MARKETING. 131 



from California, then surely it ought to go safely 

 from Michigan. I searched all the journals for 

 hints as to packing. I sent letters to the promin- 

 ent commission merchants in several of the large 

 cities, asking how the honey they received was 

 packed. I wrote, also, to some large honey pro- 

 ducers, East and West, asking how they packed 

 honey for transportation on the cars. From these 

 different sources of information I obtained hints 

 that enabled me to perfect a plan for packing the 

 boxes of honey in crates, and then packing the 

 crates in a car, in such a way that all would go 

 safely over so great a distance. First, crates were 

 to be made. I took my accurate measurements and 

 made a crate, by hand, of the right size to contain 

 sixteen of my honey boxes. Then this crate was 

 taken to the mill at Howard, and materials ordered 

 to be cut out for 450 crates. This material, all 

 nicely cut out ready for nailing, cost me twenty-six 

 cents per crate. Into the front and rear sides of 

 each crate a long narrow pane of glass, running two- 

 thirds the length of the crate, was fitted. This 

 glass, cut to size, cost me seven cents per crate. 

 Will and I made them in the shop at home, on the 

 bright days during the last of October, after all the 

 farm work was done, and every arrangement had 

 been perfected for wintering the bees. The work 

 was light, clean, pleasant. We had both acquired 



