552 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Aug. 29, 



"The California Honey Crop for 1895." 



BY GEO. W. BRODBECK. 



On page 486, I notice that Friend Rambler takes decided 

 exceptions to an article of mine which appeared on page 428. 



I endeavor, as far as possible, to avoid public contro- 

 versies, and if the present issue were one between Rambler and 

 myself, I would not make this an exception, but as his article 

 has special bearing on the present condition of things, I do 

 not feel disposed to pass it by. 



Mr. Editor, allow me to repeat the following from Rambler : 



"I note in your issue of July 4, Bro. Brodbeck's signal of 

 distress in relation to the depressed condition of our honey 

 market, and wherein he charges all the evils of low prices to 

 certain writers who have more enthusiasm then discretion 

 about the capabilities of this State." 



The following, as referred to, appeared in the issue 

 of July 4, which was the inciting cause of the above remarks : 



" We regret very much that some of our California bee- 

 keepers permit their enthusiasm to control their better judg- 

 ment, etc." 



I made mention of no names, did not state or imply that 

 "Prof. Cook, Dr. Gallup, and others are rather unreliable," 

 and in the letter referred to I made no charge, only a repeti- 

 tion of some incidental remarks of others to myself. 'Tis 

 true, the early spring in this land of flowers has a very ex- 

 hilarating effect on some individuals, and it seems but natural 

 that in the height of their exuberance they give vent to this 

 superabundance (of climate or whatever you may call it), and 

 the result is, " California is flowing with milk and honey." 

 These predictions are all right if they only come, but if, as 

 during the season just past, they fail to " pan out," what good 

 has been accomplished? And this is why I take exception to 

 such predictions, and the past few months have fully demon- 

 strated the evil effect as the following will illustrate : 



A friend of mine visited the Los Angeles honey mart, with 

 the object of disposing of his honey crop. During this visit. 

 In conversing with one of the commission men, he made the 

 statement that the honey crop would be short, and the market 

 being bare, 4 cents for water-white extracted honey (the price 

 offered) was not enough, considering prospects, previous sea- 

 son's failure, etc.; when the commission man replied that he 

 was mistaken, and the crop would not be short, but instead 

 would be large, saying that he could verify his statement by 

 our own bee-papers. 



Another individual was served likewise, and being hope- 

 lessly discouraged, sold his honey for 3K cents. Numerous 

 other incidents might be related, to show the use made of 

 these early reports by the class referred to, but these will 

 suffice in support of the assertion that some "permit their 

 enthusiasm to control their better judgment." 



In all likelihood, under different circumstances, the situa- 

 tion would not be such a serious one, but when we consider 

 that the majority of California bee-keepers are men in mod- 

 erate circumstances, with the honey crop a failure in 1891 

 and 1892, 1893 good, 1894 failure, with a loss of half of 

 the bees, which brings us down to the present depressed state 

 of prices, which, no doubt, is causing many an anxious indi- 

 vidual to grasp at even a straw of hope in anticipation of re- 

 lief from the trying ordeal of the past five years. One swallow 

 may not make a summer, but it is possible for one straw to 

 aid in breaking the camel's back. 



I have no ax to grind, " witjji malice to none," my sole ob- 

 ject has been to aid our worthy bee-element. The greater por- 

 tion of my crop has been disposed of at a price equal to my 

 expectations, nevertheless because I am more fortunate than 

 some others Is no reason why I should claim that I am not my 

 brother's keeper. 



Since writing my July statement, there has been some 

 material encouragement in the wild buckwheat sections, and 



as Rambler's report is of later date, this no doubt has brought 

 some reports up to an average. 



A few days previous to writing my letter of July 4, I re- 

 ceived a private letter from Rambler, in which he stated that 

 their anticipated large yield of honey would not be realized — 

 (this for Rambler). Mr. R. B. Herron, bee-inspector of San 

 Bernardino county (Rambler's county), and one of the best 

 informed bee-men of that section, in an article in one of the 

 San Bernardino papers, stated that the honey crop would be 

 short, urging the bee-keepers to be firm and hold for better 

 prices. 



Mr. Elon Hart, of Pasadena, bee-Inspector of Los Angeles 

 county, and who is well informed of the past and present con- 

 dition of our industry, also supplied me with information 

 which coincided with previous reports, and on a visit to this 

 city, during my work at the apiary, I met one of the most 

 prominent bee-keepers of the Fall Brook section, whose report 

 also tallied with previous conclusions. I could cite numerous 

 other substantiating reports, but I deem these sufficient to 

 show that I had some evidence of " reliability." 



A business man here in this city, and who is interested in 

 apiaries in this and Ventura county, that in 1893 produced 

 106,000 pounds, informed me a few days ago that they had 

 produced less than 20,000 this year. Another, who had a 

 good crop in 1898, this season secured nothing. Thus you 

 see it is possible to give varied reports from California, and 

 yet all be true. 



The principal honey markets in this State are Los Angeles 

 and San Francisco, consequently if bee-keepers are so un- 

 fortunately situated as our Selma bee-keepers, in living over 

 a hundred miles from a market, it is not likely they will find a 

 home market for any large quantity of honey. The price 

 Rambler quotes (8 cents) no doubt was due to this off year, 

 and by request, in behalf of one of Selma's largest producers, 

 I last year visited our leading honey-dealers, and no one would 

 make an offer, for the simple reason that it was an off year, 

 consequently they were not shipping or dealing in honey, and 

 yet I saw some inferior comb honey sold here last fall in 

 quantity at 133^ cents; and to convince Friend Rambler that 

 my " leaning towards the dark side" was not due entirely to 

 individual disappointment, I will state that my average per 

 colony this season was over 115 pounds (nearly all comb 

 honey), and that with an apiary built up from the very bottom 

 during the past spring, and I have disposed of the greater 

 portion of my crop at 1}-^ to 2 cents above the market price. 

 But "one swallow does not make a summer," so Mr. Mendle- 

 son securing a good price for his honey does not prove that 

 all can do likewise, for all may not be so fortunately situated. 



This California industry covers a large territory, and 

 when we consider that some of our counties are as large as 

 some of our Eastern States, the possibility of uniting and con- 

 centrating our efforts in the disposal of our honey crop is 

 quite a problem. A few have taken things In hand, and are 

 marketing their own crops. Such practical demonstrations, 

 we trust, will eventually result In the organization of a Bee- 

 Keepers' Exchange. Los Angeles, Calif., Aug. 7. 



The Palmer House, located at the corner of King 

 and York streets, Toronto, will be the headquarters of the 

 North American convention Sept. 4, 5 and 6. Mr. J. C. Palmer, 

 the proprietor, writes me that he has made arrangements to 

 accommodate 200 delegates. So you see there will be ample 

 room for all. Where members " double up" — two in a bed — 

 only$1.50a day will be charged; $1.75 if you prefer to 

 " bunk " alone. 



Just across the street from the Palmer, is the Kensington, 

 anotlier hotel owned by Mr. Palmer. Here the rate is 50 

 cents and up for rooms, and meals are furnished on the Euro- 

 pean plan — pay for what you order. 



