298 LAWS THAT CONCERN THE BEE-KEEPER 



be estimated. Imitations are still to be had in the market but 

 they sell for just what they are and the consumer who cares to 

 use them buys them at a lower price than he would have to pay 

 if they were permitted to be sold as honey. 



Net Weight Labels. — The provision of the law which re- 

 quires every package to have the net weight measure or numerical 

 count plainly marked on the label necessitates stamping every 

 section of comb honey as well as every jar holding extracted 

 honey with the amount of honey it contains. This provision led 

 to much complaint among small producers at first. After a few 

 months trial it is being demonstrated that it is really an advan- 

 tage to the comb honey producer who is up to date and has much 

 honey to market. This requirement applies to all interstate 

 shipments which come under national jurisdiction. The para- 

 graph reads as follows : 



A food product will be deemed to be misbranded: If in package form, 

 the quantity of the contents be not plainly and conspicuously marked on 

 the outside of the package in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count ; 

 provided, however, that reasonable variations shall be permitted, and 

 tolerances and also exemptions as to small packages shall be established 

 by rules and regulations made in accordance with the provisions of section 

 three of this act. 



A similar requirement is made by some State laws so that the 

 net weight must be marked on packages sold to the local trade 

 as well as those shipped to distant markets. 



The effect of this provision is to keep much ungraded honey 

 out of competition with a first-class product. The large pro- 

 ducer finds it an easy matter to provide cartons on which are 

 printed the weights of the various grades and as each section is 

 graded it is placed in a carton of the proper kind. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Note the peculiar conditions that surround the bee-keeper in his relation 



to the public. 



2. Discuss the usual causes of trouble between bee-keepers and neighbors. 



3. When will bees be regarded as a public nuisance? 



4. Discuss the spraying of fruit trees while in bloom. 



5. Discuss the laws for control of bee diseases. 



6. What is the effect of the laws relating to the adulteration of honey? 



7. Summarize briefly the various laws relating to beekeeping. 



