50 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



March 



of our associalion, viz : "Ontario Co., 

 N. Y., Bee Keepers' Association, 

 Honey Stamp." And in a congpicuous 

 place it should state that, "This case 

 of honey has been inspected by the 

 Honey Inspector of the Ontario Co., 

 N. Y., Bee-Keepers' Association, and 

 the honey within, if these stamps re- 

 main unbroken, is Guaranteed to be 

 Grade No. 1, White." I would not 

 have the stamps of the association at- 

 tached to only one grade of honey and 

 that the best. By grading both Fancy 

 and No. 1 together as No. 1 we get a 

 superior grade which will please the 

 purchaser every time, and is a credit 

 to both the purchaser and the associa- 

 tion. This plan will in a short time 

 not only create a demand for the 

 honey sold under our seal but will add 

 to its market value. Do not get the 

 idea that the association will under- 

 take to market your product; such is 

 not the present idea, although it may 

 be found practical when the inspector 

 has the confidence of both the pro- 

 ducer and dealer for him to assist ; 

 time will tell. We should do nothing 

 that will forfeit our position as a dis- 

 interested party. You sell your own 

 honey, and each section and case 

 should have the name and address of 

 the producer stamped upon it, the 

 association, through its inspector, 

 guaranteeing the grade, and that a 

 superior grade of No. 1, — which it cer- 

 tainly would be if we include fancy 

 in the same grade — but as we aim to 

 create a popular demand for honey 

 bearing our seal, it is desirable that it 

 should be, if anything, a better grade 

 than we guarantee. 



This method would establish confi- 

 dence between the buyer and seller, 

 and in the honey, it must be evident 



to you all, if, when offering your 

 honey to the trade you could state 

 that it had been examined and sealed 

 by the honey inspector of the Ontario 

 County, N. Y., Bee-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion, that this fact would create confi- 

 dence in your honey although the 

 party addressed may not ever have 

 heard of the association or seen any 

 of your honey, and as the grade is 

 guaranteed by a disinterested party it 

 would relieve the producer of that 

 responsibility. 



A similar system, in some respects, 

 has been used in this county in mar- 

 keting other products, and the grati- 

 fying result will be given to you by a 

 gentleman who is familiar with it. 

 What has been accomplished by oth- 

 ers can certainly be done by us. 



I wish to speak of one thing more 

 in connection with this proposition, 

 and it is necessary to the success of 

 the plan, and that is of the proposed 

 honey inspector. This is not a desir- 

 able, but it is an important position 

 upon whom would rest in a great 

 measure the success or failure of the 

 method. He should be a person who 

 is known to grade his own honey 

 right, and will act in his official ca- 

 pacity without fear or favor. Further- 

 more, we should discourage the con- 

 signing of honey to be sold on com- 

 mission. It is unnecessary and ruinous. 

 An improved method of marketing 

 honey is the most important problem 

 which we have to solve. I trust you 

 will take hold of this problem with 

 sincerity, and if at first you do not 



succeed you will try again. 



^ ■■■ ^ 



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