48 THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



But the result is this: When a scrupulous jobber (are there 

 any?) tries to sell Fancy to a man who has bought No. 1 as Fancy, 

 the price which must be asked stops the sale. The poor, simple, 

 confiding, unsuspecting producer is nonplussed when he gets against 

 such competition and blames it on some outsider cutting the market. 



.\.s all (or nearly all) the comb honey entering this market comes 

 from other and larger cities, sometimes direct to retailers, but more 

 often through local jobbers, the cause of the trouble was long ob- 

 scure and hard to trace. 



For years I have watched it, but could do nothing. Perhaps 

 the National can find a way to stop the trouble. (How Avould it do 

 to print a picture of the grade on the case?) 



Another evil : The trade lists in the journals quote prices 

 honey is selling at. Producer must deduct freight and commission 

 in figuring his returns. Go to the jobbers incog, and try to buy 

 honey and they will tell you the price is about one to one and one- 

 half cent above those quotations. Tell them it is high, and that 

 you saw it quoted as in the papers, and they will blandly tell you 

 that is what they pay for it. 



Another little rake-off between the producer and consumer! 

 Not common, do I hear you say? Where it isn't done it is rare. I 

 have investigated in a number of large centers. 



A commission house here, reputed the most reliable in the city, 

 the head of it standing well in the community, has been making re- 

 turns to a farmer on turnips at a sale price of 50 cents a bushel. 

 Farmer learned that good turnips were not plenty — thought he 

 should get more — but commission man said price was "good.'' So 

 Mr. F"armer thought he would sell to the retailer himself. Went 

 into a big market, but buyer after looking at samples said he might 

 want some later, and what was the price. "Sixty-five cents," said 

 the farmer. "Thunder! I only paid 60 cents for that pile of 100 

 bushels there." And they were Mr. Farmer's production with his 

 tags on it. Get that buyer to testify against the commission man? 

 Not much ! He could never buy another thing of a commission 

 house (and they hare to get many things through them) at a right 

 price, or right quality, or prompt delivery. 



I not only have watched the job but have the tricks straight 

 from the lips of the trade. The National will have a tough job to 

 get the proof and prosecute. 



I have just looked at the November Ri-:\'ii':\v, and I note the 

 quotation for choice extracted l)y one house. On the day of the date 

 of that quotation, (I think it was the same day) they sold to an ac- 

 quaintance of mine Clover Ex. at lyic more, and claimed to be pay- 

 ing then the "quoted'' price. 



Try a still hunt through persons not known to the trade and if 

 needs be make a few purchases and watch the returns. 



