MARKETING HONEY. 169 



land, can compare with English clover honey, bee- 

 keepers have only to adopt the most improved 

 methods of production to increase the amount of 

 surplus per hive. And, if of excellent quality, it must 

 realise a sum per colony which will leave no doubt as 

 to the profitableness of bee-keeping. 



From one class of bee-keepers, and they are the 

 most successful in a large as well as a small way, 

 complaints are seldom heard, and the reason is not 

 far to seek. They work up a good local retaU trade, 

 and thus dispose of the bulk of their surplus near 

 home, at very remunerative prices. A more general 

 complaint from such bee-keepers is of their inability 

 to supply the demand when their produce has become 

 known and appreciated. 



If bee-keepers cannot, or do not feel disposed to, 

 create their own retail trade, they had better offer 

 their surplus first to other bee-keepers who have this 

 means of disposing of their produce, and failing a sale 

 in that direction, they might apply to wholesale 

 dealers, but from them only a moderate price can be 

 expected except for honeys of the finest brand. Very 

 much depends upon the time of putting the surplus 

 upon the market, the first gathered honey being the 

 most likely to realise the best price. And, it may be, 

 an equally good price will be forthcoming for that 

 which has been properly stored to meet a demand 

 when the supply is scarce. 



Bee-keepers' Associations are recognising slowly, 

 led by the example of the Berkshire Association, the 

 necessity for extending a helping hand to their 

 members in the sale of their produce. Years ago I 



