JULY 1, 1916 



519 



rank growth of clovers and gat neclar at 

 the same time. As soon as the rain stops 

 and the weather turns hot, the growth of the 

 clover plant stops and nectar begins to 

 yield. 



The United States weather maps, one of 

 which reaches us every day, show that this 

 rainy weather is practically universal thru- 

 out the clover regions of the United States. 

 It spreads from the Dakotas to Maine, from 

 Maine to the southern states, and from there 

 to the Rockies. Texas has had an unusual 

 amount of wet weather for that state, and 

 it has certainly been a honey year for the 

 Lone Star State. 



If this cool rainy weather should continue 

 another month there may not be much if 

 any clover honey ; but the probabilities are 

 that it will change soon ; and when it does, 

 if not too late, there will doubtless be a big 

 crop of clover honey thruout the United 

 States. We have the plants this year — ■ 

 thousands of acres of them — and we have 

 the moisture in the soil and in the air ; and 

 now the thing we earnestly hope for is a 

 good old-fashioned drouth, for no drouth 

 now could stop the flow of clover nectar. 



Our Rocky Mountain beekeepers prob- 

 ably will not feel so very badly if the cold 

 weather of the East continues; for their 

 crop, on account of snow in the mountains, 

 is reasonably assured. California will have 

 more honey than early indications seenvd 

 to show. 



The price of honey this coming season 

 will depend somewhat on how much clover 

 honey is secured in the eastern states. The 

 Avhole beekeeping world, on account of this, 

 stands on tiptoe awaiting the events of the 

 next few days. 



Later. — Sunshine and a clear sky have 

 come. Will it continue? We are "tiptoed" 

 clear up high. 



Beekeepers are requested to send in po.<N 

 al-eard reports. 



Honey ; 

 is Own 



Some Pointers on Advertising 

 Shall a Producer Retail I 

 Honey ? 



It is apparently easier for the average 

 individual to produce an article than to let 

 the prospective purchaser know he has 

 something he wants to buy at a profit to the 

 producer. 



One reason for advertising any merchan- 

 dise is to help the prospective purchaser 

 realize that we have the particular article 

 he wants. The various methods outlined in 

 this issue in the articles on honey advertis- 

 ing which have been effective in increasing 

 gales are well worth careful study. How- 



ever, the plan which is best in one locality 

 may not be best for another. 



The local beekeeper has the advantage 

 over outside advertisers, as he knows the 

 peculiarities of the people of his own local- 

 ity, and can also appeal to local pride. The 

 most important factor is to have an article 

 worth advertising, and at the same time 

 offer it for sale in a form to meet local 

 needs best. 



We have long been of the opinion that 

 beekeepers who specialized on the larger 

 packages, five-pound pails and up, were 

 making the most money, and they are cer- 

 tainly creating a larger demand. The gro- 

 cer will handle the larger packages when the 

 beekeeper is back of the goods, as suggest- 

 ed by Mr. Frank Kittinger, this issue, page 

 533. It costs practically as much to sell the 

 10-cent size as the $1.00 package; but mark 

 this: To enjoy the co-operation of your 

 grocer you must protect him by not under- 

 selling. 



All advertising should be of a character 

 to inspire confidence of consumer, also the 

 dealer, not only in the goods advertised, but 

 in the man back of the goods. Your adver- 

 tising is capitalizing your character. 



Elxhibits as described by Mr. Burton N. 

 Gates and several .others are one of the best 

 means of publicity and one of the cheapest. 

 The opportunity for personal contact can 

 not be overestimated, and we consider it 

 one of the cheapest means of effective ad- 

 vertising. Articles and statements tending 

 to create interest in bees in general, inter- 

 esting facts suggesting the honey industry, , 

 and the publishing of honey cooking recipes 

 gi-adually build up public sentiment in fa- 

 vor of honey, creating the desire that results 

 in the purchase. 



If more beekeepers displayed attractive 

 signs it would not only help their business 

 but the industry in general. Billboard ad- 

 vertising in cities is expensive ; but you have 

 the opportunity at no expense, aside from 

 the sign ; and if you live on a main road 

 invest in the best sign you can afford. Util- 

 izing your location in this way will make 

 you slick up a little, improving general 

 appearances; and Ruth C. Gifford's sugges- 

 tions, page 537, regarding appearances can 

 not be overlooked, and will apply to your 

 plant as well as the goods you sell. 



The idea suggested by John R. Pomeroy, 

 page 542, and others, would be a long step 

 in the right direction, and in our opinion 

 beekeepers would be wise in adopting a 

 uniform sticker, Eat Honey. 



The beekeeper has another problem to 

 solve : In these days of high cost of labor, 

 the increased cost of doing business must 



