STATE bee-keepers' ASSOCIATION. 179 



it; by wiring you will get a straight comb, and true, and it 

 will not sag, either. 



Mr. Horstmann — The question asked is. Is it necessary 

 to wire frames with starters? I say it is not necessary, 

 but if you want to take the frames out of the brood-chamber 

 to extract the honey it will be necessary to have it wired. 

 But answering, the question as it is, I consider it is not 

 necessary, because I have handled the frames a great deal 

 and I have never had one break yet, not even bend. 



Mr. Hoffman — I don't understand by the question that 

 it means starters. I wouldn't wire them at all. 



SWEET CXOVER HONEY. 



"What are the objections, if any, to honey produced from 

 sweet clover?" 



Mr. Horstmann — There is no objection. That is the best 

 honey produced. 



Pres. York — The only objection then, is, that we don't 

 get enough of it! 



Mr. Colburn — I have heard the suggestion that it was 

 not as good as white clover honey. I have been in localities 

 where I got both, and I confess I like the white best. The 

 sweet clover is very fine — ^it is very far ahead of anything 

 else in looks, but I don't think the quality is as good as 

 the white clover. If you can get it mixed it is good. 



Mr. Becker — I think sweet clover is all right, providing 

 there is no other honey with it. I have had experience with 

 sweet clover. We don't get it pure in our neighborhood. 

 Whenever we take it to Springfield we have to have our 

 sales made before we get there to get rid of it. They don't 

 like it in that locality. I bought some from New York, 

 four or five years ago, when there was no honey at all in 

 our part of the country, not even an ounce, and I took it 

 down to the State fair to make my exhibit, and then sold 

 it out; and the store keepers who sold the honey use to 

 tell me, "Becker, you have ruined by honey-trade." They 

 said, "That isn't honey." 



Pres. York — ^Didn't you get a premium on that honey? 



Mr. Becker — Yes. [Laughter.] 



Mr. Kannenberg — I think it depends a good deal on the 

 man that sells the honey, and how to educate the people 

 to taste the honey. I think if Mr. Becker educated his 

 people to get the honey they liked they would eat it just 

 the same. 



Pres. York — Probably there is not enough of it produced. 



Mr. Colburn— I have in my place three different kinds 

 of honey. There is another kind of honey I have had put 

 into sections and supers ; I don't know what source it comes 

 from. It is white, though not snow-white like sweet clover ; 

 it has a slightly muddy tint. That honey has no more flavor 

 to it than so much sugar syrup. As soon as I discovered 

 it I stopped selling it, because I said everybody that tastes 

 that will swear it is sugar syrup and nothing else. I would 

 like to know if anybody else has had any experience with it. 



