JU]A' ], 1914 



It is too early yet, however, to get definite 

 statements, as the reports up to date are 

 few and scattering; but in our own locality 

 it looks now as if we are to get no clover — 

 hardly enough to fill up the hives; but we 

 have just had (June 23) some very heavy 

 soaking rains, and we hope the bees will get 

 enough to fill their combs. But even at best 

 we do not expect to get an extracting from 

 clover. 



Basswood never looked better; the pros- 

 pect of honey from that source seems to be 

 good all over the country where basswood 

 grows. One or two fear that the seventeen- 

 year locusts will do some damage; but this 

 damage will probably be only minor. But, 

 unfortunately, the basswoods have been 

 pretty well cut off ; and even if they do give 

 their nectar splendidly, the aggregate will 

 not be large. 



In spite of discouraging prospects we do 

 not know when we have had a year when 

 there has been such a heavy demand for 

 supplies. The factories have been running 

 overtime. There must be some prospects of 

 a honey crop or there would not be such a 

 call for goods. The next issue will tell the 

 story. 



The prosjjects for alfalfa honey, both 

 comb and extracted, are very good except 

 in the immediately vicinity of Denver, Col., 

 where the bees appear to have been killed 

 by smelter smoke. Reports regarding the 

 yield from mountain sage are somewhat 

 hazy ; but it is our opinion there will be 

 considerable mountain sage this year, and 

 some orange blossom. Texas appears to 

 have had a very fair crop ; but as it con- 

 sumes its own product largely, it will not 

 have very much influence on the market. 



PRICES FOR 1914. 



A couple of weeks ago, producers and 

 buyers were undecided where prices would 

 go. The large amount of honey left over 

 from last year created a feeling of uncer- 

 tainty in the face of a promising yield from 

 clover in the Eastern States; but as the 

 yield from that source will probably be 

 light — nothing like what it was last year — 

 it would appear that prices ought to be firm, 

 with a possible tendency upward. At all 

 events, we would not advise those who have 

 large amounts of last year's extracted to 

 unload at low prices. 



In the mean time we solicit reports from 

 honey-buyers and producers generally; but 

 be sure to make your reports brief. 



Later. — Telegrams since the foregoing 

 was written are as follows: 



Clover prospects in this locality indicate a big 

 crop. "Weather is cold and rainy. 



St. Paul, Minn., June 23. The A. I. Root Co. 



487 



Late Raieg Starting the Homey- 



Later. — Since writing the foregoing it is 

 apparent that the heavy soaking rains have 

 started up the clovers again. Before these 

 rains fell, and for a day or two afterward 

 there was nothing doing in our yards, and 

 the bees got to robbing; but we are noAv 

 (June 24) having hot muggy weather, and 

 the ground, thoroughly soaked, is pushing 

 up the belated clovers that are yielding 

 nectar. The boys are now rushing on the 

 supers. 



Reports from over the country show that 

 the rains are quite general in the clover belt, 

 and these have boosted the prospects for 

 clover. If these same rains had come a 

 week or ten days earlier, there would have 

 been a big crop of clover, without doubt. 

 As it is, there will probably be from a light 

 to a fair crop. In any case the yield can 

 hardly be as heavy as last year. 



We shall probably secure enough honey 

 to make a demonstration with power ex- 

 tracting machinery on the field-day meet 

 at Medina, July 9 and 10. 



Tlie Net=weiglit Law go far ag it Ap- 

 plieg to Conmh) Honey 



A FLOOD of inquiries have been coming 

 in, asking for some more specific informa- 

 tion than was given on page 385 of our 

 issue for June 15. We were not able at the 

 time to cover all the points. We are now 

 informed that the net weight on a section of 

 honey means the net weight of the contents 

 in the section exclusive of the wood part — 

 that is to say, if a box of comb honey, in- 

 cluding the wood, weighs 131/2 ounces we 

 must subtract one ounce and mark the sec- 

 tion 121/2 ounces net weight, as the wood 

 part of the section weighs approximately 

 one ouiice. If the Government insists on 

 this ruling it will mean, other things being 

 equal, that producers and honey merchants 

 will have to charge more, and that a large 

 number of others will be innocent violaters 

 of the law. 



The actual tendency of the net-weight 

 law will be to reduce prices, as it may be 

 difficult to increase the price on a I2I/2- 

 ounce section to a 131/2-ounce price. 



As the net-weight law is construed to 

 mean that only the actual weight of the 

 honey in the section is to be considered, 

 then, naturally enough, the glass in glassed 

 sections cannot be weighed in with the hon- 

 ey. Heretofore the section itself and two 

 sheets of glass have been included and sold 

 at the same price as the honey itself. There 

 is nothing morally wrong in this, because if 

 the fancy trade requires honey in that form 



