142 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



for the cost of retailing, and in that way offer some inducement to those who 

 came into greater contact with the consumer. 



RIPENING HONEY. 



It was pointed out that many bee-keepers were keeping bees and did not 

 secure the best results from them because they did not give the bees sufficient 

 room in the surplus compartment. When only one-half story was given the hiv^ 

 the bees whil?t finishing those sections had to go idle, whilst if two half stories 

 were placed on the hive, the bees could be finishing the top tier whilst storing 

 the fresh honey in the lower. In this way there would be no loss of horjey 

 through the bees being idle, and there would be less tendency to swarm. 



With extracted honey the same. When only one upper story is used, the 

 bees have to remain idle whilst ripening the honey, or the bee-keeper has to ex- 

 tract before the honey is in a proper condition. By using two upper stories the 

 same plan would work as in the comb honey. It was agreed by one or two 

 that the honey could be ripened after leaving the hive, but it was a difficult 

 matter to prove that any benefit would be derived from such a plan. It was 

 admitted the bees would gather no more honey, and it appears only reasonable 

 that, if plenty of room is given, the bees can themselves do this at the least 

 expense. With this added room the bees are kept in a more contented condi- 

 tion and will be less liable to swarm, a very important matter in securing the 

 best results. 



CANADIAN HONEY. 



The triumphs of Canadian honey could, at such a convention, of course 

 not be passed by in silence. Not only did Canadian comb honey score the 

 highest at Chicago, but a Canadian firm (Goold, Shapley & Muir Co., Ltd.) took 

 more awards in the aparian department than any other firm. Some of the firms 

 with which they entered into competition claim, and doubtless justly, to do one 

 half a million dollars' worth of business, in bee-keepers' supplies and honey, per 

 annum. That Canadian bee-keeping is only in its infancy there is no doubt. 

 In Canada about 200,000 colonies of bees are kept., whilst some European 

 countries keep 1,600,000 colonies, and quite a number keep over 500,000. 



R. F. HOLTERMANN. 



Brantford, Out. 



Importance of Phosphates. — The phosphates, like the nitrates, are 

 found everywhere in the soil and are of great value in their relations to plants. 

 The phosphates found in the bones are taken into the animal body in the food. 

 All plants used as food contain small quantities of phosphorus compounds 

 which they get from the soil. Tne phosphates taken into the body are partly 

 given off in the excrement and urine. 



