1903. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



37 



low. England. Following is the com- 

 ment of Mr. Hewett in relation there- 

 to: 



"I enclose a photo which I think will 

 interest your readers, as bearing on the 

 question often discussed, of winter 

 quarters. 



"We pack up our bees with every 

 care as winter approaches, and yet here 

 is a stock which passed last winter 

 without any shelter whatever, beyond 

 the shelf from which the combs are 

 hung and the two side walls of the 

 little old-fashioned bee-shed project- 

 ing just far enough to break the force 

 of the wind. 



"The photograph shows them exact- 

 ly as I saw them at the beginning of 

 last April, and I .was assured by their 

 owner that they had remained so 

 throughout the winter, though at one 

 time there was a foot of snow on the 

 ground. 



"It will be seen that their combs cov- 

 er nine courses of brickwork, and 

 therefore hang to a depth of 31 1-2 

 inches. I need hardly explain that the 

 stock was placed on the shelf in the 

 box-hive shown, and worked their way 

 down through a hole in the wood of the 

 shelf." 



HERE WE ARE AGAIN. 



The following letter, relative to the 

 "Southern" honey question, presents 

 the view of one of the northern dealers: 



Cincinnati. Jan. 14, 1903. 

 Editor American Bee-Keeper: — 



I notice latelv yon desire that dealers 

 use the term "Amber," when quoting 

 "Southern" honey. 



We being exclusive honey dealers and 

 receiving shipments from the North, 

 South. East, West, as well as Cuba, and 

 other foreign countries can speak from 

 experience. 



"Amber" and "Southern" are trade 

 terms, thoroughly established, repre- 

 senting two distinct characters of hon- 

 ey, and should not be changed. 



We do not believe in confusing terms 

 with buyers. If the South, as a whole, 

 produced the finest on earth, you would 

 be anxious to have the term "South- 

 ern" used. It devolves upon the pro- 

 ducers to take more pains with their 

 product, and when they do, you will 



be proud of that term. By educating 

 them in the proper care of honey, and 

 urging them to put theirs in market- 

 able shape, you will accomplish the 

 desired result. 



Many big buyers refuse to buy 

 "Southern," "Cuban," or any "For- 

 eign" honey, because of the poor pack- 

 ages, lack of care, and the amount of 

 foreign matter, found in many ship- 

 ments. A number of producers in the 

 South on the contrary, market their 

 honey in first-class shape, and if all 

 would follow their example you would 

 soon change your opinion. 

 Yours truly, 



Fred W. Muth. 



Mr. Muth has the honor of being the 

 only dealer of our acquaintance who 

 refuses to see the injustice of this prac- 

 tice, and his argument in favor of con- 

 tinuing the habit is exceedingly weak. 

 Let us notice points which he sets forth 

 in support of his position: 



"I notice lately you desire that deal- 

 ers use the term 'amber' when quoting 

 'Southern' honey," says Mr. Muth. 

 Where our correspondent "noticed" 

 this fact (?) he does not say. We have 

 never even suggested the use of the 

 term, "amber." in quoting southern 

 honey. We do not recommend the 

 use of the term "amber." On the con- 

 trary, we heartily disapprove of its 

 use, for many reasons. Some south- 

 ern honey is white, some is dark and 

 some is amber, as is the case with hon- 

 eys from other divisions of the United 

 States. "Amber" would be no less ab- 

 surd, though perhaps less unjust, than 

 "Southern." Amber honey, from what- 

 ever corner of the earth, should be call- 

 ed "amber," and white, should be call- 

 ed "white." 



Mr. Muth says: "We being exclusive 

 honey dealers and receiving shipments 

 from the North, South, East. West, as 

 well as Cuba, and other foreign coun- 

 tries, can speak from experience." 

 Just what bearing this "experience" has 

 on the question in point, is not ap- 

 parent. Would Mr. Muth have our 

 readers believe that experience as a 

 honey dealer carries with it license 

 to slander and degrade the products of 

 those upon whom he is dependent? 

 Does "experience' as a honey dealer 

 give him the right to drag into disre- 



