Evening journal., 1905-05-11
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Sisss HPEN
THE HONEY OF THE MARKET
Comb Honey "SOId In the Frame"
StilI Pure In This Country.


An interesting presentation Of the
question Of adulterated honey is given
in a recent number Of the New York
Tribune in answer to a criticism by L.
r. Root, the well known apiarlst, of a
former statement AS appears from
the Tribune its present argument is
based largely on conditions reported
in a 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 It's original
| statement
"That some honey is adulterated in
the comb is a fact stated i'm part 6 Of
/ bulletin No 13, issued by the depart
/ ment Of agriculture, division Of chem
istry, Feb %, 1892. AS the result Of
I II
: chief chemist Of the department. in
I that report said: Many samples Of
comb honey containing only glucose
have come under my observation, but
/ I'm all these cases the combs. presum-
ably after the separation Of the honey
/ by a centrifugal machine, had been
placed ia glass bottles and the glucose
/ then added l have never yet found a
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
the frame. The exact words used were
Honey is also adulterated in the comb,
which is accomplished. as DIR. Wiley
explains, by expelling the honey from
the cells by means Of whiriing it about
at a high rate of speed and then plac-
ing the empty comb in bottles where
the glucose is added.
Artificial Comb and Foundation.
'sThat the honeycomb as we'll as the
contents Of its cells may be more or
less artificial Is a 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 apiarists 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 i'm the United States which were
found to be adulterated. but he pub
fishes a letter from Canadian chemist
which shows that it can be done.
The Art of AduIteration.
"No one says that comb honey can be
completely ycounterfeited. Authorizations
are not wholly spurious. Adulterated
olive oil is not all cottonseed 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 il
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."