THE BEE-KEEPERS" REVIEW 305 



the clover crop of surplus honey at this time, it would be necessary 

 to about double the product of those that did winter and get into 

 shape for the harvest, to make this year's crop as large as a year 

 ago, which was the smallest on record. 



It is true that very large yields of honey per colony have been 

 harvested in some locations this season, but the number of colonies 

 that were strong enough to gather a normal quantity of surplus 

 honey this year were very few indeed. It is my opinion that the 

 better grades of both comb and extracted honey for table use will 

 be about the same as a year ago, and we are asking the same price 

 for ours with the expectation of its selling rather better than a 

 year ago, as the quality of Michigan honey is much better this year 

 than last. 



The fact is, it has been several years since we have had such 

 a normal flow of honey as this year, and the honey seems corre- 

 spondingly better for this reason. What is true in Michigan is 

 likely true all over the clover-producing region. What I have said 

 about the quality of the clover honey is equally true of the 'Mich- 

 igan raspberry and basswood. Rich, ripe, that exquisite flavor so 

 much relished by the discriminating public is prevalent this year. 

 This "quality" feature will surely go a long ways toward creating 

 a demand for this year's crop of honey. The producer who sold 

 his better grade of white extracted honey suitable for table use a 

 year ago for less than 9^2 cents to 10 cents per pound, on track, 

 can now take out his pencil and figure up his loss, for he surely 

 lost the difference, aside from making it "just a little harder" for 

 his brother bee-keeper to get the price for his honey. Comb honey 

 should bring about twice that of extracted was the way we used 

 to figure when we were producing comb honey. 



Brother, it is up to you. The situation is in your hands. You, 

 the most of you at any rate, still have your crop of honey on hand, 

 much of it still upon the hive. You can have the market price for 

 your hard-earned product, or you can part with it at a cent or two 

 below the market, the dealer pocketing the difference. Which will 

 you do this year? Your selling below the market will not help 

 the consumer one whit, for the dealer is wise enough to look out 

 for number one, when once the honey is in his hands. Demand 

 a good fair price for your product this year, brother. It's yours 

 for the asking. 



The dealer is not your enemy, far from it ; really he is your 

 very best friend, but he is human, and will buy at the best figure 

 he can — it's natural, it is business. All one need do is to meet him 

 half way. You have the opportunity this fall. 



E. D. TOWNSEND. 



