Bee-Keeping in England. 



We are exceedingly pleased to notice 

 the rapid strides that are being made 

 in England towards a degree of perfec- 

 tion heretofore undreamed of, for 

 stately Old England, in the scientific 

 management of bees. That excellent 

 periodical, The British Bee-Journal 

 fairly bristles with the subject of ad- 

 vancement in bee-culture, and rational 

 and scientific management. Bee and 

 Honey Shows are abounding in almost 

 every county, while the National Soci- 

 ety, called the " British Bee-Keepers^ 

 Association,^'' shows a wonderful state 

 of prosperity. Its lady President, the 

 liberal and very popular Baroness 

 Burdett Coutts, has subscribed $125.00, 

 and its energetic honorary Secretary, 

 the Kev. Herbert R. Peel, has sub- 

 scribed $100.00 towards defraying the 

 expenses of the Honey Show, which 

 took place last month, in the Royal 

 Horticultural Gardens, at South Kens- 

 ington, London. All England seems 

 to be alive on the subject of " How to 

 produce the best honey in the most 

 marketable shape." The present num- 

 ber of members of its National Society 

 is about 160, and the plan adopted as to 

 membership is quite interesting. It 

 presents a key to financial " success," 

 as well as how to get up an interest in 

 bee-culture that cannot fail of being 

 abiding. It is this : 



Those members whose annual sub- 

 scription is $5 and over, are eligible for 

 election on the Board of Directors or 

 Managing Committee, while all others 

 are entitled to one vote in such elec- 

 tion, for every dollar subscribed. 



They have a tent erected, and in it 

 the various manipulations of the 

 apiary are performed competitively. — 

 A circle of twenty feet in diameter in 

 the centre being devoted to the manip- 

 ulations, while a promenade of six 

 feet wide, encircling it, is reserved for 

 visitors. This presents an idea for our 

 National Society to think about — 

 something that will give it an impetus, 

 heretofore unheard of. 



These manipulations are just the 

 thing to create an interest, to bring 

 together not only the experts, but 

 those who need instruction in scientific 

 management. 



We feel assured of this, by the expe- 

 rience of the past year, in the apiary of 

 the American Bee Journal, in this 

 city. How often do we find one of the 

 greatest attractions for our visitors to 

 be allowed to witness manipulations 

 with our bees I Some have had but a 

 limited experience with Italians ; oth- 

 ers as limited an experience with the 

 manipulations of the apiary, especially 

 upon scientific principles. And often, as 

 they retire, do they say—" It has been 

 the greatest treat of my life. I am 

 delighted with what I have witnessed 

 in the apiary, as well as in the Museum 

 of modern appliances." 



We do hope our National Society 

 will, at the next meeting, take advance 

 ground and either foster, encourage or 

 inaugurate an Exhibition, not only of 

 apiarian implements and honey, but 

 also of manipulations with bees. Ofli- 

 cers with energy and ability to manage 

 can easily be secured, who will make 

 the Honey and Bee Show a success, 

 fi'om its very inception. It can be 

 done, and, we think all will say, it ought 

 to be done. 



Would it not be well for the National 

 Society to offer medals as prizes, to be 

 awarded at the Honey and Bee Shows 

 of the different State and District As- 

 sociations within its limits V 



What do bee-keepers say about these 

 crude thoughts ? We shall esteem it a 

 favor if those interested will, within 

 the next 10 days, send us their opinion. 

 Being Secretary of the National Soci- 

 ety, we will collect, classify and pre- 

 sent them to the Society at their meet- 

 ing next month, and endeavor to have 

 the Society inaugurate some good, 

 practical work, in this direction. We 

 hope to obtain hundreds of responses 

 to this request within the next ten or 

 fifteen days. What is done must now 

 be done quickly. If our ideas are of 

 any value, back them up— if not, kindly 



