MARKETING HONEY.
No subject merits more attention by the apiarist than that of marketing
honey. There is no question but that the supply is going to continually
increase, hence, to sustain the price we must stimulate the demand, and
by doing this we shall not only supply the people with a food element
which is necessary to health, but we shall also supersede in part the
commercial syrups, which are so adulterated as not only to be crowded
with filth the most revolting, but are often even teeming with poison.
(Report of Michigan Board of Health for 1874, pp. 75-79.) To bring,
then, to our neighbor's table the pure, wholesome, delicious nectar,
right from the hive, is philanthropy, whether he realizes it or not.
Nor is it difficult to stimulate the demand. I have given special
attention to this topic for the last few years, and am free to say,
that not a tithe of the honey is consumed in our country that might and
should be.
HOW TO INVIGORATE THE MARKETS.
First. See that no honey goes to market from your apiary that is not
in the most inviting form possible. Grade _all the honey thoroughly_,
and expect prices to correspond with the grade. See that every package
and vessel is not only attractive, but so arranged as not to make the
dealer any trouble or cause him any vexation. One leaky can or crate
may do great injury.
Second. See that every grocer in your vicinity has honey constantly on
hand. Do all you can to build up a home market. The advice to sell to
only one or two dealers is wrong and pernicious. Whether we are to buy
or sell, we shall find almost always that it will be most satisfactory
to deal with men whom we know, and who are close at hand. Only when
you outgrow your home market should you ship to distant places. This
course will limit the supply in the large cities, and thus raise the
prices in the great marts, whose prices fix those in the country. Be
sure to keep honey constantly in the markets.
Third. Insist that each grocer makes the honey _very_ conspicuous. If
necessary, supply large, fine labels, with your own name almost as
prominent as is that of the article.
Fourth. Deliver the honey in small lots, so that it will be sure to
be kept in inviting form, and, if possible, attend to the delivery
yourself, that you may know that all is done "decently and in order."
Fifth. Instruct your grocers that they may make the honey show to the
best effect, and thus captivate the purchaser through the sight alone.
Sixth. _Call local conventions_, that all in the community may know and
practice the best methods, so that the markets may not be demoralized
by poor, unsalable honey.
Of course, the method of preparation will depend largely, and vary
greatly, upon the style of honey to be sold, so we will consider these
kinds separately.
EXTRACTED HONEY.
As before intimated, extracted honey has all the flavor, and is in
every way equal, if not superior--comb itself is innutritious, and very
indigestible--to comb-honey. When people once know its excellence--know
that it is not "strained"--let us, as apiarists, strive in every way
to kill that word--then the demand for this article will be vastly
increased, to the advantage both of the consumer and the apiarist.
Explain to each grocer what we mean by the word extracted, and ask
him to spread wide the name and character of the honey. Leave cups
of the honey with the editors and men of influence, and get them to
discuss its origin and merits. I speak from experience, when I say that
in these ways the reputation and demand for extracted honey can be
increased to a surprising degree, and with astonishing rapidity.
HOW TO TEMPT THE CONSUMER.
First. Have it chiefly in small cups--jelly cups are best. Many
persons will pay twenty-five cents for an article, when if it cost
fifty cents they would not think of purchasing.
Second. Only put it in such vessels as jelly cups or glass fruit jars,
etc., that will be useful in every household when the honey is gone,
that the buyer may feel that the vessel is clear gain.
Third. Explain to the grocer that if kept above the temperature of
70° or 80° F., it will not granulate, that granulation is a pledge
of purity and superiority, and show him how easy it is to reduce the
crystals, and ask him to explain this to his customers. If necessary,
liquify some of the granulated honey in his presence.
Lastly. If you do not deliver the honey yourself, be sure that the
vessels will not leak in transit. It is best, in case jelly cups are
used, that they be filled at the grocery. And don't forget the large
label, which gives the kind of honey, grade, and producer's name.
COMB-HONEY.
This, from its wondrous beauty, especially when light-colored and
immaculate, will always be a coveted article for the table, and will
ever, with proper care, bring the highest price paid for honey. So it
will always be best to work for this, even though we may not be able to
procure it in such ample profusion as we may the extracted. He who has
all kinds, will be able to satisfy every demand, and will most surely
meet with success.
RULES TO BE OBSERVED.
This, too, should be chiefly in small sections (Fig. 50), for, as
before stated, such are the packages that surely sell. Sections from
four to six inches square will just fill a plate nicely, and look very
tempting to the proud house-wife, especially if some epicurean friends
are to be entertained.
The sections should surely be in place at the dawn of the white clover
season, so that the apiarist may secure the most of this irresistible
nectar, chaste as if capped by the very snow itself. They should be
taken away as soon as capped, as delay makes them highways of travel
for the bees, which always mar their beauty.
When removed, if demanded, glass the sections, but before this, we
should place them in hives one upon another, or special boxes made
tight, with a close cover, in which to store either brood-frames in
winter or sections at any season, and sulphur them. This is quickly and
easily done by use of the smoker. Get the fire in the smoker well to
burning, add the sulphur, then place this in the top hive, or top of
the special box. The sulphurous fumes will descend and deal out death
to all moth larvæ. _This should always be done_ before shipping the
honey, if we regard our reputations as precious. It is well to do this
immediately upon removal, and also two weeks after, so as to destroy
the moth larvæ not hatched when the sections are removed.
If separators have been used, these sections are in good condition to
be glassed, and are also in nice shape to ship even without glass, as
they may stand side by side and not mar the comb.
[Illustration: Fig. 71.]
The shipping-crate (Fig. 71) should be strong, neat and cheap, with
handles as seen in Fig. 71--such handles are also convenient in
the ends of the hives, and can be cut in an instant by having the
circular-saw set to wabble. With handles the crate is more convenient,
and is more sure to be set on its bottom. The crate should also be
glassed, as the sight of the comb will say: "Handle with care."
Mr. Heddon also makes a larger crate (Fig. 72), which is neat and
cheap. Muth's crate is like Heddon's, only smaller.
It is well, too, to wrap the sections in paper, as thus breakage of one
will not mean general ruin. However, this would be unnecessary in case
the sections were of veneer and glassed, as before described.
[Illustration: Fig. 72.]
In groceries, where the apiarist keeps honey for sale, it will pay him
to furnish his own boxes. These should be made of white-wood, very
neat, and glassed in front to show the honey, and the cover so fixed
that unglassed sections--and these, probably, will soon become the most
popular--cannot be punched or fingered. Be sure, too, that the label,
with kind of honey, grade, and name of apiarist, be so plain that "he
who runs may read."
Comb-honey that is to be kept in the cool weather of autumn, or the
cold of winter, must be kept in warm rooms, or the comb will break
from the section when handled. By keeping it quite warm for some days
previous to shipment, it may be sent to market even in winter, but must
be handled very carefully, and must make a quick transit.
Above all, _let "taste and neatness" ever be your motto_.