CHAPTER XV.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.
First. See that no honey goes to market from your apiary that is not in the most inviting form possible. Gradeall 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 whenyou 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 honeyveryconspicuous. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 donebefore 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.
Fig. 71.
Fig. 71.
The shipping-crate (Fig, 71) should be strong, neat and cheap, with handles as seen inFig, 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.
Fig. 72.
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.