330 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



"These buckets seem very small for the 

 weight you have marked on them." 



( They were all marked from i >4 to 4 

 lbs. more than the actual weight, which 

 was 5 to 22 lbs. ) 



"The weight is correct sir, we weighed 

 carefully." 



We talked on; soon reaching the point 

 where I had to buy at the weights and 

 prices named, or make myself known, 

 and, in self defense, I drew on him the 

 letter acknowledging receipt of this very 

 honey. 



"A— h— Mr. A— h— . Victor of Whar- 

 ton. Come in, Mr. Victor, and let me 



make you acquainted with Mr. , head 



of our firm." 



Whereupon my dear young friend hide 

 him to parts unknow n; and, although I 

 was there several times during my stav in 

 the city, I saw very little of this pushing 

 salesman; and could see he made it a 

 special point not to come around the of- 

 fice. 



For .several } ears past I have not been 

 forced to the necessity of selling through 

 commission houses, but have kept up my 

 acquaintance with them to some extent 

 as a matter of convenience for the pre- 

 sent, and possible necessity in the future. 



For instance, I may have a great need 

 for a small amount of money: I take one, 

 or two, or more barrels of honey to the de- 

 pot, ship it to a reliable house, go from 

 the depot to the bank and draw for the 

 amount wanted. I now enclose bill of 

 lading, with notice of draft, to the liou.se; 

 and, in due time, I get acct. sales and 

 check for the balance of my money. 



Had I not occa.sionally renewed my 

 acquaintance with this hou.se, I would 

 have had to wait until the honey was 

 received before I could get this money that 

 was wanted immediately; and was proba- 

 blj' worth 25 per cent, more, to me, then, 

 than it would have been two or three 

 weeks later. 



Now, I do not wish to create the im- 

 pression that I advocate depending upon 

 the commission men to dispose of our 

 honey; for I do not. We should all keep 



well posted, as to prices and prospects; 

 and in oflFering what we have for sale be 

 sure that the sample submitted does not 

 flatter what we have for sale. Then 

 place the price as high as the market will 

 stand, and should we make a sale we have 

 a permanent customer; as the comparison 

 of the sample and goods are favorable. 



However, my best outlet for honey is 

 through the small dealers with whom I 

 have become acquainted on my trips 

 with honey; and by references from ac- 

 quaintances. 



These small dealers send their orders 

 to tne, and I ship them the goods, and in 

 this wa}^ save the freight and the commis- 

 sion; besides, the}' feel better satisfied 

 than when buying from a commission 

 house, as they can say "I know this hon- 

 e}- is all right; as I bought it of the pro- 

 ducer, and I know he does not sell any 

 thing but pure honey." 



Taking it all together, I want two 

 strings to my bow; the commission men, 

 and the direct trade, so I can pull the one 

 that gives the best tune. 



Wh.\rTon, Texas, Oct. 17, 1S99. 



THE ROYAL P.\LM OF CUBA. 



Also n few Words about Destroying Foul 

 Brood bv Heat. 



H.\RRV S. HOWE. 



I 



GREAT deal 

 has been writ- 

 ten of the royal 

 palm as a honey 

 plant in Cuba; 

 but, until I came 

 here and saw it 

 for my. self, my 

 ideas were rather 

 vague as to many 

 of the details. 

 This led to the 



thought that perhaps others were equally 



in the dark. 



