PACKAGES FOR EXTRACTED HONEY 263 



market of his own which he supplies through the year, will do 

 well to sell as early as possible after the crop is removed from 

 the hive. Most years there is a period following the holiday 

 season when honey moves slowly and new shipments do not re- 

 ceive prompt returns. As a rule, it is easier to sell early and the 

 prices average as good or better than later. The fellow with a 

 market established is independent of the fluctuations of the 

 general market and the increased returns from retail sales pay 

 well for the additional time required, in most cases. 



EXTRACTED HONEY 



Packages for Extracted Honey. — There is less risk of loss 

 of extracted honey in shipping than of comb honey. Of course, 

 an occasional can will leak and an occasional package of glass 

 be broken but the total breakage of comb honey is several times 

 greater than that of extracted. The producer draws his honey 

 from the extractor into large settling tanks where it can remain 

 safely until he is ready to place it in the packages in which 

 it goes to market. If he depends largely on the general market 

 the honey will mostly be shipped in square cans holding sixty 

 pounds each. Two of these cans are shipped in one case, making 

 a package of 120 pounds weight. 



If he develops a special or retail market he will use such 

 a package as his market demands. Usually the bee-keeper deter- 

 mines the kind of package in which he prefers to sell his product 

 and educates his customers accordingly. It takes several years 

 to develop an extensive retail trade but it is a very satisfactory 

 way to dispose of one's crop and is not difficult to do (Fig. 121). 



The friction top pail holding five pounds is a popular package 

 for retail trade. Five pounds is not too much for the average 

 family to buy at one time, although many buy in smaller pack- 

 ages. For the grocery trade jars of eighteen ounces, one and 

 one-half pounds and three pounds capacity are perhaps the three 

 most popular sizes. For the grocery trade glass containers are 

 much to be preferred to tin, as the contents can be seen which 

 adds much to the total sales. 



