The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-11-16
IS AAWAI|'S
HONEY BAD2

and Laws at the u. $. Expert
ment station. where AIR. Van Dine has
nifty odd samples of honey produced
in the islands. Aside from the idea
OF forming an organization II was de-
sired by the bee men to talk over some
of the reports damaging to the industry
that have been received here.
Mr.. Van Dine acted as chairman OF
the meeting and In opening said he re-
GREETED that the largest company IN
| the islands. the Sandwich Island Honey
Co, was not represented. Relative to
the difficulty in marketing Hawaiian
honey, the chair said the reports had
been to the effect that II was below
standard and was believed TO be adul-
terated. Knowing this to be the oppo-
site OF the facts. in so far as the purity
| of the product is concerned, Mr.. van
Dine had asked DIR. Shorey to analyze
some of the samples and the result or
| that analysis would be read by the
doctor later. Coast dealers had said
the honey received there was in state
of fermentation. In answer to a ques-
ton by Mr.. Van Dine, L. C. Smith said
he had had experience In shipping to
London San Francisco and New York
markets, and found 1t was difficult to
market the honey and the complaints
as to quality had been frequent. He
said he had never received higher
price for sugar cane honey" than for
that known as the algaroba. He was
of the opinion that the trouble is
caused by the middle man stepping In
and knocking the product on account
of the long distance. Believed 1t
would be well for the beekeopers to get
in closer touch with the large consum-
ers on the mainland.
Mr.. Van Dine said Mr.. Thompson.
another beekeeper, had made a similar
report.
Mr.. Jordan said he had had consid-
cradle experience in shipping algaroba
honey to London during the past ten
years and he had always found that it
brought next in price to the New zea-
land article and the latter ranked first
in the London market. 1iliNr
Mr.. Van Dine then read his records
of the tifty-four samples of honey re-
ceived from Kauai, Molokai and Ca
hu. BY these records he could tell
what the bees feed on in certain local
tiles at certain seasons. The samples,
which are in glass containers. showed
a variety of colors. which MIR. Van
Dine explained yas due to the differ
ence in the pasturage.
Algaroba had been for years the prin-
cipal pasturage for the bees and where
other food was introduced the color
sometimes changed. There was one
sample that had been gathered nearly
a year ago that showed no signs Of
granulation. and while honey that
graduates is always considered pure.
this particular sample Is perfectly so.
He said there were three different
sources for the honey.
First-Normal organ-fiower nectar
Second-From plants which exude
neutral nectarines and known as honey
dew.
Third-Indirectly from such plants as
may be infested by aphids or the cane
top that is infested by the topper. In
the latter case the hopper punctures
the leaf and pumps himself full of
juice and then exudes it upon the leaf
TO be taken up by the bee. The sub
stance exuded by the hopper is known
to commerce as honey dew" and Mr..
Van Dine suggested that the cane
honey be named Honey Dew Honey"
to distinguish II from all other varie-
ties This grade is inferior to the
other and is the cause of the embargo
to the beekeepers here who have been
accused Of adulterating their product.
II some such measure is not adopted
the charge will be made that the keep
ers here allow their bees access to the
molasses watts of the plantations.
Mr.. Smith asked IL the substance
exuded by the leaf hoppers is honey
dew and that exuded by bees, honey.
Why it would not be possible to turn
the former into honey OF commerce.
Mr.. Van Dine answered that the hop
pers do not store their honey dew.
AT this stage of the proceedings IL
was announced that Prof. Frank Ben
ton, assistant entomologist OF the Agri-
cultural Department at Washington
would be here In December on his re-
turn from a tour of the world and
would remain about seventeen days
Prof. Benton has been studying con-
ditions and bee pasturage throughout
the world and gathering new species
Of bees so IL is possible no would be
able to introduce new bee plants here.
Next month the beekeepers would hold
a joint exhibition with the poultrymen
and Mr.. Van Dine will exhibit his
honey samples and tho cocoons.
DR.. Shorey and Food Commissioner
Duncan We're invited into the confer
ence at this time and DIR. Shorey re-
ported the result OF his Investigations
He first stated that the standard COM
position OF honey Is the nectarine exu-
iatlons OF honey bees and war COM
posed of 20 per cent water; 25-lOO per
cent ash an per cent sucrose. This
s the standard fixed In the United
states. A large number of samples
given to him for analysis as cane honey
widely from the standard men,
Toned and the polarization was almost
invariably TO the right instead OF the
eft. In most instances the proportion
# sucrose was less than the standard ,
md that Of the ash greater. 1t is the
of ash In the Hawaiian
loney that caused the belief that the
honey from here is adulterated Where ,
he conditions were not known this