File:American bee journal (1893) (17924501028).jpg

Title: American bee journal
Identifier: americanbeejourn3193hami (find matches)
Year: 1861 (1860s)
Authors:
Subjects: Bee culture; Bees
Publisher: (Hamilton, Ill. , etc. , Dadant & Sons)
Contributing Library: UMass Amherst Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: UMass Amherst Libraries

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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Ill
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Report of the JVortli American Bee-Keepers' Convention. Written for the American Bee Journal BT W. Z. HUTCHINSON. (Continued from page 79.) Dr. C. C. Miller, of Marengo, Ills., was down on the programme for an essay on " The Grading of Honey." He wrote the Secretary that he had nothing better to offer than the article that he contributed to Oleanings last June ; and he asked the Secretary to read the arti- cle, which appears on page 454 of Gleanings for June 15th. It reads as follows : The Grading of Honey. Although exceedingly anxious that before the convention at Washington, some system of grading should be offered that would be so nearly acceptable to all as to meet general acceptance, yet I shrink from any attempt at formulating such a system. The plain truth is, I don't feel that I know enough for such a task. Yet I have made the attempt to do as requested. I cannot apologize for the system I offer by saying it is hastily thrown to- gether. It is nothing of the kind. It has been the subject of much care, and the hardest thought I am capable of giving. There is nothing original about it except the string that ties it together. It is a mosaic, made up from all the systems that have been offered, modified somewhat by the discussions I have heard and read. If freely criticised in the right spirit, it is possible that some- thing may be made out of it that shall be satisfactory, even if it be so modified as a result of the criticism that nothing of the original draft can be recognized. But here is the system, having four grades, depending on appearance or condition independent of the source of honey, and four classes of honey : Fancy.—Combs straight, white, well filled, firmly fastened to wood on all four sides ; all cells sealed ; no pollen, propolis, nor travel- stain. No. 1.—Wood well scraped, or entirely free from propolis ; one side of the section sealed with white cappings, free from pollen, and having all cells sealed except the line of cells next to the wood ; the other side white, or but slightly discolored, with not more than two cells of pollen, and not more than ten cells unsealed beside the line of cells touch- ing the wood ; comb fastened to the wood on four sides. No. 2.—Three-fourths of the total surface must be filled and sealed ; wood well scraped of propolis. No. 3.—Must weigh at least half as much as a full-weight section. There are the four grades. For the classes of honey, I would suggest the four already in use, sufficiently under- stood from the names alone ; namely, light, amber, dark, mixed. Y®u will see that there is nothing new in any of this. It is hardly probable that it will entirely suit any one. It does not suit me. I have not tried to give what would suit any one man, or set of men. I have merely made an attempt to come as nearly as I could to what all might agree upon, each one making some concession for the general good. If some one has something better as a basis to start with, I shall be not only willing, but glad to see this thrown aside and the better taken in its place. But something must be taken as a basis. It will not do for each one to offer the system that exactly suits him. We'll not get on very fast in that way. If no better basis is offered than the one I have given, then let each one look it over and see, not what changes must be made to make the plan entirely ac- ceptable, but, rather, let him see what is the least change necessary to make him willing to agree to the system, tak- ing into account what others, as well as himself, may desire. I see I have made the impression that W. C. Frazier's system suits me better than all the rest. That is hardly true, as will be seen from the system I have attempted ; but I like his idea of having a system of grading which does not in- volve the honey itself, leaving that as a separate classification. Others had the same idea, but did not bring it out so clearly, or, at least, it did not strike me so. The names of the grades are simple. They are easily understood, both by the producer and consumer. And I don't know why the consumer shouldn't fully understand just what they mean. There will never be a great overstock, I fancy, of honey classed as fancy. Perhaps it is drawing the lines rather tightly to say, " All cells sealed." Possibly a certain number of cells next the wood ought to be allowed unsealed. I think very few have been in the habit of sorting out

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