GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Beekeeping in the Southwest— Continued from page 720 



of them are shipjDed by the producers to 

 hundreds of towns and smaller cities, I saw 

 no real reason Avhy these same packages 

 should not be handled by the large city 

 gTocers. 



The packages referred to and adopted as 

 standard in Texas for both bulk comb and 

 extracted honey are the two 60-lb. square 

 cans to a case ; ten 12-2)ound friction pails 

 to a case; ten 6-pouncl and twenty 3-pound 

 friction-top pails to the case. Many car- 

 loads of these are used annually — the ten 

 12-pound and ten 6-pound sizes being the 

 most 1 opular. 



My investigations revealed, however, that 

 the richer class of people of the city do not 

 pay so much attention to the matter of 

 cheapness in buying as to the appearance 

 of the article. 



GLASS PACKAGES FOR THE FANCY TRADE. 



I found, therefore, that glass bottles and 

 jars please these well-to-do people. I fur- 

 ther ascertained that it is almost impossible 

 for these stores to sell a larger j^aekage of 

 honey than a 50-cent size, and that a 30 or 

 35 cent size is the best seller. My own ob- 

 servation and experience in disposing of 

 honey at fairs has revealed this same thing. 

 It is true that some persons will buy larger 

 packages at a fair; but it must be remem- 

 bered that, as a usual thing, these purchas- 

 ers are not of the better-to-do class. 



TIN PACKAGES FOR THE MASSES. 



As soon as we leave the strictly fancy 

 city-trade grocers we find those who have 

 the average-to-do persons for their custo- 

 mers. In these stores it is no trick to sell 

 a larger package at a time, provided it is 

 cheap enough. The most economical package 

 then is the tin pail. But even in case of 

 these, only the smaller sizes, 3 and 6 pound 

 pails, are in most demand. In the general 

 stores, however, on the very outskirts of the 

 large city, or in the general-merchandise 

 stores of all the smaller cities and towns, 

 the larger packages are most in demand. 

 Here the country trade predominates, and 

 the well-to-farmer purchases his honey in 

 tlie 12-pound or gallon pail, just as he buys 

 his dollar's worth of sugar and coffee. 

 These stores are the ones which usually 

 prefer to order direct from the producer 

 in case lots, thereby saving the middle- 

 man's profits. 



WHERE THE 60-LB. CANS COME IN. 



It is in these stores, also, that much hon- 

 ey is still sold out by weight from the large 

 square 60-lb. cans, the purchaser usually 

 furnisliing the vessel. Of course many 60- 

 pound cans are also bought by a single 

 family. These purchases are rather few 



as compared to the 12 and 6 pound-package 

 sales. 



It might be well to state that the 60- 

 pound can is not as popular as it used to 

 be, especially for bulk comb honey. This 

 is according to my experience at least. 

 It may have been brought about by the 

 fact, however, that we have made the 12 

 and 20 pound pails more of a specialty. At 

 the same time, though Ave quote the prices 

 of each kind in our lists, yet the order'- re- 

 ceived show a decided favor for the above- 

 mentioned i3ails. 



From the beekeeper's standpoint there 

 is an advantage in furnishing these sizes 

 over the OO-jJound cans. While the pails 

 cost a little more per ease, it does not re- 

 quire as much comb honey for packing 

 them. As the comb honey is the most ex- 

 pensive part of the contents, this is an 

 item of importance. It must not be for- 

 gotten, either, that the price for the 12- 

 pound pails, by the case, is V2 cent per 

 pound more than the 60-pound cans, and 1 

 cent more for the 6-pound pails. On a 

 large crop, amounting to several hundred 

 cases, the extra profit amounts to a good 

 many dollars. It is enough to be worth 

 considering by the beekeeper. I investi- 

 gated this especially, since a number of 

 beekeepers have argued this point, favor- 

 ing the 60-pound cans rather than smaller 

 sizes. 



THE SUMMING-UP. 



The conclusion derived is that one 

 must study his markets closely ; for that 

 which sells in one place very readily may 

 not in another. As a result of my investi- 

 gation I find that I must furnish my choice 

 product in fancy glass to the city fancy 

 retail grocer, while the market for the more 

 economical package is found in the subur- 

 ban stores and those of the smaller cities 

 and towns. The wealthy farmer is the 

 best customei" for a larger quantity at a 

 more moderate jjrice. And hei'e is one 

 point in this connection which I wish every 

 beekeeper would think about more serious- 

 ly. That is, to make a greater effort for a 

 more general and wider distribution of 

 honey. Instead of glutting the large cities, 

 it is of the utmost importance to fill the 

 wants of the general masses who are to be 

 found neai'er the towns and country places, 

 and on the farms where no bees are kept. 



I do not wish to be understood as being 

 against furnishing the city markets with 

 their share of honey; but I do raise an ob- 

 jection against the too common practice of 

 looking toward these markets and neg- 

 lecting the market nearer home. 



