GRADING COMB HONEY 
423 
have adopted a set of rules which, with 
some slight modifications from time to 
time, have been accepted and used by the 
beekeepers thruput the great West and to 
some extent in the East. After the new 
net-weight law went into effect, the rules 
were modified in that provision was made 
for weight of honey in a section exclusive 
of section and shipping case. The revised 
rules, as put out in February, 1915, by the 
Colorado Honey Producers’ Association, 
are as follows: 
COMB HONEY. 
Fancy .—Sections to be well filled, combs 
firmly attached on all sides and evenly cap¬ 
ped except the outside row next to the wood. 
Honey, comb, and cappings white, or slight¬ 
ly off color; combs not projecting beyond 
the wood; sections to be well cleaned. No 
section in this grade to weigh less than 1214 
oz. net or 1314 gross. The top of each sec¬ 
tion in this grade must be stamped, “Net 
weight not less than 1214 oz.” 
The front sections in each case must be of 
uniform color and finish, and shall be a true 
representation of the contents of the case. 
Number One .—Sections to be well filled, 
combs firmly attached, not projecting be¬ 
yond the wood, and entirely capped except 
the outside row next to the wood. Honey, 
comb, and cappings from white to light 
amber in color; sections to be well cleaned. 
No section in this grade to weigh less than 
11 oz. net or 12 oz. gross. The top of each 
section in this grade must be stamped, “Net 
weight not less than 11 oz. ” The front 
sections in each case must be of uniform 
color and finish, and shall be a true repre¬ 
sentation of the contents of the case. 
Number Two .—-This grade is composed of 
sections that are entirely capped except 
row next to the wood, weighing not less 
than 10 oz. net or 11 oz. gross; also of such 
sections as weigh 11 oz. net or 12 oz. gross, 
or more, and have not more than 50 un¬ 
capped cells altogether, which must be 
filled with honey; honey, comb, and cap¬ 
pings from white to amber in color; sec¬ 
tions to be well cleaned. The top of each 
section in this grade must be stamped, 
“Net weight not less than 10 oz.” The 
front sections in each case must be of uni¬ 
form color and finish, and shall be a true 
representation of the contents of the case. 
Comb honey that is not permitted in ship¬ 
ping grades: 
Honey packed in second-hand cases. 
Honey in badly stained or mildewed sec¬ 
tions. 
Honey showing signs of granulation. 
Leaking, injured, or patched-up sections. 
Sections containing honeydew. 
Sections with more than 50 uncapped cells, 
or a less number of empty cells. 
Sections weighing less than the minimum 
weight. 
All such honey should be disposed of in 
the home market. 
EXTRACTED HONEY. 
This must be thoroly ripened, weighing 
not less than 12 lbs. per gallon. It must be 
well strained, and packed in new cans; 60 
lbs. shall be packed in each five-gallon can, 
and the top of each five-gallon can shall be 
stamped or labeled, “Net weight not less 
than 60 lbs.” 
Extracted honey is classed as white, light 
amber, and amber. The letters “W,” “L. 
A.,” “A” should be used in designating 
color; and these letters should be stamped 
on top of each can. Extracted honey for 
shipping must be packed in new substantial 
cases of proper size. 
STRAINED HONEY. 
This must be well ripened, weighing not 
less than 12 lbs. per gallon. It must be well 
strained; and, if packed in five-gallon cans, 
each can shall contain 60 pounds. The top 
of each five-gallon can shall be stamped and 
labeled, “Net weight not less than 60 lbs.” 
Bright clean cans that previously contained 
honey may be used for strained honey. 
HONEY NOT PERMITTED IN SHIPPING GRADES. 
Extracted honey packed in second-hand 
cans. 
Unripe or fermenting honey weighing less 
than 12 lbs., per gallon. 
Honey contaminated by excessive use of 
smoke. 
Honey contaminated by honeydew. 
Honey not properly strained. 
As stated, the revised rules are modified 
to conform to the federal net-weight law, 
which specifies that only the comb and 
honey inside of the section and not the 
section and honey shall be the measure of 
the quantity sold by weight. Formerly the 
section surrounding the comb was included. 
Under the old rules it was permissible to 
sell the gross weight of the section and the 
honey at so much per pound. It will be 
noted, therefore, that the new Colorado 
grading rules specify the minimum weight, 
net, and one ounce more gross, as the sec¬ 
tions weigh approximately one ounce. 
Before a limit was placed on the weight 
of the sections, producers put up their 
honey in haphazard ways. Heavy and light 
sections—good, bad, and indifferent in 
other respects—were all put together in 
one case. This caused no end of com¬ 
plaint. Under the new set of rules, this is 
impossible. 
