AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



691 



from the old colony. If you hive on full 

 sheets, you run the risk of bees re- 

 swarming. If on starters, you will not 

 have re-swarming. 



Increasing- by Dividing Colonies. 



Pres. Miller, in response to a wish ex- 

 pressed by Mr. A. I. Root, asked, " How 

 many would, if they wanted to increase 

 10 colonies to 100 as rapidly as possible 

 without feeding, do it by dividing (arti- 

 ficial swarming) '?" Sixty-three voted for 

 this method, and none against it. 



Mr. Boardman — This question does 

 not consider the question from a finan- 

 cial standpoint. 



The convention then adjourned until 

 7:30 p.m. 



SECOND DAY— Evening Session. 



The convention was called to order by 

 Pres. Miller, at 7:30 o'clock, when he 

 read the following essay by Chas. F. 

 Muth, of Cincinnati, O., entitled, 



Grading of Honey — Should There be 



Any Change in the Ruling Adopted 



at the Last Convention ? 



The arrivals of shipments of honey in 

 good condition are many times of the 

 same importance as the production of a 

 good crop. After the industrious bee- 

 keeper has put to the test all his ener- 

 gies for nine or ten months of the year, 

 in order to get his bees in proper condi- 

 tion by the time that his season begins, 

 and after a good crop has been har- 

 vested, the honey is generally sold to 

 dealers in large cities. The safe arrival 

 of his honey is now the first and greatest 

 factor in the success of his enterprise. 



His disappointment would be great 

 upon learning that his honey had ar- 

 rived in a damaged condition. He would 

 know at once, or imagine, that the profit 

 of his year's labor is lost. He has no 

 idea of the vexation and disappointment 

 caused to the dealer who also loses 

 money and valuable time, and, if of a 

 generous disposition, often loses more 

 than he can afford to, while, on the 

 other hand human nature inclines the 

 shipper to think that he is treated un- 

 fairly by the other party. An unpleas- 

 ant feeling is created between parties 

 who should be friends, and often would 

 be the best of friends if they knew each 

 other intimately. 



Since a safe arrival is one of the pre- 

 liminaries necessary for the success in 

 our pursuit, and of no minor importance 

 than grading, you will please allow this 

 introduction. 



The sale of all goods is promoted by 



their inviting appearance. Special care 

 must be taken in the preparation for 

 market of comb honey because — a fancy 

 article. All should be put up in neat 

 glass cases, with at least one glass front. 

 Cases should contain no more than 20 

 to 25 pounds net, while smaller cases 

 are often preferable. Each case should 

 be filled not only with combs of the same 

 color, but also of the same quality, and 

 the front row of each case should always 

 be a fair sample of its contents. The 

 sections must stand solid in their cases, 

 so that their extensions are a fair pro- 

 tection for the combs they contain. 



I speak from my standpoint as a 

 dealer in the Cincinhati market, where 

 glassed cases are most popular. I am 

 not prejudiced to the packing of comb 

 honey in neat paper cartons, which has 

 nothing against it In neatness of appear- 

 ance and safety in transit. 



When small shipments are made, it is 

 well that the shipping-cases be crated, 

 i. e., that a number of cases be put in 

 crates of such shape as will not be apt 

 to tumble over, and which are not too 

 heavy for one man to handle. The fronts 

 of cases should always be exposed to 

 view, and the crates marked "Comb 

 Honey — Handle with Cake," in plain 

 letters. 



When shipments of carloads are ?nade, 

 care should be taken in placing each 

 case solid in the car. No vacant spaces 

 should be permitted inside of the car, so 

 as to prevent the sliding of the cases to 

 and fro in transit. All cases should be 

 placed so that their combs stand length- 

 wise of the cars. We can haul comb 

 honey safely on a rough transfer wagon, 

 over roughly-bouldered streets, while the 

 dropping of a case on a table from a 

 heighth of six inches only, is apt to 

 break every comb. 



Shipments of extracted honey require 

 the same care in proportion as those of 

 comb honey. Since, perhaps, 75 per 

 cent, or more of all extracted honey pro- 

 duced, is sold to manufacturers, good, 

 stout vessels are most essential for ship- 

 ments. Barrels and half barrels are 

 most desirable for our trade, but 60- 

 pound tin cans, two cans in a crate, are 

 very acceptable. In fact, any vessel 

 will answer the purpose, which is clean 

 and safe in transit. 



No barrels require waxing or paraffin- 

 ing, but all must be made tight when 

 dry, then cleaned out and filled with 

 honey. Especially is this the case with 

 second-hand barrels. They must be 

 made perfectly tight by having their 

 hoops driven when dry, in order to pre- 

 vent disappointment. 



