120 



ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 



quite important that the combs stand parallel with the track. If 

 they are crosswise of the track, the bumping together of the cars 

 breaks the combs much easier than when the combs are parallel with 

 the track. For this reason it is well to have a large label pasted 

 upon the top of the crate, with a large S^'^" pointing lengthwise of 

 the combs, and accompanied by the following in bold type: "Load 

 with the hand pointing toward the end of the car, or the side of the 

 wagon." 



Much, both wise and otherwise, has been said about develop- 

 ing home-markets. Much depends upon the kind of home-market 

 there is to develop, and the kind of honey there is to be sold; yes, and 

 upon the man. The best honey producing fields are often far distant 

 from the best markets; the best place in which to produce honey is 

 not always the best in which to sell it. Such being the case, there is 

 not much encouragement in trying to build up a home market, par- 

 ticularly for the finer grades of 

 comb honey, and, especially if the 

 home market is supplied with 

 "farmer-honey" — that raised with 

 a lick and a brush — that is selling 

 at retail for two-thirds what a 

 first-class article will net when 

 sold by a commission man in a 

 distant city. Many bee-keepers 

 have been able to sell to advantage, 

 in the home markets, unfinished 

 sections, and lower grades of honey. In many local markets, such 

 grades of honey will sell for as much as the choicest honey put up in 

 "gilt edge" style, while the commission markets of a large city are a 

 poor place in which to sell "off" grades of honey. To many grocers, 

 in country towns, honey is honey, much the same as butter is butter. 

 In selling honey to retail dealers, they must be visited regularly, and 

 kept supplied with honey. In short, they must be followed up and 

 looked after as carefully as commercial travellers look after their 

 customers. Grocers must be educated to know that honey can't be 

 sold unless it is kept in sight — and it should be kept under glass to 

 protect it from flies and dust. A handsome display in a fi-ont win- 

 dow is a drawing card. 



The putting up of extracted honey for the market calls for a 

 large amount of thought, care and skill. Mr. McKnight, of Canada, 

 once said that "The product of no other industry is put upon the 

 market in such a cumbrous, uncouth and slovenly form." This may 

 seem a little over-drawn, but it is worth thinking of. The majority 



