351: 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



June, 1922 



HONEY MARKETS 



U. S. GOVERNMENT MARKET REPORTS. 

 Information from Producing Areas (First half of 

 May). 

 CALIFORNIA POINTS. — Continued cool and 

 foggy weather with occasional showers has re- 

 tarded the new honey crop, until it is not ex- 

 pected that new stock will be on the market in 

 appreciable quantities before the 20th or 22d of 

 May. The market is in a waiting position, as the 

 old crop is practically cleaned up, and no sales of 

 new stock have been reported. Dealers report a 

 few purchases extracted honey from growers at 

 6c for light amber sage, 8c for extra light amber, 

 and 9c for white sage. 



INTERMOUNTAIN REGION. — In the northern 

 part of the area, the season is cold and wet, and 

 two to four weeks later than usual. Many colo- 

 nies are reported light in stores, and considerable 

 feeding has been necessary this spring. One cor- 

 respondent reports that even colonies which went 

 into winter quarters with 40 lbs. of honey must be 

 fed this spring. In spite of cool weather fruit and 

 dandelion are in full bloom, giving impetus to 

 brood-rearing, and prospects are good for abund- 

 ant flow from alfalfa and sweet clover. Bees 

 building up fast and increasing in strength rap- 

 idly. No carlot sales reported during past two 

 weeks. In less-than-carlots, white sweet clover 

 and alfalfa extracted has been selling in 60-lb. cans 

 at a range of 8 1/2 -10c per lb., mostly 8y2C for 

 shipments of any size. Sales of No. 1 and fancy 

 white comb reported at $4.00, and $3.00 for am- 

 ber. For yellow beeswax, beekeepers are receiv- 

 ing 20-24C per lb. cash, or 26c in trade. In the 

 Salt River Valley section of Arizona considerable 

 feeding has been necessary, due to early breeding 

 up from early pollen. Good prospects for mes- 

 quite flow. 



TEXAS POINTS. — The crop is generally two to 

 ■four weeks late. Too much rain thus far for 

 much mesquite flow, but it is starting to bloom 

 in some sections. Fine flow reported now from 

 catsclaw. Yield from other flora expected to be 

 good if clear sunshiny weather is present, but ex- 

 cessive rain will cut the early spring crop to below 

 normal. Some beekeepers have begun to extract 

 and comb will soon be ready to take. Good de- 

 mand reported for early honey, especially for 

 chunk honey. White extracted is nominally on a 

 basis of 81/2 c per lb. in cases of two 60-lb. cans. 

 and 14c per lb. for white chunk in the same con- 

 tainer. Some white mild chunk honey reported 

 selling in small containers in 60-lb. cases- as fol- 

 lows: in 10-lb. pails, $8.40 per case; 5-lb. pails. 

 $9.00; 3-lb. cans, $9.60 per case; in less-than-car- 

 lot quantities. 



EAST CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL 

 STATES. — Largest flow in years reported from 

 dandelion and fruit bloom, which should make up 

 part of the present deficiency of stores in the 

 colonies. Clover outlook also good. Demand is not 

 active, and some extracted will be carried over. 

 Most beekeepers, however, report supplies ex- 

 hausted long ago. Packers reported offering lie 

 per lb. delivered for extracted white clover in 

 large lots, but no sales reported. 



PLAINS AREA. — -Condition of honey plants 

 greatly improved, due to an abundance of mois- 

 tures, and beekeepers feel much encouraged. Bees 

 building up rapidly. Many colonies reported to 

 be filling supers, which is unusual for this time 

 of year. ,. . ,.^ 



SOUTHEASTERN STATES. — Conditions differ 

 widely in different states. In Alabama the early 

 flow is reported as unusually good with many 

 hives storing supplies. Clover flow commences 

 about May 20. Few sales tupelo reported to gro- 

 cers and hotels at 10c per lb. in small containers 

 Saw palmetto is said to be yielding a great flow of 

 fine quality nectar in Florida, the best in years. 

 South Georgia, however, reports a more discour- 

 aging situation. Alternating dry weather, cold 

 spells, showers and dry winds have given the bees 

 little opportunity to store nectar, and even if the 

 gallberry flow lasts a week longer it is said that 

 not over half a normal crop will be harvested in 

 this section. 



NORTHE.\STERN STATES. — Recent frosts 

 have not CT-eatlv affected the flora, and prospects 

 for a good honey crop are excellent. Fruit bloom 



Is stimulating breeding and colonies are building 

 up very fast. Swarms reported early as May 2 

 in northeastern Pennsylvania. Abundaiit supply of 

 maple syrup causing extracted honey to move 

 slowly. 



