AUGLTST, 1921 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



FROM THE FIELD OF EXPERIENCE 



GRANULATION IN BAIT SECTIONS 



EfFect of Minute Crystals of Honey Left in Cells 

 from Previous Year 



In May Gleanings J. E. Crane states on 

 page 274: "If we only knew the reason 

 why honey in sections of comb drawn the 

 previous season is more inclined to granu- 

 late than in combs recently drawn from 

 foundation, we might in some way avoid 

 the difficulty and so use our last year 's half- 

 filled sections very much to our -advan 

 tage. ' ' 



Long ago I noticed, when partly filled sec- 

 tions were run thru the extractor at the 

 end of the season and stored away without 

 being cleaned up by the bees after extract- 

 ing, that in the following spring these 

 combs often contained minute crystals of 

 granulated honey, and that the new honey 

 stored in these combs usually granulated in 

 the winter. On the other hand, when the 

 partially filled sections were emptied by the 

 bees in the fall, or even cleaned up by the 

 bees after extracting there was less granu- 

 lation in the combs the next season. 



Probably the reason for more granulation 

 in old combs than in new ones is that small 

 crystals of old honey in the cells start crys- 

 tallization in the new honey. Granulation 

 of honey is crystallization. 



It is well known among sugar manufac- 

 turers that when a pan of syrup is very slow 

 to grain that the addition of a little granu- 

 lated sugar or sugar dust to the boiling 

 syrup will often hasten crystallization. In 

 purifying some chemical salts by recrystal- 

 lization it is sometimes necessary to add a 

 small crystal of the salt to start crystalliza- 

 tion in the liquor. A mere sudden jar will 

 start crystallization in supersaturated solu- 

 tions of sugar syrups, and in some salt solu- 

 tions as well. 



Having the combs perfectly dry and 

 clean seemed to avoid granulation "with 

 white clover honey. If any honey, either 

 comb or extracted, is kept at a fairly even 

 temperature, and not stirred or jolted, it 

 has always seemed to me that it is less in- 

 clined to granulate. A. N. Clark. 



Charlotte, Mich. 



=io^c«= 



HOW MANY BEEKEEPERS ? 



American Honey Producers' Le-ague Has Addresses 

 of Only 2280 ; How Many More are There ? 



How many beekeepers are there in this 

 country? Ever since the 1910 census the 

 writers of beekeeping literature have refer- 

 red again and again to "the 80,000 bee- 

 keepers of America." Are there that many'? 

 I am beginning very seriously to doubt it. 



What constitutes a beekeeper? Simply 

 owning a colony or two of bees surely does 

 not make one. To my mind a beekeeper is 

 one who not only cares for his bees but 

 takes some interest in the honey-producing 

 business and the marketing of his prod- 

 uct. 



Do not be startled if I make the assertion 

 that there are less than 21/^ per cent of the 

 number above referred to that are beekeep- 

 ers. I hope I am wrong, but I have a set 

 of facts that bear out my belief. 



About two years ago we decided that 

 our condition was almost unbearable, and 

 about three dozen men met in Kansas City 

 from all portions of the nation to formulate 

 plans for the organization of a central na- 

 tional league or association of beekeepers. 

 A half dozen meetings have since been held 

 and every bee paper has given the move- 

 ment publicity. 



Last month the American Honey Produc- 

 ers ' League issued a bulletin, giving its 

 constitution, membership, personnel of com- 

 mittees, etc. Exactly 2280 copies could be 

 mailed out, because 77,720 of you beekeep- 

 ers had so little interest in the movement 

 that you would not let your identity or ad- 

 dress be known. 



Why the timidity? Were you afraid we 

 would ask you for money? You wore right. 

 We are going to ask you for some. The 

 league needs money. If the beekeepers of 

 America want a league that will do things 

 they must pay for it. The American Honey 

 Producers ' League is doing great and good 

 work. It needs and deserves your moral 

 and financial support. 



Whether your State is affiliated or not 

 you may become a sustaining member upon 

 payment of $10.00 into the league treasury. 

 Every beekeeper and affiiliated interest can 

 help. Will you do your share? 



San Antonio, Tex. E. G. LeStourgeon. 



NEED OF ADVERTISING 



Seventy Per Cent of the City People Think Honey 

 in Groceries Not Real Honey 



National Honey Advertising, as per 

 Gleanings of March number, page 150, by 

 T. V. Damon, is so much like the idea I have 

 expressed to a great many beekeepers pri- 

 vately that I feel like entering the scheme 

 at once. I think all beekeepers who will 

 take time to learn what the city people 

 think about honey they see for sale in 

 stores, and also to learn or notice how manu- 

 facturers advertise tlieir product, will sure- 

 ly join a National Honey Advertising fund. 



Perhaps .50 per cent of city people think 

 all honey in grocery stores is manufactured 

 or adulterated. I give here one experience I 



