OR, MANUAI. OF THE APIARY. 373 



CHAPTER XVI. 



MARKETING HONEY. 



No subject merits more attention by the apiarist than that 

 of marketing honey. There is no question but that the supply 

 is going- to increase continually ; hence, to sustain the price 

 we must stimulate the demand, and by doing this we shall not 

 only supply the people with a food element which is necessary 

 to health, but we shall also supersede in part the commercial 

 syrups, which are so often adulterated as not only to be 

 crowded with filth the most revolting, but are often even teem- 

 ing with poison. (Report of Michigan Board of Health for 

 1874, pages 75-79.) To bring, then, to our neighbor's table the 

 pure, wholesome, delicious nectar, right from the hive, is 

 philanthropy, whether he realizes it or not. 



Nor is it difficult to stimulate the demand. I have given 

 special attention to this topic for the last few years, and am 

 free to say that not a tithe of the honey is consumed in our 

 country that might and should be. 



HOW TO INVIGORATE THE MARKET. 



First. See that no honey goes to market from your apiary 

 that is not in the most inviting form possible. Grade all the 

 honey thoroughly, and expect prices to correspond with the 

 grade. If, as estimated by two of our most successful bee- 

 keepers, it costs from five to eight cents to produce extracted 

 honey, and from seven to thirteen cents to produce comb 

 honey, we see that all should labor that prices for first-class 

 honey should never fall below eight cents for extracted and 

 twelve cents for comb. The best grades ought always to sell 

 for ten cents for extracted and fifteen cents for comb. See 

 that every package and vessel is not only attractive, but so 

 arranged as not to make the dealer any trouble, or cause him 

 any vexation. One leaky can or case may do great injury. 



Second. See that every grocer in your vicinity has honey 



