1920 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



141 



Crop and Market Report 



Compiled by M. G. Dadant 



For our April report we asked the following questions 

 of reporters: 1. How much honey is left on hand?. 2. At 

 what price is it being sold or held?. 3. What is the win- 

 ter loss, so far? 4. Will there be losses from starvation? 

 5. What are the crop prospects? 6. How many bees, 

 compared to last year? 



HONEY ON HAND 



Thioughout the entire East beekeepers report practi- 

 cally all honey sold. Exceptions are one large beekeeper 

 in the South reporting one-third of his crop still on hand. 

 The Central West, Te.xas, Colorado, New Mexico and Ari- 

 zona, are well sold out. Utah reports three or four cars 

 on hand; California has possibly 10 per cent of its honey 

 on hand, but moving well. 



It s in the Northwest that the biggest amount of honey 

 is still held. Montana reports possibly 75 per cent of its 

 honey unsold, while Idaho estimates are that there are 

 still 30 cars to be sold. 



PRICES 



For local sales, the honey price is still maintained at 

 its high level. Beekeepers who sell near at home have 

 not had to shade prices to get rid of their honey. The 

 jobbing and carload price is dropping some. Best honey 

 is now being quoted at 17 and 18 cents. One large buyer 

 reports being able to buy for 16 cents, honey which he 

 paid 22 cents for in the fall. The foreign demand, owing 

 to the unfavorable exchange, is nil, so that all honey has 

 to be marketed in the domestic centers. Some beekeep- 

 'ers are still holding for 20 cents in car lots, but most of 

 them would be willing to sell at 17 cents f. o. b. shipping 

 point. 



WINTER LOSSES— Starvation 



It is yet a little early to give winter losses. Yet there 

 is a strong undercurrent of feeling that the losses will be 

 extra heavy. The North has had a long, unbroken 

 winter, bees often being shut in four months with- 

 out a flight. Winter cellared bees will do well, but losses 

 already reported are heavy, especially in New England, 

 New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, 

 Wisconsin, Minnesota and parts of Iowa and Nebraska. 

 A little farther south, where bees had a flight or two dur- 

 ing the winter, the loss will be normal, probably, except 

 for starvation, which also has been above ordinary, ow- 



ing to light stores in the fall and shortage of sugar. 



Sugar seems easier to get this spring, and we advise 

 all beekeepers to get in touch immediately, either 

 through local grocers or direct, with their nearest whole- 

 sale grocer, who should be able to supply them. We have 

 been able to get no satisfaction by writing direct to sugar 

 companies, or to the sugar board. We have obtained 

 sugar for our own bees at wholesale for about 17 cents 

 f. o. b. here. 



CROP PROSPECTS 



The long closed winter of the North has been attended 

 by many snows, the clover is well covered and should 

 have abundant moisture when spring cpens. Most clover 

 localities report fair to good prospects. Illinois, Indiana 

 and parts of Iowa and Missouri are exceptions. In the 

 South conditions are normal, while Texas expects a bet- 

 ter crop than usual. 



In the mountain states and the Northwest it is yet too 

 early to make predictions. California reports good pros- 

 pects for orange, with rather discouraging reports for 

 the sage, on account of lack of rain. Late rains have 

 helped improve the situation. 



NUMBER OF BEES 



In some scattered localities there will be considerable 

 increase. In most, however, it is doubtful whether the 

 increase will more than make up for winter losses. 



HONEY MOVEMENTS 



The Government report from the Bureau of Markets 

 under date of March 1 reports honey movements as slow, 

 with but little call by the jobber. Very little comb honey 

 is left on hand. Whether all of the 1919 crop of honey 

 will move before the new crop is ready is doubtful. 



It hardly seems that honey would maintain the high 

 level of 1919 during the fall of 1920. Sugar seems to be 

 easier and is being quoted for fall delivery at a figure 

 reduced very much over present levels. Our advice would 

 be, wherever possible, to maintain and encourage the 

 local markets. 



Organization will help. The three large co-operative 

 organizations of Colorado, Texas and California have had 

 very little trouble disposing of the crop, and at excellent 

 prices. The Texas honey was all sold at home, and some 

 is being imported to fill the demand. 



"falcon" 



T am a "falcon" bee 



'falcon" 



I live in a Falcon" hive. 



I am gentle and cont nted. I love to work in my home because everything is just as 

 I like it. 



The hive body is well constructed; that is why our honey crop is always plentiful. 

 Our queen is a "Falcon" queen — she is a three-banded Italian of pure healthy stock. 

 We all agree that our colony is successful, but so are all the "Falcon" hives in our apiary. 



The other bees tell me when we meet in the fields. 



Send at once for a "Falcon" queen, a hive or any bee supplies you need. Don't delay. Spring will soon 

 be here. 



"Falcon" bees and supplies always give the best results. 



I KNOW BECAUSE— I AM A "FALCON" BEE 



W. T. FALCONER MANUFACTURING CO., Falconer, N. Y. 



Where the best Bee Hives come from 



