1905 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



119 



for exhibition purposes, from combs that had 

 contained brood. While many of us can tes- 

 tify that brood-comb that has been repeat- 

 edly extracted from does not color the hon- 

 ey in the least, it is quite probable that the 

 first time honey is extracted from a comb 

 that has contained brood it is both colored 

 and flavored to a slight extent. This is, 

 perhaps, but a small matter; yet I have 

 known people who were prejudiced against 

 extracted honey on account of it, and no 

 doubt there would be more of them if the 

 facts of the case were generally known. 



^J^eieJhbor^Jieldj 



I don't know that I can devote my space 

 in this issue to any better advantage than to 

 copy entire Mr. G. W. York's article on 

 advertising and selling honey, read at the 

 St. Louis convention. 



When the Secretary, Mr. Brodbeck, who, unfortu- 

 nately, can not be here, wrote me saying that he wished 

 me to write a paper and to select my own subject I 

 rather declined because I had been on the program so 

 often. However, he insisted on it, and I suggested the 

 subject of "Advertising and Selling Honey," and so I 

 have prepared this paper on that subject. 



Advertising, in these latter days, has become almost a 

 science as well as an art. To the business man who 

 hopes to be successful, advertising is a necessity. While 

 in some instances it is rather expensive, it must be 

 indulged in, and that liberally and constantly. 



Advertising as applied to honey as a table article has 

 never been attempted in more than an occasional and 

 very limited way. There has been no systematic, busi- 

 nesslike application of modern methods of acquainting 

 the consuming public with the value of honey as a daily 

 food. Its medicinal, health-giving, and health-keeping 

 qualities are also less known than they should be. But 

 just how to initiate a propaganda of advertising that 

 shall interest consumers in honey in a manner mutually 

 helpful is a great question. However I might desire to 

 be the modern Moses to lead you through this wilder- 

 ness into the Promised Land, I feel I shall fall far short 

 of attaining such coveted honor. But there must always 

 be a beginning, and some one who shall start: and I 

 may as well be the one who attempts to blaze the way, 

 even though I fail to reach the desired goal of success. 



In the first place, no plan of advertising honey that 

 would promise results can be inaugurated without the 

 expenditure of cold cash— yes, and lots of it. It takes 

 capital nowadays to do things— to accomplish objects 

 worthy our civilization and people. 



In my humble opinion, the National Bee-keepers' 

 Association can undertake and continue an advertising 

 campaign to increase the general demand for honey 

 better than any other organization, firm, or individual. 

 The Association stands for all beedom. What it does 

 should be in the interest of every one who produces 

 honey, and not alone for the benefit of its members. 

 We need to get rid of a whole lot of the selfishness that 

 seems to be on board in some quarters. Only he lives 

 truly, or in the highest sense, who helps to make the 

 pathway easier ana brighter for others. No one liveth 

 unto himself, no matter how much he thinks he desires 

 so to do. We are all dependent upon our neighbors, 

 whether we realize it or not. And so in advertising 

 honey it will benefit all producers as well as consumers. 



I have believed for many years that the reason why 

 the price of honey is so low is because of the unequal 

 distribution and underconsumption. I know some 

 think that the trouble is overproduction and stagnation 

 of the principal markets. But once let the dear public 

 know— or be assured— that they can get the pure honey 



every time they buy, and also impress upon them its 

 great value as a food, and there wouldn't be enough 

 honey produced in all the world to supply a quarter of 

 the people, and at a good price. 



