THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



Ill 



The motto has too frequently been 

 "cheaper, rather than better, prod- 

 ucts," one individual even being inju- 

 dicious enough to assert that we can 

 afford to produce liquid honey at five 

 cents per pound. This savors too much 

 of the teachings of some whose names 

 are sometimes found uuder the head- 

 ing of "Humbugs and Swindles." 



i need not dwell more at length upon 

 the mistakes of the past. All who are 

 informed know of them only too well. 

 We have been too forcibly reminded 

 many times of the coufusion from 

 which we must all suffer. 



Now, in the direction of bringing 

 about a needed reform, let me suggest 

 that the one thing at which we should 

 aim in an unselfish, thoughtful and en- 

 ergetic way is a hiciher standard of our 

 products. This, I believe, should be 

 our motto. And our standard should 

 be high. We should not be satisfied 

 with anything less than the best. We 

 should remember, that from the very 

 earliest history of the world honey has 

 been considered a desirable article of 

 food. We should also keep in miud 

 the fact that it is the only entirely nat- 

 ural saccharine product that we have 

 given, us as a food. It is secreted in 

 the blossom, gathered by the bees, and 

 stored iu the combs ready for our use, 

 without undergoing any change or 

 process of manufacture by man. When 

 properly cured and kept under favor- 

 able conditions it will not granulate. 



To furnish this natural and desirable 

 product with its delicious flavor pure 

 and unchanged, whether in the comb, 

 or freed from it, is the first and highest 

 standard which can be placed before 

 beekeepers at this time, and in my 

 opinion will do more towards estab- 

 lishing permanency in a honey market 

 than any other one thing. 



It is very apparent that we have 

 made great progress during these 

 years, in neatness and form of pack- 

 age ; and while this is true, it is also a 

 fact that we have made many sad mis- 

 takes which have resulted harmfully. 



The box of earlier date was glassed 

 before it was tilled and, as a rule, was 

 left upon the hive until late in the 

 season. The effect of this was, that the 

 boxes were thoroughly sealed with 

 propolis. The honey was perfectly 

 cured, and was covered with an extra 

 coating over the capping of the cells, 

 protecting it more entirely from moist- 

 ure. If any cells were left partly filled 

 and uncapped, the honey was removed 

 by the bees. 



With such products we should hear 



no complaints of honey dripping from 

 the boxes, souring in the comb, or pre- 

 senting a watery appearance. 



So long as we find honey offered for 

 sale, partially sealed, produced without 

 separators, without being glassed, im- 

 properly cured, and in leaky packages, 

 we need not expect a substantial 

 market. 



We must conform in some degree to 

 the earlier methods. We must use 

 separators to secure straight combs, 

 be sure it is well sealed and firmly se- 

 cured to the boxes, have it well cured, 

 nicely glassed, and cased in a neat and 

 substantial manner in a stancl^ird pack- 

 age. 



One of the oldest and most reliable 

 honey dealers in New York told me 

 recently that much confusion arose 

 from the irregularity in sizes of cases. 

 The cases should never contain but one 

 tier of boxes. Those for two-comb 

 sections should hold twelve, and for 

 one lb. sections, twenty boxes to the 

 case. 



I regret the necessity of mentioning 

 the most unfortunate point in connec- 

 tion with this subject, namely, that we 

 have ever heard the name of anything 

 besides pure honey mentioned in con- 

 nection with our pursuit. The minor 

 good that has ever come to producers 

 of honey by using any food besides 

 pure honey is as nothing, compared 

 with the great misfortune which has 

 resulted from associations connected 

 with the practice. ^ 



I have not intended to take up the 

 miuor points of this subject, which 

 are being freely discussed in our vari- 

 ous journals, but rather to offer some 

 suggestions whicli may stimulate more 

 full and thorough investigation. 



On the question of compelling i-ec- 

 ognition from our legislatures, and 

 agricultural societies, several ad- 

 dresses were made, Messrs. Hether- 

 ington, Root, Clark, Betsiuger, Locke, 

 and others, taking part. It was de- 

 cided that united effort was necessary, 

 and Capt. Hetherington in corrobora- 

 tion of this gave his experience in work- 

 ing up an exhibition at the Centennial. 

 The beekeepers did not respond and 

 join him as they should, and which, 

 had he not worked hard, would have re- 

 sulted in entire failure. It was decided 

 that beekeepers' exhibits should be con- 

 nected with every agricultural fair, 

 etc. The agricultural societies will 

 welcome us when we do our part. 

 There is no need of compelling the 

 agricultural societies to do their part; 

 when our associations are so organ- 



