EXPORT OF HONEY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4313, 23 March 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

EXPORT OF HONEY

The New South Wales Minister fok Agriculture baa received froßf the office orthe Agent-General a detailed report as to the quality and value of honey from his State, -as represented by twelve bulk samples shipped lakh sbason. It seems that* Australian honey is ; at present worth from £2O to £27 10s per ton, or only about half the value of best New Zealand. The merchants recommend that all honey for shipment should be very-carefully-graded; andthat samples which granulate should kept carefully separate from those which- do not.-The' colour should be' bright amber or clear yellow.' The trade nfefer,ence‘seems to be for'a sweet flowery aroma, and a clean* flavour,* free • from acidity- or bitterness. >* The ‘ honey * may be either liquid or crystallised, but thick “glucose” sample is disliked. Tha packing usually adopted is considered the best, namely,' two tins bach of 661 b net in* each case. The tins must be strong, and :,tlhe •doses new. -strongly bound with' hoop iron. ‘ The reports' generally agree that at present the market for Australian honey is of » sfcrietly limited nature. One says, “W e do not widh to discourage the • beekeepers, but w» know how difficult it is to persuade tie trade to take it to any extent jut place of other kinds which are better known, and, so far, -of * more quality. No doubt the consumption may be grad, bally increased' if the -best quality is supplied,' and? * supplant to some extent other descriptions, but, to '. eoqpect the public to -substitute faioney ; for ? jama,, marmalade/etc., and to' ship accordingly.. will, in our opinion/result- in disappointment and loss.” Honey has never been .largely imported? by Britain, the • highest figures being £270,000 per annum,'ea against £16.000,000 for butter. The '"Daily Telegraph” s reports that Mr Feganis inclined to believe that if New South. Wales : beekeepers can afford to send a first-class article,' properly graded and packed, -to sell' wholesale at or under 3d per lb., we are assured of a email and regular, trade., :