1 Si»9 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



891 



ugly corners knocked off. While I still have 

 a few " corners " to be disposed of cheap, in- 

 cidentally I'd like to see how those chaps in 

 the wild and woolly West do things. My vis- 

 its thus far have been largely eastward, with 

 perhaps one or two short runs out into Ne- 

 braska, Illinois, and Michigan ; but I have 

 never been in Colorado, and in the short time 

 I shall be gone (two weeks) I hope to pick up 

 something of interest for all our readers. I'll 

 leave my bike at home this time, for those 

 magnificent distances are too great to cover on 

 that kind of horseless vehicle. 



THE ASSOCIATION BRAND OF PURITY. 



I BELIEVE I have before referred to the fact 

 that the British Bee-keepers' Association is 

 perhaps the best organized of any similar as- 

 sociation for the advancemeut of bee-keeping 



Each of these organizations, I believe, puts out 

 a special brand or label for honey which the 

 members, upon complying with certain condi- 

 tions, are permitted to use. 



I have had two of their labels reproduced 

 for the benefit of our American producers. It 

 is evident that any honey that buyers get, 

 bearing any of these brands, is guaranteed to 

 be pure and of good quality. The special reg- 

 ister number shows by whom the honey was 

 produced ; and if any complaint arises, the re- 

 sponsibility can be located where it belongs. A 

 knowledge of this fact naturally enough leads 

 the producer to be careful what honey he puts 

 out under the association brand. But I pre- 

 sume that, as a further precaution, all honey, 

 before it can be thus labeled, is required to 

 pass an inspector appointed by the association. 

 I say presume, for I don't know. 



In time the general trade will learn that 



in the world. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts 

 is, I believe, president, an attachee of the 

 queen's household, and one who is greatly in- 

 terested in bee-keeping. The main or parent 



honey bearing such labels would necessarily 

 be pure, and of the very best quality. The 

 poorer grades of honey should, of course, be 

 otherwise disposed of. 



Sft^ 3 



organization is affiliated with a number of 

 county associations throughout the kingdom. 

 For instance, there is a Kent Bee-keepers' As- 

 sociation, a Nottinghamshire Bee-keepers' As- 

 sociation, and how many more I do not know. 



The effect of this branding of honey of 

 known purity, and of the very best quality, 

 must be such as to bring the very best prices ; 

 for the general consuming public is perfectly 

 willing to pay a good price provided it can be 



