1060 



The supply of maple syriip is growing 

 SQialler and smaller. The demand for good 

 table sweets in the mean time is growing 

 larger and larger. While the glucose con- 

 coctions can supply a certain cheap trade, 

 it is evident that the average family wants 

 something of a higher grade. Honey is the 

 only available article that can be obtained 

 in quantity. 



PRICES ANOTHER YEAR. 



It is apparent that honey prices are 

 bound to advance another year. Glean- 

 ings believes tliat the beekeei^er should not 

 only get more for his honey, but that the 

 consumer should pay oori-espondingly more 

 for it. Our general campaign of advertis- 

 ing is begiiniing to have its effect; for we 

 are now in possession of reliable informa- 

 tion that shows that the trade in bottled 

 honey is beginning to assume enoniious pro- 

 portions. If some of the beekeepers of the 

 couuti-y could know the amount sold by the 

 various bottlers they would be surprised. 

 While iDroduction is on the increase enor- 

 mously, it has not kept pace with the de- 

 mand ; and had there not been a very large 

 production in the eastern states this year, 

 honey would have adyanccd like all other 

 food commodities; and it is almost sure to 

 do so another season. 



Regulations Relating to the Export of 

 Honey from New Zealand 



Gleanings is indebted to Mr. Isaac Hop- 

 kins, of Auckland, N. Z., for an extract 

 from the Neiv Zealand Gazette, for Nov. 

 25, 1915. The repiint consists of an order 

 in council for some regulations on honey 

 exports, wliich went into effect the first day 

 of December. In more than one instance 

 American beekeepers have observed that 

 progressive New Zealand is not one Avhit 

 behind the times. 



There are twenty-one regulations in all, 

 but lack of space prevents giving more 

 than a summary of these. The first six 

 regulations define the terms used, specify 

 tlie six ports from which honey may be 

 exported, and paragraph No. 4 gives the 

 name of the store at each of the six jDoints 

 in question. Honey intended for export 

 has to be forwarded to one of the appointed 

 stores not less than seven days before ship- 

 ment. Where there is a noticeable differ- 

 ence in the standard of honey the owner is 

 obliged to submit such honey in separate 

 parcels with a distinguishing mark on each. 

 No honey will be graded or allowed to be 

 exported unless it is granulated. 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Regulations 7 and 8 have to do with the 

 method of packing the honey and the 

 branding. Honey intended for export has 

 to be packed in clean tins, lacquered or 

 oiled on the outside to prevent rusting, each 

 tin to be provided with a leak-proof lid 

 capable of being easily removed and re- 

 placed. The tins have to be packed in clean 

 new cases of well-seasoned lumber, planed 

 on the outside, and bound with metal straps 

 or wire. The weight of the honey must not 

 exceed 120 pounds net. 



The owner must indelibly brand with the 

 apiiroved export brand, which contains the 

 words " New Zealand Produce — Pure Hon- 

 ey," name of the owner, etc. The net weight 

 of the honey also has to be branded on the 

 cases. 



Regulation 9 has to do with the securing 

 of application for export of the Director, 

 etc. 



Most of the remaining regulations Jiave 

 to do with the grading. The honey is di- 

 vided into four classes according to color: 

 White, light amber, medium amber, and 

 dark. The system of grading is based on 

 tlie following points : 



Flavor 40 points 



Color 10 " 



Condition 15 " 



Grain 12 " 



Aroma 8 " 



Freedom from scum and froth. 10 " 



Packing and finish 5 " 



Total 100 points 



The A, or Special grade, is the honey 

 which grades from 94 to 100 points, inclu- 

 sive; B, or Prime gi'ade, 88 to 9,3 V2 p.oints; 

 C, or Good grade, 80 to 871/2 points; D, or 

 Manufacturing gi-ade, 65 to 79^/2 points. 

 No charge is made for the grading. The 

 gi-ader stamps a grade-mark on the eases 

 and delivers to the owner a certificate of the 

 grade. No honey can be exported which 

 scores less than 65 points, and, of course, 

 any tins showing signs of leaking are 

 barred. The decision of any gi-ader is held 

 final, and no action against any grader is 

 permitted. 



New Zealand cannot consume all of the 

 honey produced. That much of it must be 

 exported is, therefore, a foregone conclu- 

 sion. Under these conditions a uniform 

 system of grading becomes a very real 

 necessity. Honey-producers of this coun- 

 try, however, may profitably take notice of 

 this forward step of the New Zealand mem- 

 bers of the craft, for the great drawback to 

 honey-selling in the United States is care- 

 lessness in grading and the lack of a urn- 

 form stjstem of grading. 



