260 MARKETING THE HONEY CROP 



From the above rules it will be seen that it is a very short- 

 sighted policy to mix inferior sections with the good ones in 

 the hope of getting a better price for all. The result is to bring 

 the price of the lot down to the level of the poorest grade. 



The more carefully and conscientiously grading is done the 

 better price will be obtained and the easier to find a ready sale. 

 Good quality comb honey carefully graded will nearly always 

 sell readily, although like other commodities the price varies 

 with seasons. 



Commission Houses. — There has been much complaint from 

 disappointed bee-keepers who have not been satisfied with results 

 from sales through commission houses. Sometimes the fault is 

 with the producer and sometimes with the commission man. 

 The bee-keeper should exercise ordinary business methods and 

 not consign goods to a commission firm without some knowledge 

 of the standing of the firm. While large quantities of honey 

 are sold through commission firms to the regular trade, it often 

 happens that so much honey is sent to the larger centers as to 

 greatly depress the market, while the markets in the smaller 

 places may be short. The problem of proper distribution of 

 the honey crop is a serious one and demands careful attention 

 on the part of the producer who would realize the most from his 

 product. 



There are commission firms which specialize in the sale of 

 honey and which handle large quantities to the satisfaction of 

 their clients. There are other concerns that buy outright in 

 carload lots at an agreed price. As a rule, a cash sale with no 

 chances, even at a slightly lower price, is to be preferred. 



Home Markets. — As a rule the bee-keepers living east of the 

 Rocky Mountain region will find it greatly to their advantage 

 to develop home or nearby markets. The western honey pro- 

 ducers are at a disadvantage in this respect, for bee-keeping is 

 more highly specialized in the West and the honey produced is 

 greatly in excess of what home markets can absorb. It thus be- 

 comes necessary to seek distant markets. In such localities 



