124 



(il.l-:.\NI\(.S IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 1 



Our Symposium on Candied Houey. 



HOW TO KFEP IT LIQUID, AND HOW TO HAS- 

 TEN THE PROCESS OF SOLIDIFYI^Q. 



The Marketing of Candied Honey; East- rn Can- 

 died Honey Successfully Bagged; Some 

 Valuable Data. 



BY CHAS. STEIGHR. 



Page 1044, last issue, contains a request 

 b3' the editor for information on the subject 

 of hastening the granulation of extracted 

 honey preparatory to putting it in paper 

 sacks to be sold in the candied form. Hav- 

 ing read Mr. Aikin's excellent article on 

 paper honey-packages, March 1, I decided 

 that the innovation was at least worth a 

 trial here ; and now, having brought the 

 same to a successful conclusion, I can best 

 offer my information gained on the subject 

 to readers of Gleanings with the statement 

 of my experience. 



Having ordered 100 of the 3,'4-lb. paper 

 sacks from Medina I filled five ordinary 

 lard-cans with white clover honey just as it 

 was taken off the hives and extracted, and 

 set it away by itself in a room where it 

 would keep coolest. Later, at the close of 

 August, when the nights were becoming 

 cool, I commenced stirring three cans of 

 this honey, leaving the other two cans un- 

 disturbed. Every two or three days, when 

 I would happen in the room with the honey, 

 I would stir this honey for about a minute 

 with a small stick placed in each can for 

 this purpose. Oct. 10 I sold one can of this 

 stirred honey to a customer who was so 

 well pleased with its white, glossy, taffy- 

 like appearance, that he much preferred it 

 to any other. The remaining two cans of this 

 stirred honey I put in the paper sacks, using 

 a large spoon. Unusually warm weather 

 for the season prevailed at this time, but by 

 the last of the month this honey was candied 

 solid, while the two cans of unstirred hon- 

 ey, and all the other of my clover honey, 

 except some in barrels, was only slightly 

 granulated. I account for the advanced 

 granulation of the honey in barrels with the 

 rolling and consequent stirring it received 

 in the process of occasionally driving the 

 hoops to keep the barrels tight, they being 

 not quite full. 



To begin stirring while the honey is yet 

 clear, not onlj' assists granulation but 

 cau.«es it to granulate much finer and more 

 evenly, and adds greatly to its solidity in 

 the candied form. The results of a trial, I 

 think, will convince anyone of the reliabili- 

 ty of this statement. 



The sacks are easily filled. Any one 

 with ordinary care can do it neatly. I fill 

 them on scales to insure correct weight. 

 For the 3'2-lb. sack I u-^e boxes with inside 

 dimensions 13'4X19'2X7 inches; 20 sacks 

 placed therein give them about the correct 

 shape when the honey hardens. 



For each box, prepare a rim of sufficient 

 depth to extend the ends and sides of the 

 box up level with the tops of the unfolded 

 sacks; lay a paper on top to exclude the 

 dust, and the bottom of the second box will 

 make a cover for the one beneath. When 

 the honey hardens, remove the rims, and, 

 taking out one sack at a time, fold each one 

 the same way. and return to its original 

 position in the box, when it is in good con- 

 dition for final disposal. 



In regard to the utility of paper sacks as 

 a honey package. I am prepared to speak 

 in their favor. My trial of them has con- 

 vinced me of their entire practicability. In 

 this locality the different honeys —clover, 

 basswood, heartsease, and Spanish needle, 

 or a mixture of any or all of them, will 

 candy sufficiently solid to serve all the pur- 

 poses of handling in sacks, at least during 

 the winter months. There is a growing de- 

 mand for candied honey. I believe three- 

 fourths of my customers prefer it. Why not 

 assist them in indulging this taste by offer- 

 ing their choice in a package which does 

 not materially advance the cost? In retail- 

 ing, this is important — five and ten cents 

 added by the cost of a jar or pail too often 

 makes the difference between a sale and no 

 sale at all. For testimony on this point 

 consult your grccer. 



I consider the 3'2 lb. sack the size most 

 convenient for general use. With the sack 

 peeled from around it, this amount can be 

 served entire on a plate, with the advan- 

 tage of appearance and attractiveness not 

 attained by the same laboriously dug from 

 out a glass jar or pail. The size of pack- 

 age which will permit of the contents being 

 served in one symmetrical whole, is, in my 

 opinion, better adapted for the consumer's 

 table than the larger sizes which, having 

 part of their contents removed, will, I fear, 

 too often be exposed to such unfavorable 

 conditions as will permit of the sack being 

 an unfit receptacle for its contents. With 

 the sack partly peeled away it may be ex- 

 posed to dust, and other unsanitary condi- 

 tions ; or, if allowed to become warm, the 

 honey will adhere to the sack, making it a 

 mussy job. 



Here is one plain defect of the paper hon- 

 ey-package, but which can be easily' reme- 

 died by using thesmaller sizes as suggested, 

 or inst' ucting the consumer in the proper 

 use and care thereof. 



In introducing the paper package in my 

 locality I have been quite successful. I 

 meet my customer, and he is at first amused 

 at the idea of honey in paper sacks, and in- 

 clined to be a bit funny. This is just the 

 way I want him. A few words explaining 

 the merit ""f honey offered in this form sel 

 dom fails to excite his desire for possession 