I know there are a few among us who are advising 

 bee-keepers to "keep more bees." I suppose one idea is 

 to keep more bees, to produce more honey, so as to buy 

 more bees and bee-supplies, and then keep more bees to 

 produce more honey, etc. My theory is, to advertise the 

 uses of honey so that what is now produced will bring a 

 higher price. Then if a bee-keeper decides to keep 

 moi-e bees to produce more honey he will also get a great 

 deal more money for his crop, and so be better paid for 

 his labor, and receive better returns for the capital 

 invested. I doubt not more rapid progress will be made 

 if the advertising line be followed for a while, than to 

 attempt to keep more bees so as to increase the flood of 

 honey to be sold at a bargain-counter price. Why, 

 honey should bring at least 50 per cent more per pound 

 in the markets to-day than it does. But the demand 

 must be increased in some way. My " some way " is by 

 advertising— letting the people know the truth about 

 honey. 



Again, the untrue statement that comb honey is 

 manufactured — which was started in 1881— still goes 

 '■ marching on," and is yet dealing its dreadful death- 

 blows to the honey business. I believe the only way 

 ever to " nail that lie " is for our National Bee-keepers' 

 Association to advertise— g\ve the people facts about 

 honey for awhile. Very soon, I am sure, the news- 

 papei-s would "catch on " and the good work started 

 through such advertising would be kept going, so that 

 in a few years the evil effects of that misrepresentation 

 about comb honey would be counteracted ; and when 

 that happy day is here, there will not be enough honey 

 produced to supply a tenth part of the demand, and at 

 good paying prices to the bee-keeper. 



Further, I would have our National Association urge 

 bee-keepers everywhere to endeavor to get their local 

 newspapers to publish information about honey. The 

 Association could prepare such matter, and begin by 

 getting its members to use their influence to have it 

 published as widely as possible. Then the bee-papers 

 would undoubtedly do all they could to have their sub- 

 scribers do likewise. With such united effort, who 

 doubts that a great demand would soon be created for 

 honey— a demand that would take every pound of honey 

 produced, and at a good price ? 



The satisfactory selling of honey that will naturally 

 follow^ the proper advertising of the same, presupposes 

 a high-grade article and suitable retail packages. Of 

 court e, comb honey will ever be retailed by the single 

 comb. Extracted honey, whether in liquid or granu- 

 lated form, must be in convenient-sized packages. And 

 all, whether comb or extracted, should bear the brand 

 or stamp of absolute purity, and that in such a manner 

 as to imply an undoubted guarantee of the same. Once 

 get it drilled into the heads of consumers that there is 

 no such thing as machine-made comb honey, and that 

 the purity of the extracted article can be relied upon 

 implicitly— then there need be no further worry as to 

 profitable prices, or as to finding an outlet for your 

 crops of honey, no matter how large in quantity they 

 may be. 



It is possible that a final and satisfactory solution of 

 the advertising of honey by the National Association 

 may include an Association brand. But I imagine a 

 snag will be struck here that, if not properly safe- 

 guarded, may cause more trouble than benefit. I am 

 not clear as to the Association-brand business. It might 

 be a good thing. I don't know. Perhaps a careful, 

 competent committee to pass upon granting permits 

 after examination of the credentials of an applicant 

 would be the best way to do it. But as there is no uni- 

 formity of grading on the part of producers, and no 

 very universal agreement as to taste or honey-flavors, 

 this whole matter of an Association brand becomes a 

 very complex one. Of course, the assembled wisdom of 

 this body may evolve something tangible and adequate 

 out of the chaotic condition that exists. If so, we can 

 swing our hats high with huzzas of victory. But let us 

 make haste slowly in this matter, lest our latter end be 

 worse than the first. 



In conclusion, I want to urge a thorough discussion of 

 the advertising of honey. It is worthy the best brain in 

 our ranks. It is also entitled to a fair trial, I think, 

 provided the Association's funds will warrant it. But I 

 have no doubt many who deal in honey would be glad to 

 co-operate, and surely every commercial honey-dealer 

 in the land will be only too eager to lend a hand— and 

 also pay a few dollars annually— in order to get the 

 honey-advertising campaign properly launched; for its 

 beneficial results will be to all who have, for marketing, 

 either few or many pounds of the sweet product of the 

 bees. 



