New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-05
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
HONEY. IN THE COMB.
Letter Called Ont by an article
IN The Tribune.
ditor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
.Soney is also sduterated in the comb the ne, comb i1
beng made n Part OF Pa par Sn@ Me- desire to
say that this statement is absolutely untrue; ALo
tory proof that combs are manufactured out o.
paTane by any mSchanlGat process anS nut out
OF the market comb honey. We nave - slWayS
lad q very high regard for The New York Tribune
I'D believe that 1t will publish nothing but abso-
lite truth These statements ABOUT " ne
9oe 4o T 4os sf times NearS ali of the publishers
reyertheIess a fearful damage has been done to
the comb honey business because consumers, ne T
heve that the entire pEoduSt that t9ey see on re
result Of these stories is that it has produced
fearful stagnation in the honey market ana d pee
keepers all over the country are suffering IN conse
For further proof We would refer you to Frank
Agriculture, Washington, d. G. Repeatedly mas ne
Tay s SuSo e INNS NAV be aduiterated but not to the
fsn4 tbs4 mas haen represented In several of
our leading States pure food laws have been passed
Of sy Ind on the market for sale we trust YOU
ts sss End snS do dsa jusce to large Of
your AGRICULTURAL patrons who called our attention
70 o Pe6eF5 o e reward y4GT card that we have
published for the last fifteen years ana yg 6rsn
who offered take up the conditions OF this o1eT
Louis passed a strong resolution DENYING the exist
ence OF manufactured comb honey Inc ffe o
1900 providing there could be satisfactory proof
given that there is such a ihltiS aS Soar
Medina, Ohio. Feb. IS 1905.
INF. Root quotes The Tribune's statement on
which his criticism is based regarding the adul-
iteration OF honey correctly. When Mr.. Root said
that this statement 'is absolutely untrue he was
no doubt unaware that il founded on various
government reports. That some honey is aduI-
terated IN the comb is a fact stated in Part OF
Bulletin No 1s. issued by the Department OF Asri-
culture Division OF Chemistry, February % lSss'
As the result of q thorough analysis DR.. II. W.
Wiley, chief chemist of the department IN that
report said: Many samples of comb honey con-
tanning only glucose have come under my cpserVa-
ton. out in all these cases the combs presumably
after the separation OF the honey by centrifugal
machine had been placed in glass bottles and the
glucose then added have never yet found a sam
pie of comb honey, sold in the frame. which was
CRITICAL, except in the use Of comb foundation.
In The Tribune's article mention at all was
made OF comb honey sold 'in the frame The
exact words used honey is also adulterated
In the comb" which is accomplished. as DR.. Wiley
explains. by expeling the honey from the cells
by means Of whirling st about at q high rate Of
speed, and then placing the empty comb in bottles
where the glucose is added
The results of many analyses Of honey are given
"a this report. the work having been conducted by
various eminent chemists. For example, Professor
n A. Scovell. Of Lexington, KY, speaks Of one
sample that was bought in the open market
follows: mo log. labeled Choice Comb Honey
Is another instance of the sale OF comb honey
which is mechanical mixture Of the comb with
glucose"
In regard to another sample Professor scovell
Eeys:
~Nro. 40 shows that C. R have worked the
Cincinnati markets pretty thoroughly with their
Imitation comb honeys."
Dr. Stephen P. sharpies. Of Boston, analysed
number Of samples Of honey bought in that city.
which has been credited with enforcing pure food
laws vigorously than any other city in the
country. Yet of six samples which he found to be
sdulterated two sold comb honey. These
two he desgnates as Nos 1904 and 9.5o6. and Of
them he says:
"'In Nos. 1904 and 1906 IS seen the temerity OF
fraudulent comb honey manufacturers in seeking
market in the only city in the country where seri
Gus attempt to prevent the sale Of such sophistt
Gated articles is made. The maker affixed no label,
depending, evidently, on the presence of the comb
70 secure q ready sale and immunity from inspeo-
ton"
That the honeycomb well the contents Of its
cells may be more or less artificial is a well es-
that have been issued for the manufacture of
artificial comb and comb foundation One is de.
q web of paper, cloth suitable material, which,
after moulding is saturated with melted way The
machine. The advantage arising from my 1nven-
Ton says It's aq5nof a5 + mat COMPS
means of a cenfrfuea1 machine or as commonly
cone with other honeycombs when it IS desired
70 use them second time
Another patented method. according to the in
Centor, viii produce a comb III every respect re-
EeInDlng the natural comb built by bees. This
hive and viii he used by the bees thus saving the
Insects the labor of building combs and causing
this work in the gathering and storing Of honey"
Il is in these comb foundations, these artificial
centre OF the frame for the bees TO build on. that
cordlng 70 Dr. Wiley. no comb foundations have