My attention is called to some remarks by Dr. Miller, on page 817 of
the BEE JOURNAL for Dec. 28, 1893, on the subject of selling extracted
honey. Judging from what I see between the lines, I do not think the
Doctor desires any instructions that would insure him 24 cents per
pound, at retail, for extracted honey, nor any other price, in fact,
whether remunerative or otherwise. The reason, perhaps, for this, is
because the Doctor does not produce honey at all in the extracted form,
but confines himself entirely to the production of comb honey.
There seems to be all through the Doctor's remarks, a vein of
_ridicule_, and this may be accounted for by reason of the fact that
certain parties have been, and still are, able to dispose of extracted
honey, at retail, at a higher figure than the Doctor can secure for
that in the comb. The Doctor says he is sure that he could do nothing
of the kind himself, but that should surprise no one, nor should it
discourage others from trying to do so. Not many years ago the Doctor
stated publicly, if my memory is not at fault, that he could not
produce first-grade comb honey under a special classification, whereas
there were others who thought they could. And, judging from what was
shown at the World's Fair honey exhibit last year, it was plain to see
that the Doctor was right in what he thought he could not do in that
direction.
Some of the imaginary talk the Doctor gives with that imaginary lady,
plainly shows that he has had no experience, worth copying, in selling
extracted honey. In short, he imagines a talk, which, in some respects,
I have never met with in more than 20 years' experience. An agent,
properly instructed, who could not have silenced that lady's remarks,
would not be worth his salt to me.
I know from experience, not theory nor imagination, that any lady or
gentleman competent to sell books, can be instructed to sell extracted
honey in thousands of cities and villages, and at remunerative prices.
But the agent must have proper instructions, and then must follow them.
But I never attempt to give those instructions to any one who has no
desire to know them. I have now had in my employ three agents who have
always sold extracted honey at my prices, and profitably, by following
my instructions. One of these agents was a lady—the other two young
men.
No, Doctor, I do not live in a mountainous country, nor where the
people I trade with live miles away from groceries, nor where
honey-producers are unknown. The country where I live is just about
as level as where the Doctor resides, and groceries are just about as
convenient and numerous. I presume the people are just about as wealthy
and intelligent, with possibly one or two exceptions, as those in the
Doctor's neighborhood This being the case, the Doctor does not seem to
understand why my customers do not find out that they can buy honey at
a lower price than they pay me. Why, doctor, they do know they can buy
comb honey, in wooden sections, at about the price you mention, but
they have intelligence enough to know that when they pay for a section
of wood and honey they do not get, on an average, to exceed 12 ounces
of honey. And, with some assistance, they reason thus: If they have to
pay 20, or even 18, cents for three-fourths of a pound of honey, they
might as well pay my price, or 24 cents, and get 16 ounces, or a full
pound.
Again: Neither Melbee nor his agents, when soliciting orders for
honey, have ever yet been found guilty of carrying around with them
a bee-paper of any description, for the express purpose of showing to
would-be purchasers the market reports, as prepared and manipulated by
commission merchants, nor do they ever intend to be guilty of doing
so. On the other hand, the Doctor perhaps would not approve of such an
un-business-like procedure. I presume the Doctor would carry a sample
of honey in one hand, and a sample of one of those market reports in
the other, and then call the special attention of his patrons to both
samples. That, of course, would be just like the Doctor!
The Doctor seems to think that Melbee might be a wealthy man if he
would only set a score or so of agents to work selling honey for him
on his terms and at his prices. Perhaps the Doctor is right for once.
On the other hand, the Doctor perhaps might have been also wealthy, if
he had stuck to the music trade at a salary of—say $2,500 per year.
But as he did not do so, perhaps we have a right to infer that he has
become exceedingly wealthy from the sale of his honey crops.
The Doctor attempts to make it appear that the difference between 7
cents wholesale, and 24 cents retail, is all profit. A novice might
think so, but a bee-keeper of Dr. Miller's experience should know
better. Evidently the Doctor has had no experience as to the expense
connected with the sale of extracted honey, by the plan pursued by
myself and my agents, or else he desires to misrepresent the profits
we obtain. I am frank to confess that we do get a good profit, but no
larger than thousands of others might secure by knowing how.
To conclude: Melbee desires it to be distinctly understood that he does
not follow the honey-trade simply for health and pleasure, but mainly
for dollars and cents.
Honeyville, Beeland.
Positive Prevention of After-Swarming.
_Written for the American Bee Journal_