lao SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 



and the danger of an overstocked market where honey from all sections 

 comes together. The greater portion of the annual output is consumed in 

 the State, North Texas being the best market, as few bees are here, and that 

 part is more densely populated. Large quantities are shipped out to Okla- 

 homa, Indian Territory, and Arkansas, while very little of it, comparatively, 

 goes beyond these States. 



THE KINDS OF HONEY PRODUCED. 



Comb honey in sections was once one of the main products of the up-to- 

 date bee-keeper's hives; but the great risk of shipping it safely in a hot 

 climate, on account of the frailness of the article, resulted in frequent smash- 

 ups, and often in melting down when left out in the hot sun. Besides, sec- 

 tion honey is expensive to produce. To obviate these objections comb honey 

 is now produced in the regular frames, cut out, and packed in cans, liquid 

 extracted honey being poured over the whole to fill the crevices, so that the 

 combs are kept buoyant in it, and kept from mashing. This kind of honey 

 brings more dollars into the bee-keeper's pockets than section honey. It is 

 easier produced, and more will be made by the bees in the frames. The 

 demand for it is better, also, as the consumer gets more for his money; hence 

 its production has replaced the section honey almost entirely. 



Extracted honey is produced on a large scale, here, and is still the old 

 standby. More of it can be obtained with the extractor, and the real profits 

 are greater than from comb-honey production. The only obstacle heretofore 

 has been the idea generally prevailing that such honey might be adulterated. 

 Since the pure-fopd laws have been in effect, this has been removed to a 

 great extent, and now there is a tendency to resort more and more to pro- 

 ducing extracted honey. In time this will largely replace comb honey 

 here. 



Granulation of the honey has been a great drawback toward successfully 

 marketing a crop later in the season, when prices were stiffening; and to 

 prevent the trouble of having comb honey granulate in the cans, making it 

 unsalable, it was moved off rapidly by many bee-keepers to their detriment, 

 regarding the prices of the markets. With extracted honey, educating the 

 public how to reliquefy the granulated honey, and showing that it is the best 

 proof of its purity, is all that is needed. Then such honey can be kept oyer 

 the winter for better prices if need be. 



STANDARD HONEY-PACKAGES. 



Texas has its own standard-size packages for honey, both comb and 

 extracted. These are all figured on a basis of 120 lbs. to the case, or 60 

 lbs. per half-case. For extracted honey the regular 60-lb. square can, two to 

 a case prevail For comb honey the same size of cans, two in a case, have 

 large eight-inch screw caps to admit placing the comb honey in it. Twelve- 

 pt)und friction-top pails, ten in a case, making 120 lbs. ; six-pound friction- 

 top pails, ten in a case, making 60 lbs., and three-pound friction-top cans, 20 

 in a case, also making 60 lbs., are used for both comb and extracted honey 

 in smaller-sized packages for retailing in the original package. This stand- 



