1697. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



563 



tops every time the suijer is to be put on. I I^dow all about 

 that "sliding" method which works so nicely — ou paper. 



I assisted in an apiary two years ago, having supers built 

 on the uon-bce-space idea. Well, to make a long story short, 

 I will just say I would not accept such supers as a gift. 



As before stated, 1 find the bee space very valuable in 

 another respect. Out here shade for an apiary is scarce and 

 hard to dud, consequently most atiariesare located where the 

 sun strikes theru all day, and were it not for the bee-spaces 

 there would be serious trouble with combs melting down. I 

 know this to be a fact. I once put out some hives facing 

 south, and in almost every one the comb next to the wall of 

 the hive on the west side of the hive was melted down. 



I then turned the hives with the entrance to the east, and 

 had no further trouble. The space between the end-bars and 

 the end of the hives served almost the same purpose as a 

 double-wailed hive. 



I want a bee-space even if I never handle a frame. I 

 have '200 colonies, and have no other business, but I don't 

 know it all. I have had an idea that pure air is beneficial to 

 all animals, even to bees, but from Mr. "Common-Sense Bee- 

 Keeping's" argument, one would suppose such is not the 

 case, but would be sure to cause bee-paralysis, spring dwind- 

 ling, foul brood, etc. So, to avoid disease it seems we must 

 abolish the " detestable bee-space," seal the covers down air 

 tight, and give tbem a %-inch auger-hole for an entrance, 

 (or their warmer breath must not be allowed to escape ! 



I say that this escaping of warm air from the cluster into 

 the adjoining space is the best thing that can happen, since it 

 allows pure, fresh air to take its place. 



It is a pity that this " common-sense bee-keeper " does 

 not give his name, so that we who are so far behind in pro- 

 gressive bee-keeping might inquire. But, hold on, he says we 

 cannot bear it yet. I would like to inquire when he thinks we 

 shall be in condition to receive the great truths which he, and 

 and he alone, can give to poor, benighted bee-keepprs, who 

 still hold on to that " detestable bee-space." Will it be in our 

 day and time, or shall it be kept to be revealed to future gen- 

 erations, who will be expected to have the mental capacity to 

 bear it ? 



It is very easy for one to become partial to some pet 

 scheme, and which sometimes really seems superior, but 

 mainly because one pushes it and gets the best out of it, while 

 the others are supposed to be "detestable," tho they may 

 really be better, consequently they are neglected, and not given 

 a fair trial. 



If I am not mistaken, the bee-space was really the most 

 important part of Mr. Langstroth's invention. If so, then it 

 will be sad to learn that he was no benefactor, but foisted on 

 the bee-keeping public a detestable nuisance, which is the 

 main cause directly, or indirectly, of all our bee-diseases. No, 

 I cannot believe that, and it will take more evidence than is 

 now at hand to convince me. 



Donna Ana Co., New Mex. 



% 



Marketing Honey^Some Valuable Hints. 



BY J. A. BCCHANAM. 



I believe I stated some time ago that I would have a short 

 talk on this subject. It is one that is continually bobbing up. 

 Articles of interest embracing many facts and some theory 

 have been appearing for some time, especially the talks of 

 Mr. R. 0. Aikin. It is true, that bee-keepers who produce 

 alfalfa, basswood, and other kinds which soon granulate, will 

 ever have trouble unless a way shall be discovered to prevent 

 candying. 



We have handled Immense quantitiesof alfalfa honey, but 

 have given it up on account of iis ready disposition to candy. 

 Mr. Aikiu's suggestion to put up the honey in small cans of 



1, 3, or 5 pound sizes, and retail or wholesale in this way, 

 letting it candy when it may, depending on the printed in- 

 structions as a means of information and education whereby 

 the consumer may learn to liquefy his own honey, will do with 

 only a very few people, as I tested this very plan some years 

 ago. 



Some four or five years ago I visited grocers In different 

 towns and cities, ou the hunt for bargains in honey that had 

 been put up this way which had stuck on their bands, and 

 being candied, it was not wanted, but lookt upon with sus- 

 picion by both grocer and buyers. I found in oue store sev- 

 eral hundred Spound cans of candied white clover honey, and 

 bought the lot at 5 cents per can, and the grocer was glad to 

 get ii out of the way. This honey was labeled with plain 

 directions for restoring to the liquid form. It is surprising 

 how few persons there are who will read instructions in the 

 management or use of any article. 



Some of the worst abuse I ever got in my life came from 

 retailers and customers upon finding the honey 1 had sold to 

 them had candied, or " gone back to sugar," as they put it, 

 as well as firmly believed. We now handle only such grades 

 of honey as will not candy, or are very slow to do so. 



As to the matter of taking up all jars, cans or glasses, 

 and replacing with freshly liquefied stock, I can think of 

 nothing more distasteful than such everlasting foolery and 

 waste of time ; not only so, but, worst of all, this reliquefying 

 will soon destroy both color and flavor. I have known several 

 parties who once put their honey on the market in this way. 

 I did so myself, but it's too puttering a business to keep up 

 continuously. 



In localities where the honey crop is not large, bee-keep- 

 ers can find customers for all they produce, with little trouble, 

 and at satisfactory prices ; but the case is different where 

 there are great quantities and no good home demand. In this 

 case it appears to me it would be quite as well to wholesale 

 and let it fall into the hands of those who make a business of 

 handling honey by hunting up consumers. By the time this 

 class pays freights, stands all losses, bears all expenses of 

 traveling, taking orders, delivering, etc., he will find, these 

 slow times, that his profits will all be taken at an ordinary 

 bank, if not all, to defray expenses. 



Just let every producer do his level best to sell in his 

 home market all he produces, at the best price possible to ob- 

 tain, going at the business with a determination to sell, and I 

 am sure there will be no very large quantities find their way 

 into the hands of city commission houses. 



I have often bought beekeepers' crops of honey and stept 

 into the towns right around them, and in a few days' work 

 have doubled my money on the purchase, while they all the 

 time claimed there was no use to try any more to sell honey in 

 " such places ;" but I'll admit the fact that not all people are 

 salesmen. 



Altho we sell large quantities of honey, both comb and 

 extracted, each season, we never sell honey to dealers, but 

 altogether to the consumer, givii'g them fresh honey, and so 

 good that they will not keep it long enough to candy. 



We put up no smaller packages than one dollar's worth, 

 as it does not pay to deliver a less quantity at the close mar- 

 gin at which honey may be sold at these times. 



It has always seemed a mystery to me bow it comes, that, 

 in nearly every case, we are able to purchase honey of the 

 same quality from commission merchants of the large cities at 

 a less price than we can buy direct from the producer. Per- 

 haps beekeepers ship to cities In the hope of getting the best 

 prices ; but after waiting long and getting anxious for re- 

 turns, they advise their dealers to close out at once to the best 

 advantage, which is sure to be to any other person's advan- 

 tage more than that of the owner of the honey. 



Now let every one who can find anything like a fair home 



