124 



THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 



often tlie only argmnciit needed to sell 

 the dozen sections. Every family which 

 buys a dozen sections at one time receives 

 one of tiiose crates to keep tiiem in until 

 the honey is used up; the ciate is my 

 property and is not sold with the honey, 

 but each family is furnished vvitli one so 

 lonj; as they buy honey of me to keep in 

 it, otherwise the crate is to be retui-ned to 

 me. These crates, if used carefully, will 

 last a number of years and can be rellUed 

 as often as desired. 



For the grocery trade I have a show- 

 case about 20 inches sqmire and 2 feet 

 high, three sides of which are of large 

 panes of glass. Underneath the glass part 

 is a drawer in which can be placed a quan- 

 tity of sections for convenience in sup- 

 plying customers without o|)ening into the 

 upper i)art where all should l)e kept in 

 neat, tasty order. This case, (illed with 

 comb honey, is kept standing in a con- 

 spicuous place upon the counter in one of 

 the leading stores in the village of Sey- 

 mour, so that every person wlio enters 

 that store will be sure to sec it; and there 

 is no doubt but that this showcase has 

 greatly facilitated the sale of honey in the 

 town. I have recently nnide arrange- 

 ments with another leading Urm to put a 

 similar case in their store also the com- 

 ing season. 



A new idea occurred to my mind the 

 other day, viz., that it might be a good 

 way to attract people's attention to the 

 use of honey and the various purposes 

 for which it is suitable, to ollVr si)ecial 

 premiums for the best sample of fruit pre- 

 servcHl in honey, and best articles of 

 cookery in which honey is used. Ai'ticles 

 to be exhibited and premiums awarded at 

 our agricultural fair next fall, rremiums 

 to be payable in honey. 



Sttjmour, Wis. 



KUMBEIl TllUKR. 



John IT. Lauuauicb. 



In the English laniiuage the word mar- 

 ket is used to exprt'ss that indelinable 

 something about which the agricultural 

 classes and all those distant from the great 

 centres of trade know so little, and con- 

 cerning the state of which the commis- 

 sion man is the self-appointed great om- 

 niscient. 



There are "Bulls and Bears" in the 

 honey-maiket as well as on Wall street, 

 but, aside from their influence, the nnirket 

 is governed only by Supply vs. Demand 



coupled with the cost of production. If 

 we take it as granted that the cost of pro- 

 duction is as low with onr present meth- 

 ods, as is consistent with good manage- 

 ment, we hav(! only to consider the factors 

 of supply and deniand; how to keep the 

 sup|>ly i)elow the demand or to raise the 

 demand above the supply. From a busi- 

 ness as well as a philanthropic standpoint 

 it is, I erhaps, not best to limit the supply. 

 As soon as the price of honey becomes so 

 low that it is produced at a loss, there will 

 be room for tlie persistent. 



But what a broad field opens for our 

 consideration when we look at that word 

 demand. On that word hinges the future 

 conilition of the market. Until every 

 household has its honey-pitcher and ev- 

 ery grocer its honey show-case, let us not 

 cease in our endeavors to distribute our 

 product. 



I am enthusiast enough to believe that 

 some time (you and I, reader, may never 

 see it) but some time honey will be re- 

 stored to its lost place upon the food ta- 

 bles of the world and drive out the health- 

 destroying sugar of the present. Those 

 who believe in evolution and those who 

 have studied it learn that changes in func- 

 tions and uses are slow, but the natural 

 taste for honey in the human race is strong 

 and will grow with use, just as the taste 

 for tobacco, liquor or opium is ac(iuired. 



But let us look for a moment at the 

 practical means which nniy be employed 

 to accomplish this desired end. First to 

 be accomplished is the even distribution 

 of the crop over the country. Tliere are 

 villages, towns ami even cities, I doubt 

 not, whose markets and groceries are to- 

 day and have been since last season bar- 

 'ren of honey. This condition may have 

 been caused by ignorance, on the part of 

 the retailer, of the demaml which could 

 be created, or by his ol)stinacy in not buy- 

 ing and supplying the dennuid at advanced 

 prices. The producer should see to it that 

 every town is sup|)lied. Even farmers 

 will buy liberally if an opportunity is 

 given. 



See that the town or village nearest 

 you is supplied all through the year, while 

 there is a demand; then, with a fair sam- 

 ple of your croj) and a knowledge of prices, 

 take the cars for the nearest and most 

 promising town or city. Be candid, up- 

 right and straightforward, uncompromis- 

 ing if need be, and success will await you. 

 A few dollars can thus be spent with 

 n)uch more advantage than in paying big 

 commissions to irresponsible or dishonest 

 commission men. A neatly printed card 

 orcircidar, setting forth the excellence of 

 honey in general and yours in particular, 

 and showing the demand which can be 



