52 



stored in a cold damp place is apt to " weep " (or absorb moisture 

 from the atmosphere), forming beads on the surface of the comb, and 

 in the course of time becomes sour, thus destroying its marketable 

 value. As opportunity allows, the sections should be cleaned of all 

 propolis and stain ; and this is best done by scraping the sections with 

 a knife, and the operation finally completed by sand-paper. Care must 

 be exercised not to damage the cappings of the comb and thus destroy 

 its attractiveness. 



Before forwarding the honey to market it should be carefully 

 graded and finally packed in cartons. By the use of cartons the 

 sections are secured from dust and insects, and present an attractive 

 appearance when offered for sale, besides being far less liable to break- 

 age. In order to ensure safe transit, excellent shipping-cases can be 

 purchased from the hive-dealers. These cases are fitted with corrugated- 

 paper cushions, which materially reduce the breakage from rough 

 handling. A feature of these section crates is a sliding cover which 

 enables the honey to be readily examined. The crates are appreciated 

 by the retailers, and at the same time help to increase the average 

 price to the producer. 



Marketing the Crop. 



Before the honey is finally run out of the tank the beekeeper should 

 have decided on which market he intends to place his product. If 

 export is his aim the market is comparatively simple, as only large 

 packages are required ; but where the local trade is to be catered for 

 it is wiser for him to put the honey up into small packages himself. 

 Rehandhng means remelting, and unmelted honey is the better article. 



The value of attractive packages should weigh with the producer, 

 whether the honey is put up in bulk for the merchant or in small 

 packages direct for the retail trade. In order to appeal to the 

 consumer the packages containing honey must be made as attractive 

 as possible, and every care observed in its preparation as an article 

 of food. An inspection of lines sent forward to market will serve to 

 demonstrate the advantage of careful preparation. Consignments 

 forwarded in good clean cases, carefuHy graded, and contained in new 

 tins readily command attention ; whereas lines which have been 

 packed in rusty tins and present a rather unattractive appearance 

 generally are hard to dispose of, and too often merchants are compelled 

 to sell at a reduced rate, although the quaUty of the honey is quite 

 on a par with that packed in new packages. In such cases the producer 

 is apt to blame the merchant for a reduction in price, but as a rule the 

 fault lies with himself. 



Everything should be done to make the article as attractive as any 

 other food product, and proportionately as much care given to the 

 intricate result of beekeeping as to the bees themselves. The Sale 

 of Food and Drugs Act requires the honey-producer to label his 

 packages and to state thereon the contents and weight. Apart from 

 this requirement being a necessity as representing a fair deal with the 

 consumer, it has also done good work in disposing of old-time haphazard 

 methods of marketing honey, and has helped to force on beekeepers 

 the necessity of studying the commercial side of the industry. 



Honey for Export. 

 The essentials of a good export honey are, firstly, that it must be 

 well conditioned — i.e., granulated, and free from the shghtest trace 

 of ferment ; secondly, it must be entirely free of scum— i.e., wax- 



