 cis. per dozen. The new tins 

 cost $2.64 per dozen, and they have to be given 

 away with the honey ; and as the returns are fre- 

 quently less than $1.92 per tin for the honey, you 

 can see that relatively the price of the tin is a big 

 item. Ma.jor Shallard 



South Woodburn, Australia, April 16. 

 [See Editorial elsewhere. — Ed.] 



Using Gasoline-cans for Honey 



Editor Root : — In regard to using gasoline-cans 

 for honey, page 18, Jan. 1, are you not mistaken in 

 advising their use? I once drew some gasoline out 

 of the auto into a two-quart Mason fruit-can. It 

 stood in the can for some time, and then it was tak- 

 en out, and the can thoroughly cleansed and then 

 used for canning fruit. When the fruit was opened 

 it had such a peculiar flavor that we could not eat 

 it. I asked my sister what made it, and she said 

 she had used the can that had contained the gaso- 

 line. For this reason I should be afraid it would 

 give the honey a peculiar flavor as it did the pears. 



Gasport, N." Y., Feb. 27. James H. Sprout. 



[If the cans contained a good grade of gasoline 

 we do not see how the honey could be tainted, but, 

 at the s-ame time, we may be mistaken. Certain it is 

 that bright new cans are none too good for as ex- 

 pensive a product as honey. If kerosene-cans are 

 cleaned as thoroughly as described by Major Shal- 

 lard, above, they ought to be as good as new. — Ed.] 



Honey-crop Reports from Southeastern Florida 



Reports from the titi region show that the surplus 

 flow there was sood. Reports from the black and 

 white tupelo-gum section show that the flow from 

 these sources was either a flat failure or very light, 

 owing to the great flood and the amount of rainfall 

 which oocxirred during its blooming season. Reports 

 from the saw-palmetto region show that it gave only 

 a very light flow, owing to weather conditions. The 

 flow from the mangrove was not as good as was ex- 

 pec>«d. 



Oitrns fruit in its region gave the bees a good 



start in early spring by a flow a little heavier than 

 usual. 



The gallberry gave a good yield in its region. 



The flow from chinquapin was very light. 



The poplafs, or tulip, gave a good flow over tie 

 middle and northern portion of its region; but it 

 was very light over the southern portion. The pros- 

 pects for the flows which are still to come are good. 



Cordele, Ga. J. J. Wildek. 



Too Little Room for Candy in the Queen-cages 



I notice very little said of the new queen-cage of 

 late. I think many queens are lost by the candy 

 being eaten out too soon. Many times the candy 

 may be half eaten out by the bees when queens arc- 

 received. If the old cages are to be used I think 

 it might be well to make them as indicated by the 



enclosed drawings of the different cages, and then 

 use p comb instead of cardboard. 



Worthington, W. Va., Dec. 15. L. H. ROBSV. 



[The only objections to your scheme of providing 

 more room "for candy is the increased weight, and, 

 of course, increased postage. There are two stan- 

 dard sizes of queen-cages. The smaller size is just 

 as large as it can be and still come under the weight 

 for one-cent postage. In the same way, the larger 

 cage is just large enough so that it will go for two 

 cents. Of course, we might redesign the cages, and 

 provide more candy room, and thus use less space 

 for the bees and queen. This, we believe, would be 

 a mistake. The longer the distance a queen has to 

 travel in the mails, the more attendants she should 

 have. But for export cages, the larger size will 

 contain 50 to 60 bees, while the smaller size, for 

 domestic use only, and for short distances, will ac- 

 commodate 10 bees besides the queen. Taking every 

 thing into consideration, it is our opinion that a 

 piece of pasteboard, so placed over the candy that 

 the bees have to gnaw it for 24 hours to get it away 

 will practically secure the same results as the holes 

 of candy. — Ed.] 



A Loud Warning to Beekeepers 



Mr. Root ■■ — Perhaps you can remember giving a 

 careful warning, well worded and thoughtful, about 

 looking well to harness and wagons. I was proud 

 of your comments at the time; but although I had 

 my harness and rig all right, we never use brakes 

 here ; and in coming down hill with a heavy load of 



