260 MARKETING THE HONEY CROP 
From the above rules it will be seen that it is a very short- 
sighted policy to mix inferior sections with the good ones in 
the hope of getting a better price for all. The result is to bring 
the price of the lot down to the level of the poorest grade. 
The more carefully and conscientiously grading is done the 
better price will be obtained and the easier to find a ready sale. 
Good quality comb honey carefully graded will nearly always 
sell readily, although like other commodities the price varies 
with seasons. 
Commission Houses.—There has been much complaint from 
disappointed bee-keepers who have not been satisfied with results 
from sales through commission houses. Sometimes the fault is 
with the producer and sometimes with the commission man. 
The bee-keeper should exercise ordinary business methods and 
not consign goods to a commission firm without some knowledge 
of the standing of the firm. While large quantities of honey 
are sold through commission firms to the regular trade, it often 
happens that so much honey is sent to the larger centers as to 
greatly depress the market, while the markets in the smaller 
places may be short. The problem of proper distribution of 
the honey crop is a serious one and demands careful attention 
on the part of the producer who would realize the most from his 
product. 
There are commission firms which specialize in the sale of 
honey and which handle large quantities to the satisfaction of 
their clients. There are other concerns that buy outright in 
earload lots at an agreed price. .\s a rule, a cash sale with no 
chances, even at a slightly lower price, is to be preferred. 
Home Markets.—.\s a rule the bee-keepers living east of the 
Rocky Mountain region will tind it greatly to their advantage 
to develop home or nearby inarkets. The western honey pro- 
ducers are at a disadvantage in this respect, for bee-keeping is 
more highly specialized in the West and the honey produced is 
eveatly in excess of what home markets can absorb. It thus be- 
comes necessary to seek distant markets. In such localities 
