328 



Lessons from the Statistical Table. 



Two hundred persons reported hav- 

 ing 8,200 colonies last fall, sustaining a 

 loss in wintering of one-fourteenth, or 

 649 in all. The increase on these have 

 been 66 per cent., making a total this 

 fall of 12,474 colonies— an average of 63 

 to each person. 



Five-elevenths were wintered on the 

 summer stands (3446), but only one- 

 third of these were packed in chaff 

 (1273). The winter was an open one 

 and wintering on the summer stands 

 was preferable. 



Now as to the results: there were 

 150,000 pounds of comb honey produced, 

 to 238,000 pounds of extracted— f of 

 comb to I of extracted— by the 12,000 

 colonies reported. This gives an aver- 

 age of only 32 pounds per colony, show- 

 ing it to have been on the whole an 

 exceedingly poor year. The cold, damp 

 spring, with other detrimental periods, 

 cutting off much of the honey gather- 

 ing. 



The wax secured being only a quarter 

 of a pound to each colony. It seems to 

 us that Thurber & Co. will have a poor 

 show to get the ten tons per month to 

 supply that Candle house in Europe. 



1^ Last month we suggested that 

 the National Society should be request- 

 ed to offer medals as prizes to be award- 

 ed in its name, at the honey and bee 

 shows of the different State and dis- 

 trict Associations within its limits. 

 We requested bee-keepers to send us 

 their opinion of the suggestion. The 

 reponses have been universally in favor 

 of it, and we have no doubt but that 

 the National Society will give the sub- 

 ject their best attention. 



Penny Packages. — We have re- 

 ceived a case of six of J. H. Martin's 

 new boxes for putting up pure candied 

 honey for the children. They hold 4 

 ounces of honey and sell for 10 cents 

 each. The box is made of hard wood, 

 coated inside with parafflne ; a label 

 with cut of a queen bee is on the cover, 

 and a stinger which is suddenly thrust 

 against the finger if you persist in fool- 

 ing with the tail which projects from 



the side of the box. After the stinger 

 is sprung it can be reset by pushing in 

 with the thumb nail, and used again. 

 Those who want to create a market for 

 their candied honey should send to Mr. 

 Martin for his circular and get some 

 boxes, and see what can be done in 

 that direction. 



What shall the Harvest be? 



Saugatuck, Midi., Sept. 18, 1878. 



Friend Newman:— Now that the tall 

 crop of lioiiey has been gatliered, and bee- 

 keepers are contemplating liow best to dis- 

 pose ot their honey, wonld it aiot be well 

 for you to give us in your October issue, in 

 as concise form as possible, the outlook for 

 the honey market, especially in Chicago ? 

 What may we expect from California ? How 

 will their crop affect us ? And as nearly as 

 data will allow, let us know how the crop is 

 iu each of the principal honey-producing 

 States, and how prices will range. In this 

 Immediate vicinity white honey is very light, 

 but during the first week of this mouth bees 

 did " innnense" on golden rod. 



Walter B. House. 



The honey market in Chicago is good. 

 Prices are ruling lower than formerly, but 

 the demand is increasing steadily. Light 

 honey, in neat single-comb packages, will 

 sell readily. The producer finds ready sale 

 for all that is put up attractively. As the 

 cold weather approaches, extracted honey 

 will be more in demand. 



All the good honey produced this year can 

 be sold readily ; that of poor quality only 

 will drag. California will help us out a lit- 

 tle but her crop is mostly "extracted." 

 Manufacturers are using the extracted more 

 than ever, and we think the " show" for it 

 is excellent. As to prices, the curious can 

 compare them by the aid of the Honey Mar- 

 ket in another column. 



SL^" Friend W. H. Ware, Bayou Goula, 

 La., sugjiests, that the next meeting of the 

 National Society, shall be in the West, and 

 the following one in the South, either in 

 July or Dec. and adds: 



" 1 am sure that such a plan would meet 

 with substantial approval and support from 

 our bee-keepers in the south, and would do 

 more than anything else, to encourage and 

 develop the bee-keeping interests through- 

 out the whole country. I think well of 

 your suggestions, that the National Society 

 inaugurate an exhibition of manipulations 

 with bees, as well as of apiarian supplies, 

 and honey. Now, in case this plan should 

 be adopted, and a meeting held in New Or- 

 leans, I will donate say, 6 colonies of pure 

 Italian bees to be used on the occasion, and 

 then to be sold to the highest bidder, for the 

 benefit of the society." 



