itLeanings in bee culture. 



457 



Thk next convention of the United States 

 Bee-keepers' Union will be held on Tuesday, 

 Wednesday, and Thursday, Aug. 24, 25,26, 1897, 

 In Buffalo. These dates occur during the reg- 

 ular meeting of the G. A. R., and of course rail- 

 road rates will bo low. 



After the foregoing was in type the following 

 from Dr. Mason came to hand: 



Railroad rates have been secured by the G. A. K., 

 of two cents a mile for tlic round trip, that is, one 

 cent a mile each way, in all territory east of the 

 Mississippi river, including Canada; and in all terri- 

 tory west of the Mississippi the rate will be one 

 fare for the round trip, tickets to be g-ood froing- on 

 the21st to24tli inclusive, in all terriory. TicJsets 

 must be liouurht for the G. A. R. encampment, and 

 not for the L". S. B. K. tJ., and will be good for thir- 

 ty days if vi.sed at Buffalo, information in regard to 

 which will be given to those attending the conven- 

 tion. Information in regard to hall and hotel rates 

 will be given as soon as obtained. 



To those living west of the Mississippi, I weuld 

 suggest, although it may not be necessary, that it 

 may be cheaper to buy tickets to the east side of 

 the river at tlie regular rate. A. B. Mason, Sec. 



PROSPECTS FOR HONEY- FLOW. 



In our locality at least, basswoods will yield 

 no honey, for the reason that not a single blos- 

 som can be found upon any of the trees in the 

 streets of Medina, nor on those in the forest. 

 Examination of the buds at our basswood or- 

 chard shows a like condition. I do not know 

 how far this condition may prevail throughout 

 the country. 



The heavy rains in the early part of the sea- 

 son have given clover a great stimulus, and 

 reports everywhere show that it is growing 

 profusely. If these cool nights will only give 

 way to warm ones, we shall expect at least a 

 good flow of honey from clover. Taking it all 

 in all, the late spring and early summer have 

 been decidedly cooler than for several years. 

 It is generally supposed that warm nights and 

 hot days are favorable to a honey-flow; but 

 judging by the way the orders are pouring in 

 from every quarter of the country, making it 

 necessary for us to run day and night, it would 

 look as if honey were coming in, even if the 

 conditions were not exactly favorable so far as 

 temperature is concerned. 



A MILLIOX-DOLLAR COJIMISSION FIRM. 



It is not often that I mention editorially the 

 name of a new commission house; but lately 

 we have received application for space in our 

 Honey Column, from Francis H. Leggett & Co., 

 Franklin and Varick Sts., New York. Refer- 

 ring to the commercial agencies. Dun and 

 Bradstreet, we find that their rating is of the 

 very highest that either could give. We are 

 very careful whom we admit into this column, 

 and accordingly wrote to the firm in question, 

 saying that it was our custom to allow space 



in our Honey Column to reputable and respon- 

 sible commission firms, free of charge, on condi- 

 tion Ihattliey neither handle adulterated goods 

 in the way of honey, nor encourage the sale of 

 it if they know it. In reply I received the fol- 

 lowing letter, which 1 take pleasure in submit- 

 ting to our readers: 



Editor Olr(iniiiiis:—ln reply to yours of the 1st 

 inst. wc would say that, iu regard to handling adul- 

 terated honey, that is not our intention, and wo 

 certainly will work with j^ou on this line. Any in- 

 formation in regard to producers, etc., will be 

 cheerfuUj' received. 



Trusting that our relations will be of a pleasant 

 nature, and hoping to see our ad. in your next 

 issue, we remain 



Very respectfully, 



Francis H. Leggett & Co. 



New York, N. Y., June 3, lb9T. 



This firm, with its capital of a million and 

 over, we feel sure, will be a great acquisition to 

 our Honey Column; and although we have 

 received numerous applications for space in 

 this department, many of which have been 

 rejected on various grounds, we take pleasure 

 in giving these people space, even though they 

 are strangers; and if they do not give their 

 customers satisfaction we shall drop them out. 



HONEY adulteration; CANE SYRUP AND GLU- 

 COSE. 



When an analysis of honey shows only 10 

 per cent of cane sugar as an adulterant, and no 

 glucose, it does not necessarily signify adulter- 

 ation. I believe the United States chemist 

 stated, some time ago, that very small percent- 

 ages of cane sugar found in honey could not be 

 taken as positive evidence of fraud. If I am 

 correct, nectar, just as it comes from the flow- 

 ers, is chemically, to a great extent, a cane su- 

 gar; but after it has passed through the ripen- 

 ing process it is converted into what we call 

 honey. Sometimes, when the honey is gather- 

 ed and stored rapidly, it is not as thoroughly 

 ripened at some times as at others. The conse- 

 quence is, analysis shows a trace of cane sugar. 



Perhaps our readers may think that, even if 

 this is true, it would not be wise to give public- 

 ity to it, for the reason that dishonest persons 

 would think they could add at least 10 per cent 

 of cane sugar to their honey, and not be detect- 

 ed. No fear need be apprehended along this 

 line, for the reason that good qualities of hon- 

 ey are sold so near the price of cane syrup it 

 would not pay to put in so small an amount. 

 But then it may be argued that it might pay to 

 put at least' 10 per cent in dark honey ; but 

 here, again, the price is as low as or lower than 

 the syrup. If adulteration were practiced at 

 all it would be syrup adulterated with honey, 

 rather than honey adulterated with syrup. 



But you may ask what specially called forth 

 this editorial. A short time ago an innocent 

 party was accused of adulterating, because the 

 chemist found 10 per cent of cane sugar in his 

 honey. I wrote to the party in question, giving 

 the position of the United States chemist, and 

 added that it was my opinion his honey wasn't 



