GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



modity on the same terms. Standardization 

 of packages and contents is also necessary 

 before marketing information can be dis- 

 seminated. 



In this direction a beginning has been 

 made in the adoption of grading rules, such 

 as those of the National Beekeepers' Asso- 

 ciation ; but outside of the successful co- 

 operative associations very few honey-pro- 

 ducers give adequate attention to this im- 

 portant matter. The situation has been the 

 same in apiculture as in fruit or cotton 

 gi'owing — the producer has relied upon the 

 buyers to make the classification by com- 

 petitive bidding. It does not work out this 

 way, however, as investigations by the Bu- 

 reau of Markets have shown. 



It is true that a product of high grade 

 will sell itself, albeit with some loss if the 

 sizes of packages are not uniform. The 

 trouble lies with low grades, culls, and 

 mixtures. These are ruinous to the whole 

 market, whether they are cotton bales, 

 gi-apes, or sections of honey. 



The public is ready to pay good prices 

 for the product which is uniform in quality, 

 size, and package. Consumers are quick to 

 appreciate a commodity of uniform high 

 grade, and are willing to pay prices which 

 will be remunerative to the producer. This 

 has been demonstrated in the success with 

 which standardized syrups, cereals, and 

 canned vegetables have sold at prices three 

 times those paid to the producer. 



NEW HONEY STANDARDS COMING. 



Since the net-weight law went into effect 

 loud protests have gone up from beekeep- 

 ers who object to 'ffie trouble it makes in 

 stamping the weight on the sections. The 

 new law makes for standardization, how- 

 ever, and so must be considered a step in 

 advance. The only drawback is that stan- 

 dardization has not yet gone far enough. 

 It does not yet include sizes of sections and 

 grades of honey. 



Perhaps further advances in this direction 

 are premature, at least until some of the ' 

 agitation against the present law quiets 

 down; but more detailed standardization 

 on the part of the Government is coming, 

 and the sooner it comes the better for the 

 retail honey market. 



What will be the nature of the new leg- 

 islation ? Congress has established the stan- 

 dard apple-barrel which now has the same 

 legal status as the bushel. At present, 

 standardization of apple-boxes, berry-crates, 

 and cups is under consideratior l^. is not ; 

 unlikely that the Government wili under- 

 take to define sections for comb honey in 

 the same law. Ample time will be given, 

 of course, for the beekeepers to use up sec- 

 tions of odd size. The form or forms 

 standardized would be those in most com- 

 mon use. 



This standard would be enforced in the 

 same way as the standard apple-barrel. 

 Bees would still have the right to build 

 comb in any other thing; but the producer 

 could not sell the product at a price per 

 section unless its dimensions conformed to 

 the government rule. Congress has the 

 right to enact such legislation under the 

 weights and measures j^rovision of the Con- 

 stitution, It would be applied without 

 regard to whether the business is interstate 

 or not. 



The Government can never be expected 

 to accomplish as much for honey-producers 

 in this direction as they can do for them- 

 selves thru co-oi^erative effort. Such stan- 

 dardization as contemplated would not be 

 as effective as the Colorado Honey-produc- 

 ers' Association enforces among its mem- 

 bers, for example. But it would be some- 

 thing, at least, and would probably make 

 possible more extended co-operative organi- 

 zation in tlie craft. This would mean larg- 

 er profits for the individual producer. 



Cleveland, 0. 



SELL DIRECT OR TO THE RETAILER 



BY CHARLES H. CHESLET 



The .small honey-producer can often dis- 

 pose of his product thru the agency of some 

 local grocer ; or in ease he has too much for 

 one merchant to handle, two or more can 

 be induced to handle the output. There is 

 usually more money for the producer by 

 selling to the retailer direct than in dealing 

 with a commission house. Of course, when 

 the output is fairly extensive it may be 

 necessary to do business with the commis- 

 sion man. 



The honey market is one that can be 



developed in many communities. Thus one 

 producer in a community where beekeeping 

 is rather uncommon had a small circular 

 printed, describing the uses and valuable 

 qualities of honey. This was left on the 

 counter of one of the main groceries. On 

 the bottom of the circular was announced 

 the fact that " our product is for sale by 

 John Smith & Son." It was stated that 

 this more than doubled the sale of honey 

 in that village in a few weeks. 



In selling honey in the home market (or 



