



42dYEAR. 



CHICAGO, ILL, OCT, 2, 1902, 



No. 40, 



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Editorial Comments. 





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The Producer's Name on Comb Honey.— An experi- 

 ence that we had recently suggests the wisdom of referring 

 again to this subject, which was quite thoroughly discussed 

 in the Chicago-Northwestern convention last December. 



We received a nice lot of white comb honey a few weeks 

 ago. It came in excellent condition, because the producer 

 who shipped it followed our instructions as to packing. But 

 when we opened it, we found that not only on every case, 

 but on every section as well, he had rubber-stamped his 

 name and address. Of course we had to spend the time 

 necessary to scrape off all the marks. Had we wanted the 

 producer's name and address on the honey we would have 

 requested him to put it on. 



It is not a safe rule to put your name and address on 

 comb honey unless 3'ou are retailing it yourself. Then it 

 would be all right. Or, if the dealer buying your honey 

 wanted it on. 



We have worked up a demand for " York's Honey," and 

 not Smith's, or Miller's, or Nelson's honey. 



It would simply be foolish for us to create a demand for 

 Nelson's honey one year, and then the next year he would 

 likely have no crop. Where would we be then ? Again, 

 Nelson couldn't produce the tenth part of what we would 

 need to supply our trade. Then, where would we be again ? 



The best way when wholesaling honey is to omit the 

 name and address from every case and every section. 



Packing Comb Honey for Shipping.— Now is the time 

 to repeat the directions for packing comb honey for safe 

 shipment. There are always a number of new readers who 

 need to learn how to do it properly, and then a good many 

 not so new need to be reminded occasionally lest they be- 

 come careless. 



We prefer to pack say about a dozen 12-pound cases, or 

 eight 24-pound cases, in a large crate, first putting about 

 four inches of straw in it. This will act as a cushion, and 

 prevent breaking down of the combs from jarring or jolting. 



The glass fronts of the cases should show through the 

 crate so that freight-handlers can easily see what it is, and 

 handle accordingly. 



Then, there should be two long strips nailed near the 

 top of the sides of the crate (one on each side), and extend- 

 ing out six or eight inches, forming handles by which to 

 carry it. 



Another good thing is to tack on top a large card hav- 

 ing on it in plain letters : " Comb Honey. Handle with 

 Care." 



When so prepared, comb honey should go almost any- 

 where by freight in good condition. 



Shaken Swarms, or brushed swarms, are much talked 

 about nowadays. It is really little more than anticipating 

 the action of the bees by making them swarm a little in 

 advance, and at the same time making a more thorough job 

 of it by leaving with the swarm a larger proportion of the 

 bees. A caution as to one point may not be out of place. 

 Some say to brush off all the bees, setting the beeless combs 

 on a stand by themselves, and trust to the young bees 

 hatching out to take care of the brood. While this may 

 work all right when days and nights are continuously warm, 

 with a continuous tlow of honey, it would most surely result 

 in disaster in some cases. A chilly night with no bees on 

 the combs would be sure death for thousands of larva;-, and 

 a let-up in the honey-flow would be the signal for an attack 

 from robbers. In any case, there would be no bees present 

 at first to feed the larva;, and it is likely a good many of the 

 older unsealed larva; would starve before the hatching bees 

 would be sufficientlv mature to feed them. 



Shall Extracted Honey Be Strained or Skimmed?— 



A discussion of the question in the Ontario convention 

 showed that while some preferred straining and some 

 skimming, the weight of sentiment seemed to be in favor of 

 both. After the most careful straining there will still be a 

 lack of clearness caused by small particles of comb and pol- 

 len and bubbles of air. After standing a week these can 

 be skimmed from the surface. Objection was made that 

 allowing the honey to stand for a week would result in a 

 loss of aroma, but it was thought the gain would be greater 

 than the loss. 



Denver Convention Notes — With us, the Denver con- 

 vention began about two weeks before we got aboard the 

 train at the Chicago & North- Western station at 6:30 p.m., 

 Monday evening, Sept. 1, and ended several days after 

 arriving at our oftlce again on Sept. 12. It was necessary 

 to put in a good deal of rush work in order to get the busi- 

 ness and office affairs in shape to be left for ten days. This 

 was no easy matter, as it was necessary to prepare copy for 

 over two numbers of the Bee Journal in advance, and also 

 explain many matters so that the clerks could keep things 

 going during our absence. 



Well, by careful planning and hard work, when the 

 train was ready to start, we had completed all arrange- 

 ments, and with Mrs. York got aboard for Denver. There 

 were also in the same Pullman coach. Dr. C. C. Miller and 

 Miss Kmma Wilson ; Editor E. R. Root and Huber Root ; 

 C. H. W. Weber and Mr. Klocks ; W. L. Coggshall : and Mr. 

 and Mrs. Geo. Angus, the last two being from Canada : Mr. 

 Angus having been employed to report the convention for 

 the American Bee Journal. 



We all started off feeling well, and in good time. But 

 the first four named of our party were destired to be sep- 

 arated from the rest of the company. At Omaha, the next 

 morning, we four had to get round-trip tickets from there 

 to Denver. We expected to find the tickets all read}- for us 



