28 BULLETIN 685, U. S. DEPABTMBNT OF AGEIOULTUEE. 



able to produce a larger quantity of honey if they are not 

 compelled to build comb for it, and by emptying the combs 

 and replacing them in the hive, the bee is able in periods 

 of heavy nectar secretion to proceed immediately to the 

 storage of more honey. 



By reference to Table VIII it will be seen that the greater 

 proportion of section comb honey is produced in the North 

 Atlantic, the North Central and a few Western States, 

 practically aU of the "bulk" or "chunk" honey in the 

 Southeastern and South Central States, and the larger pro- 

 portion of the extracted or hquid form in the North Central 

 and Western States. The comb honey is most in demand for 

 the home and fancy trade and for seasonal consumption, much 

 the greater proportion being consumed within the first six 

 months after its production, the extracted as a staple product 

 being stored and handled throughout the year and entering into 

 interstate and foreign commerce, and the "bulk" or "chunk" 

 hon ey for home consumption, finding only a limited and local 

 market. The present year shows a decided drift in the- 

 Southern States away from the production of " chunk" honey 

 and toward comb in sections, being a transition stage accom- 

 panying the gradual introduction of improved methods 

 in the States where "bulk" honey has hitherto been a, if not 

 the, principal form. 



It should be borne in mind that in the Southeastern 

 States the less progressive elements of the industry, which 

 are more largely devoted to the production of "chunk" 

 honey, are but Hghtly represented in these returns and that 

 the production of that form is probably in much larger 

 relative proportion than here shown, while comb-honey is 

 overstated, both in these States and in some of heavy com- 

 mercial production, such as California, where the extracted 

 forms a larger proportion than indicated. 



