PBEPAEING HONEY FOE SALE 191 



until the point is "tinned." The solder will now readily 

 follow the copper bit round the edges to be soldered. 



For soldering honey-tins, spirits of salts (hydro- 

 chloric acid) in an undiluted pure state is too strong. A 

 small piece of zinc, sufficient to saturate the "salts," 

 should be placed in the acid, which will "eat" up the 

 metal with a boiling fizzy noise. When all chemical action 

 has ceased, add an equal quantity of water. This medium 

 should be applied to the portions to be soldered, with a 

 small brush, and the hot "iron" drawn around the cap 

 of the tin. After once "tinned," the soldering "iron" 

 should not be again made red-hot. 



CASES FOR HONEY. 

 When honey is to be sent a long journey it should be 

 protected. Two 56 lb. tins are generally placed in a case 

 which should be hoop-ironed on the ends. Even with 

 ' ' lever top ' ' lids it is advisable to drop a spot of solder 

 on the edge of the caps to prevent "unauthorised" 

 persons sampling the contents. Some of the State 

 Eailway Departments make concessions in freight charges 

 for the carriage of honey in lots of % ton and ovei'. New 

 empty honey-tins are carried from the cities at cheap 

 rates, so there is no liability on the Department's part 

 for "crushed" or "dented" tins. 



RETAIL TRADE. 



Very few Australasian bee-farmers pack honey in 

 glass on account of the freight rate on fragile packages 

 and also of the greater risk of breakage during transit. 

 A number have built up a retail trade in small tins; the 

 2, 4, and 7 lb. sizes are the general favourites. Cases 

 similar in size to kerosene boxes accommodate 3% dozen 

 2 lbs., 1% dozen 4 lbs., and 1 dozen 7 lbs. tins. 



Some bee-farmers wait until winter time, then take 

 a periodical ticket on the railways and do their own 

 "commercial travelling." One of our apiarists who has 

 made a success of selling his crop thus gives his plan 

 of campaign in the following: — "My plan is to call on 



