BEEKEEPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1918, Page 6

BEEKEEPING.

i (By "Clematis.") 1 MAIX CROP OF HONEY. The greater part of the beekeepers will either have extracted or be about to extract the main crop of honey. To obtain a good keeping honey, extract when the combs are capped or settled. The vessel holding the :honey should not be more than from 18 to 24 inches deep. 'Let the honey stand for several days and any particles of wax and scum will have risen to the top, and can be skimmed off. Special attention should be given to its condition before running it off into tins, bottles, etc, holding it for the market Honey should not be tinned for the market till it begins to thicken in the tank. It should just run slowly into the receptacles holding it. HONEY PACKAGES. Honey now comes under the Pure Foods and Drugs Act, and must have a label on each package denoting weight of contents', and name of packer. Have a small, neat, attractive label. A Wellington grocer was recently prosecuted anil fined for buying honey' in bulk and retailing it in packages not complying with the above regulations.

LOCAL MARKET. The average price obtained for first grade honey has improved wonderfully during the last six years. The New Zealand Honey Producers' Co-operative Association is mainly responsible for the good position the industry holds to-day. This Association lias fostered and established an export tradp that would have gmwii by leaps i'"<! bounds had the war no! 'handicapped n varioutt ways. The nvernge prices obtained for 21b tins on tiie heal market are:—l9l3, 8s to ]os (id dux.: 1014. 10s fid doz.: 1915, .lis do/. ; lflili, 13s 6d doz.. 1917, lfls (Ivz.; 1018, 18s doz.

I DISPOSAL OF HONEY. T have been asked the best way of disposing trf lumpy, and whore. Note my ■•omarks at the beginning of these notes. If one does not fare to pack for the looal trade ami comply with the Pure Foods Act (otherwise one is liable to prosecution} lake up shares in the New Zealand Honey Producers' Association, Tfawera. This company receive* honey direct from the extractor in hulk from 'Shareholders. HONEY AS A FOOD. "Eat thou honey, because it is good!" Honey is not only a medicine, hut a food, direct from nature, the nectar of Cowers, gathered, modified and evaporated bv the bees. No purer or better food has been given to man. Every. flower produces ,1 different flavor. ]f you don't like one try another. Honey at the present time is cheaper than butter, and 'children should be given honey as part of a meal. It counteracts the evil of bad food to A marked extent. WINTER SHOW. Beekeepers, don't foriret to save for the New Plymouth. Winter Show in June.