STATE bee-keepers' ASSOCIATION. l83 



IS PURE ALFALFA HONEY HARD TO GET? 



Some members expressed their doubts of the possibility 

 of getting pure alfalfa honey. They thought it was largely 

 mixed with sweet clover. 



Mr. lAbbott — I have been eating sweet clover honey for 

 20 years, and I don't think you can fool me with it. We get 

 some honey from the West that is not all alfalfa, but I have 

 no trouble in getting water-white alfalfa honey. 



A bottle of honey, supposed to be sweet clover, was then 

 passed around. 



Pres. York — I have handled tons of sweet clover honey, 

 and I should say that this is a sample of pure, sweet clover 

 honey. 



Mr. Snell — I get no surplus from alfalfa, but we have 

 sent for some of the bacteria with which to inoculate the 

 soil, and are hopeful of better results. 



WHAT IS AN UP-TO-DATE APIARY? 



Mr. Horstmann — Where all of the hives are of approved 

 pattern, the weeds and grass kept mowed, where there is an 

 extractor used, and everything kept neat and clean. 



Mr. Wilcox — I suppose that no old straw hives are used, 

 and everything is kept neat. 



HAS ALFALFA HONEY SPECIAL MEDICINAL QUALITIES ? 



Pres. York — I have never heard that alfalfa honey pos- 

 sessed any special medicinal properties. I believe that bass- 

 wood has been given that distinction. 



Mr. France — I have sold my dandelion honey at an ad- 

 vanced price because of its supposed medicinal qualities. 



Mr. Abbott — I suppose that all honey has medicinal quali- 

 ties if it is used rightly. It is peculiarly effective in bronchial 

 diseases. 



SHEEP FOR KEEPING DOWN GRASS IN THE APIARY. 



Mr. Reynolds — Sheep sometimes knock over the hives. 



Mr. Wilcox— I don't know as I would at all times turn 

 in the sheep, but, in the honey season, it seems to me it would 

 be all right. 



Mr. France — In procuring a site for an out-apiary, I 

 select a pasture. The stock soon learns to work in the apiary 

 at night. If hogs have to the yard, I want the hogs to have 

 rings in their noses. 



CAN HONEY-VINEGAR BE MADE AT A PROFIT? 



Mr. Meredith — Waste honey can be used profitably for 

 that purpose. 



Mr. France — We can get a good price for honey-vinegar 

 in our home market where we and the vinegar are known. 

 I would advise the use of waste honey from washing cap- 

 pings, the washing of dishes that have contained honey, etc. 



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