616 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 15. 



Fditoriac 



Cvr. root 



Buckwheat, the one almost never-failing 

 source of honey in certain sections of New 

 York, is not as promising as it might be. In 

 fact, one cr two have rt ported entire failures ; 

 and one bee-keeper in the heart of the buck- 

 wheat country, Mr. N. E. Boomhowtr, reports 

 it as " the poorest honey season ever seen in 

 this country." 



THE HONEY CROP OVER THE COUNTRY, AGAIN. 



Since our last, reports give a little better 

 showing. Indeed, it begins to appear as if 

 there were some bee-keepers, and tven some 

 States, where a fair crop of honey has been 

 secured. Missouri, generally speaking, has 

 had a good yield. Wisconsin will have more 

 honey than was at first expected. Northern 

 California has produced quite a showing of 

 honey. Certain portions of Colorado show a 

 good yield; and many places in the South 

 have had fairly good flows of honey. But 

 taking every thing into consideration, North- 

 ern honey, both comb and extracted, will be a 

 rather scarce article. 



TABLES TURNED. 



Honey-buyers are out on the road, buying 

 up honey, trying to find it, and they are get- 

 ting it. One whole section of Wisconsin has 

 had all its honey cleaned up. A New York 

 concern got in there before we had a chance 

 to do any thing; and now some of them are 

 rushing toward Missouri. It would seem that 

 this year the buyers have to hunt up the hon- 

 ey. The tables are turned at last. The old 

 rule has been, consumers seeking the buyer. 

 Nevertheless, it would be wise fur those who 

 have good honey to avail themselves of a free 

 advertisement in Gleanings, one insertion, 

 five lines. The more you can get after you 

 the better will be your chances for good prices. 



" BEAR " UP THE MARKET. 



In the Honey Column in this issue we note 

 that some of the markets are practically bare 

 of new comb honey, while others are receiv- 

 ing consignments. In the first c^se men- 

 tioned, the prices offered are evidently too 

 low, and the honey is, therefore, going to 

 those points where higher prices are offered. 

 Northern honey, of fine quality, both comb 

 and extracted, is a rather scarce article this 

 year. This, taken in consideration with the 

 fact that prices are advancing this year on 

 every thing else, ought to raise the price of 

 honey above what has been offered for it of 

 late. It is true, we are honey-buyers; but 

 that makes no difference. If prices advance, 

 the ratio will be the same, for we can sell for 

 more money. But we should like to see comb 

 honey, for the sake of producers, come up to 

 the old-time figures, if possible, this year. If 

 dishonest commission houses and slipshod, 

 behind-the-times bee-keepers, could be entire- 



ly figured out of the problem, there is no 

 doubt that the reliable firms could " bear" up 

 the market, and perhaps they can do it, even 

 as it is. 



SELLING HONEY FOR CASH OR ON COMMIS- 

 SION; HOW TO AVOID BEING " TAKEN 

 IN" BY HONEY-SHARKS. 



Nearly every year, or during the latter 

 part of it at least, there are usually quite a 

 number of bee-keepers who complain that 

 they have been unfairly treated by commis- 

 sion houses or honey-buyers. In some cases, 

 at least, the trouble is wholly with the bee- 

 keeper. His honey is improperly put up, 

 breaks down in transit, and in the end the 

 commission man is blamed. There are a few 

 expert bee keepers who kuow exactly how to 

 put up their honey, and how to put it on the 

 market without running risks. But there are 

 many more, in spite of all that has been said, 

 who make serious mistakes, greatly to their 

 financial detriment. 



In the first place, let me say that there is a 

 vast difference in the legal responsibility of 

 an actual buyer and a commission house. If 

 you ship your honey to an irresponsible pur- 

 chaser, and he fails to make you returns, you 

 are helpless. If he is worth any thing, on 

 the other hand, you can sue him far ihe full 

 amount of your claim. A commission house, 

 on the other hand, if it takes your honey, 

 takes it in trust. You will be obliged to pay 

 freight, car. age, and assume all risk in ship- 

 ment. If the honey is broken dowm in tran- 

 sit, the commission man (if one of the sharp- 

 'ers or skinflint class) may make out its con- 

 dition a great deal worse than it is, sell it at a 

 certain figure, and represent to you that it 

 sold at a go^,d deal lower figure. He will not 

 only steal the difference between his actual 

 selling price and the price represented to you, 

 but will charge you up, which he has a right 

 to do, with freight, drayage, and his 10-per- 

 cent commission. Although you may be pret- 

 ty well satisfied that he has actually robbed 

 you, unless you can prove it you have no re- 

 course in law. 



The nicest way to dispose of honey is to sell 

 it for cash to a responsible, honorable firm. 

 In 30 days' time you will get returns for the 

 full amount of your bill. But if the buyer 

 is irresponsible, and especially if he is dis- 

 honest, look out. I would rather deal with 

 an irresponsible commisssiou house than with 

 an irresponsible buyer. The former will be 

 compelled to render you some sort of returns, 

 while the latter can simply say in effect, 

 "What are you going to do about it?" If 

 you sue him you will be running up attorney 

 fees, without any show of returns ; but the 

 commission man must render you some sort 

 of statement, and remit according to that 

 statement, or go to jail for having taken your 

 property in trust. He has no right to confis- 

 cate it ; but, as I stated, he may make a false 

 report, and render you only a small percent- 

 age of the actual amount he received for the 

 honey. 



In the first place, then, investigate the re- 

 sponsibility of either a commission house or of 



