The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-04-21
THE HONEY OF THE MARKET
Comb Honey "SOld In the Frame"
still Pure In This Country.

Comb Honey "SOld In the Frame"
still Pure In This Country.
An interesting presentation of the
question of adulterated honey is given
in recent number of the New York
Tribune in answer to Il criticism by +.
r. Root the well known apiarist, of
former statement. AS appears from
the Tribune its present argument is
based largely on conditions reported
In Il government bulletin thirteen years
ago.
Mr. Root in his letter quoted by the
Tribune says:
For further proof we would refer
you to Frank Benton, agricultural eX-
pert at the department of agriculture,
Washington. Repeatedly has he de-
MED in the government bulletins that
there is any such thing as manufac
tured comb honey. Liquid honey may
be adulterated. but not to the extent
that has been represented. In several
of our leading states pure food laws
have been passed so stringent that
there is nothing but pure honey of any
kind on the market for sale"
Comb Honey Containing Glucose.
The following are among points Of
the Tribune's comments on its original
statement:
THAT some honey Is adulterated in
the comb is Il fact stated in part 6 Of
bulletin No. Is, issued by the depart
ment of agriculture, division of chem
istry, Feb %, 1892. As the result of
a thorough analysis DR.. IL. w. Wiley,
chief chemist of the department, in
that report said: Many samples of
comb honey containing only glucose
have come under my observation, but
in all these cases the combs, presum-
ably after the separation of the honey
by Il centrifugal machine, had been
placed in glass bottles and the glucose
then added l have never yet found Il
sample of comb honey sold in the
! frame which was artificial except in
/ the use of comb foundation
"In the TribuneS article no mention
at all was made of comb honey sold in
honey is also adulterated in the comb,
| which is accomplished, as DR. Wiley
/ explains. by eXpelling the honey from
/ the cells by means of whirling it about
| at high rate of speed and then plac-
ing the empty comb in bottles where
} the glucose is added
/ Artificial Comb and Foundation.
"That the honeycomb as well as the
! contents of its cells may be more or
less artificial is Il well established fact
DR.. Wiley speaks of fifteen patents that
have been issued for the manufacture
of artificial comb and comb founda
ton. 1t is in these comb foundations,
these artificial layers of wax which
some aplarists place in the center of
the frame for the bees to build on, that
! opportunities are offered for adultera-
ton. According to DR.. Wiley, no comb
foundations have been obtained by his
men in the United States which were
found to be adulterated, but he pub
fishes a letter from Il Canadian chemist
which shows that it can be done.
The Art of AduIteratiOn.
"No one says that comb honey can be
completely counterfeiied Authorizations
are not wholly spurious. Adulterated
olive oil is not all cottorseed oil. Comb
honey sold in the frame of which the
Tribune made no mention. is uniformly
pure in this country. Nevertheless, hon
ey makers should appreciate that it
can only remain so by constant watch
fulness. The art of adulteration is on
the increase in this country and is aid
ed by every new discovery in the sci
ences."