Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-09-08
PLENTY OF HONEY COMING.
California Sending East Large Sup
ply OF Her Sweet Products.


this season. Within short tine the
California supply will be here. AS the
New York honey is not usually ready
for sale before October, that from the
Pacific slope will have a good opportu-
nity for finding a market. The samples
which have been sent in advance to the
New York houses show the crop to be
remarkably fine this year, IN addition TO
the crop being unusually large. Over
1000, 900 pounds have been shipped
eastward, which is the greatest quantity
known since bee cultivation has been
undertaken in the Golden State. South
ern California has been found to be
especially favorable TO bee culture and
the production of honey. That which
has been shipped to the East is mainly
from the districts of San Diego, Los
Angeles and Santa Barbara, which
places have also produced an additional
larger quantity, intended for home con-
sumption, than in former years. While
a large portion of this great shipment
will be brought to New York, such is
now the convenience of transportation
that direct shipments will be made TO
other places. On the way East Chicago
and st. Louis will receive their share of
the rich product of the California in
sects. and before the train Will reach
New York city separate carloads will be
diverted to Boston and Philadelphia.
Even of the through freight which will
come to New Y York direct, a portion Will
be sent across the Atlantic Ocean TO
London. Hamburg, Amsterdam and
other European cities. so that, even
though the shipments from California
are unusually large, there is no proba-
bility of glut until the product of the
New York bees comes into the market
in October. As natural result of the
large crop, prices will this year he
greatly reduced. In 1885 the wholesale
rates for extracted honey were from >
TO s cents a pound, while in 1888 they
ranged from 10 TO II cents per pound in
California. This year the wholesale
rate in that State is from 81 to 4 per
cents per pound, according to quality.
After paying freight across the whole
continent, it is expected that the sweet
product can be sold wholesale at
from ) to 6 cents per pound
very great reduction from the rates of
two and three years ago. For the con-
venience of the trade, the producers
have packed the honey in fiye-gallon
cans, two cans making a case; the net
weight of each case being about 115
pounds of clear honey.
Most of the honey brought from Cali
fornia is extracted, as it is difficult to
transport the honey in the combs. In
that State the bee-culturiStS do not use,
as in this State. the hardened comb
L. g Il. -, III
The little winged insects consequently
make their entire combs, which are soft
and brittle. phe honey therefore is too
heavy for the comb, and on the road
becomes loOsened from the cells, often
causing heavy loss An attempt has
been made this year to ship some of the
comb honey in two pound frames, eight
frames going to 4 rack and four racks
TO a case. Each case will therefore con-
tain about seventy pounds of honey
combs. The wholesale price for the
comb honey has heretofore been from y
to Il cents per pound; but this year, if
the shipments should come through all
right, the price VIII range from s 10 10
cents per pound.
California IS said to be favored with
4 growth of foliage especially adapted
for the production of honey. The finest
produced in that State is clear white,
very sweet and rich. 1t is the product
of the white sage, with which Southern
California is abundantly supplied. The
next in quality is from the sumac. This
is of a light amber hue, and is also
sweet, with very fine flavor. Another
class Of honey is produced from the tar
weed. This is rather dark in color, and
has bltteTish taste For this reason
IT is not so well liked as the other varie-
ties mentioned. and at times is scarcely
salable. The flavor of the California
honey IS entirely different from that
produced in New York State and Vi
cinity, where the white clover is the
main source Of supply for the bees to
work upon. Consequently it finds
market among those who prefer a rich
and sweet article for their own use, the
white sage honey having also 4 fine con-
sistency which at times is much desired.
The honey products of the States of
Michigan, Illinois. Iowa, Wisconsin and
Missouri promise also 10 be very large.
But this Will scarcely affect the market
here. except indirectly, as the crop is
generally used for home consumption.
The principal markets for the produc-
ton of the bees in these States are at
Chicago, st. Louis and Kansas City.
As natural effect of the plentiful crop
in California, the prices for the honey,
produced nearer home, will this year be
greatly reduced in the markets of the
two first named cities, as that from the
Pacific slope viii have some advantage
III being the first in the field.
A good crop is also reported from the
Southern States, the greater portion of
which is brought to New York for sale.
Owing TO the carelessneSS of those who
attend to the bees and prepare the honey
for market, it does not realize such
good prices as it might do with better
attention. Instead of the honey being
extracted it is merely strained, and all
kinds are mixed together. When spoken
10 by merchants about keeping the finer
hOneys from the poorer kind, the produ-
GERS have said: 'It'S all honey, amt it?
What's the use of making such close
distinction as TO what the bees gather it
FROM" Then, again, little care is taken
with regard to packing for market. In
stead of being put up in tasty manner,
it is shipped il barrels and therefore
sold at low price TO confectioners and
Others.
Within a shor: time a few bee cultu-
rists have tried Florida as honey pro-
ducing State. The success which has
attended their efforts has induced others
to engage in the enterprise. 1t is ex-
pected that one of the finest honeys ever
produced will be soon in the market for
general sale. The transplanted bees
have taken a great fancy to the orange
blossom, and from it produces a honey
very delicious in fl!Svor AT present the
Florida orange blossom honey is a nov-
city. and commands here as good prices
as any brought TO the New York mar
Eet Shonld tie nrnincerS in Elnrida