CUBA. — Shipments to Holland in barrels con- 

 tinue very heavy at 56c a gal., including cost and 

 freight. Price f. o. b. Cuba 4c per lb. Beeswax of- 

 fered at 21c per lb. 



Telegraphic Reports from Important Markets. 



BOSTON. — Limited demand for extracted and 

 very light demand for comb. California white sage 

 firmly held, other kinds steady. Comb: Sales to 

 retailers. New York, 24-section cases No. 1 white 

 clover $6.50-7.00. Extracted: Sales to confec- 

 tioners and bottlers, Cuban, amber, 80-85c per 

 gal. California, white sage 15-16c per lb. Brok- 

 ers' carlot quotations, delivered Boston basis, per 

 lb., California, white sage, none offered, light am- 

 ber 8c, amber 7c. 



CHICAGO. — Supplies believed only moderate. 

 Slightly better movement, market about steady. 

 Sales to bottlers, bakers and wholesale grocers, 

 per lb., Nevada and Colorado, mixed alfalfa and 

 clover white 10-1 Ic, light amber 9-9i/^c, dark 

 around 8c. California, white sage 10-llc, mixed 

 mountain flowers light amber 9c. Wisconsin and 

 Michigan, mixed white clover and alfalfa, and 

 some straight clover, ll-12c, basswood mostly 12c. 

 Comb : Demand and movement very slow, market 

 weak . Sales to retailers, 24-section cases Colo- 

 rado and Montana, mixed clover and alfalfa No. 

 1, $4.0q-$4.50; No. 2, $3.00-3.50. Beeswax: Re- 

 ceipts light. Market stronger and prices may go 

 higher. Few small sales reported to laundry sup- 

 ply houses, Montana and Wyoming, light 33c 

 per lb. 



PHILADELPHIA. — Supplies generally light but 

 demand is limited. Market slightly stronger. No 

 sales reported, but one dealer reports a purchase 

 of Cuban amber in barrels at 63c per gal. f. o. b. 

 Philadelphia. Beeswax: Receipts increasing. De- 

 mand moderate and improving, market stronger. 

 Sales to manufacturers, per lb.. African, dark, 

 20-21C. South American, light 25y2-26i/^c. 



ST. LOUIS. — Demand light, practically no 

 movement, market very dull. Comb: Sales to 

 wholesalers and jobbers, in 24-section cases, Colo- 

 rado and Idaho, white clover and alfalfa No. 1 

 medium $5.50-6.00. Extracted: Sales to whole- 

 salers and jobbers, per lb. in 5-gal. cans, Califor- 

 nia, light amber alfalfa 9-lOc, mostly around 9c. 

 Beeswax: No receipts reported during past two 

 weeks. Market nominal, practically no change in 

 prices. Ung:raded average country run quoted to 

 jobbers nominally 23c per lb. 



NEW YORK. — Both domestic and foreign re- 

 ceipts light. Supplies limited. Demand moderate, 

 market steady. Extracted: Spot sales to jobbers, 

 wholesalers, confectioners, bakers and bottlers, 

 domestic, per lb.. California, light amber alfalfa 

 8-8*4 c, light amber sage 9-lOc, white sage 11- 

 12c, white orange blossom 12-13c. Intermountain 

 region, white sweet clover 10 V^ -lie. New York. 

 white clover 10%-lli/^c. New York, white clo- 

 ver 10% -11 '.Ac. few 12c, buckwheat, mostly 7c. 

 South American refined best 65-70c per gal. 

 Comb: No sales reported. Beeswax: Foreign re- 

 ceipts limited. Demand moderate, market firm. 

 Spot sales to wholesalers, manufacturers and 

 drug trade. South American and West Indian, 

 crude light best 27-30c, poorer low as 24c. Afri- 

 can, dark 18-20c. 



From Producers' Association. 



Demand for comb honey in less than carlot has 

 improved, and sales have been better than expect- 

 ed. A little interest is also shown in carlots 

 and some business may result. Extracted fancy 

 white suitable for bottlers is closely cleaned up 

 and but very little in carlot available. 



The Colorado Honey Producers' Ass'n. 



Denver, Colo. F. Rauchfuss, Sec. 



The A. I. Root Company's Quotation. 



We are in the market for one carlot of white 

 clover extracted honey for which we will pay 

 11 %c cash f. o. b. Medina: one carlot of sweet 

 clover extracted honey for which we will pay 8Voc 

 f. o. b. shipping point; one carlot of water white 

 button sage honey (new crop) for which we will 

 nay 9c f. o. b. shipping point: and one carlot of 

 light amber extracted honey for which we will 



