80 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Jan. 25, 1906 



are securely nailed about the lower edge of the super so that it 

 will telescope after the manner of the cover. Strips of paper 



are laid under these u leu strips so that supers of the same 



size can be tiered up without too tight a lit. 



Cutting the Paper. 



Unless cme is used to cutting roofing or sheathing paper 

 he will make a poor pass at it. I find the following plan 

 excellent : 



Select several straight-edged wooden strips, two of which 

 are over 3 feet long. Lay these two parallel and about % of 

 an inch apart, and fasten them together securely by means of 

 cleats put across the under side. Then from near' either end 

 extend a strip at right angles and nail firmly, these strips 

 being a trifle over 3 feet apart. Measure from the space be- 

 tween the two first-mentioned strips and on the other two cut 

 notches according to the widths which you wish to cut the 

 paper. Unroll the paper and slip the contrivance under the 

 paper so that it will lie between the two last-mentioned strips. 

 and bring the end to the desired notch. Then flattening down 

 the paper, run the small blade of a knife along the narrow- 

 space between the two first-mentioned strips. It works to a 

 charm. 



In the case of "Paroid" the knife is apt to "gum" up If 

 the cutting space is made with bevelled edges so that the knife- 

 blade can be leaned to one side, much easier cutting will 

 result. This bevel cut seems to allow the cut paper to lift 

 off the knife so that the knife runs with much greater ease; 

 otherwise the knife will drag and make a ragged edge. Never 

 attempt to cut these papers by laying them on a smooth sur- 

 face and running a knife-point along a straight edge. Always 

 cut with full blade while the paper overhangs the straight edge. 



It has not been easy to explain with sufficient clearness 

 the full procedure in a single article, and I have supplied a few 

 diagrams to make the whole matter perfectly clear. 



One can, if he has the use of a circular saw, make frames 

 and full inside furniture for this hive, but without proper 

 machinery he will do better to buy frames and section-cases 

 in the flat ready to nail. 



I am fully persuaded that any one who will give this 

 hive a trial will declare it highly satisfactory; and, even 

 though the hive as a whole be not adopted, every one would 

 do well to adopt the cover herein described. A cover pro- 

 tected with either "Paroid" or "Neponset" is far and away 

 ahead of an all-wood cover. 



With these hives one needs to do little to prepare his 

 colonies for winter, for all that is necessary is to place an 

 empty super on the hive and in this a bag of sawdust or other 

 absorbent and leave the entrance wholly open, only shutting 

 out mice by means of a wire-netting 3 meshes to the inch. An 

 entrance thus large, one inch by the width of the hive, is 

 perfectly safe, and is much better than a small one to insure 

 good wintering. Finally, the dark paper, "Paroid," gets warm 

 every sunny day in winter, and thus keeps the inside of the 

 hive dry and sweet — a necessary factor in successful wintering 

 of bees. The large entrance— there being no upward ventila- 

 tion—gives ample opportunity for escape of foul air and 

 moisture. 



Last but not least, the hive which I have described costs 

 but 50 cents. Norwich, Conn. 



Maple Sugar and the Sugar Bush, by Prof. A. J. Cook; 

 44 pages; price, postpaid, 30 cents. This is by the same 

 author as "The Bee-Keepers' Guide," and is most valuable 

 to all who are interested in the product of our sugar-maples. 

 No one who makes maple sugar or syrup should be without 

 it. Order from the office of the American Bee Journal. 



See Langstroth Book Offer on another page of this 

 copy of the American Bee Journal. 



(£onr>ention 

 Proccebin^s 



^ 



rJ 



Report of the Ontario Convention 



(Continued from page 50.J 



SYSTEMATIC ADVERTISING AND MARKETING 

 OF HONEY 



The marketing of honey, like the marketing of any 

 other kind of produce, is a simple matter once you have a 

 certain line of customers, and the reputation for a good 

 article; but for the beginner, or the producer who is a 

 long distance from the principal markets, the question is 

 often more troublesome than the production of the article. 

 Of course, it is easy to sell honey if you put the price low 

 enough, or take about any price that is offered, but selling 

 a No. 1 article of honey in this way is very unsatisfactory, 

 because it is unprofitable, and the producer should receive 

 value for his time and labor. 



I may not be able to add very much to what is already 

 known on this subject, but I want to emphasize a few 

 points on "creating a market for honey" as they occur to 

 me, and perhaps this may bring out a little discussion. 



To advertise honey one cannot go about it in the 

 same way as to advertise any special food product, for the 

 simple reason that honey or nectar is a name for a sweet 

 gathered by bees from the nectaries of flowers. Of course, 

 the bee-keeper might advertise clover, linden, buckwheat 

 or other varieties of honey — these are general terms that 

 any producer may use — but one cannot get up a fancy 

 name for honey like the manufacturers of canned goods 

 or breakfast foods. 



The best form of advertisement I have found is a 

 pleased customer, and the best way. to get and keep the 

 customer is to supply a No. 1 article of honey at a fair 

 price, no matter whether at wholesale or retail. 



One might properly ask, How can we secure the 

 customers? One plan is to canvass the surrounding coun- 

 try, or, if you have not time for this, an assistant might 

 be engaged who would sell on commission; but go your- 

 self, if possible. 



It is wonderful how many farmers will buy honey 

 when it is brought to their notice. 



Talk it up. A buyer likes to talk to a producer who 

 can speak of the goods he has to sell as if he understood 

 them. 



Many bee-keepers make the mistake of sending their 

 goods to the large cities that are perhaps already over- 

 stocked, when with a little inquiry there is already a 

 market in the surrounding villages and country. 



Another plan is to make an exhibit at the township 

 or county fair. It may be argued that the premiums 

 offered do not make it worth while, but here is an oppor- 

 tunity to become interested in the local agricultural so- 

 ciety, attend their meetings, and give them pointers when 

 revising the prize list for honey. I have found that the 

 directors are generally willing to encourage an exhibitor 

 who will put up an attractive exhibit of honey. The 

 ordinary exhibit of honey at the local fairs only calls for 

 5 to 10 pounds, and attracts no more attention than a can 

 of fruit or pickles. Just try what an effect it will have to 

 put up 100 or 200 pounds of comb and extracted honey, in 

 clean white cases, and clear glass jars, with a sign above 

 it stating it was from the apiary of the local apiarist. 

 Many who have never thought of honey will be attracted 

 by its beautiful appearance, and remark that they would 

 like some of it. 



Demonstrate your honey by giving samples to pro- 

 spective buyers, and have a supply to draw from, put up 

 in different sizes of cases, jars, and pails, neatly labeled, 

 giving your name and address. Small packages may be 

 disposed of in this way that will, if the honey is good, 

 bring inquiries for larger quantities. 



If possible take a long and observatory hive of bees; 

 it is a great attraction, and never fails to draw the atten- 

 tion of the crowd to your exhibit of honey. 



Call on the local dealers at regular intervals with a 



