334 



Lady Bee-Keepers. 



On this shore of the Atlantic as 

 well as in Europe, their "name is 

 legion, for they are many." The 

 best specimen of Honey in our Mu- 

 seum, is in an Isham box ( very simi- 

 lar to the "prize box") and, is from 

 the apiary of Miss Lucy Wilkins, of 

 Farwell, Mich. This will no doubt 

 be news to the excelleut lady pro- 

 ducer, for she is not aware of the fact 

 that we have any of her crop of 

 honey. 'Tis true, nevertheless, and 

 it has been admired by hundreds 

 (yea, thousands) of our visitors, both 

 from the city and country. As this 

 honey was purchased from a grocery 

 store where Miss W. sold it, we have, 

 at least this once, stolen a march on 

 our excellent lady friend. 



By the report of the Honey Show 

 in London, England, which may be 

 found on another page, it wi!l be 

 seen that the Baroness Burdett- 

 Coutts, the most distinguished and 

 philanthropic lady in the world, is 

 also a producer and exhibitor of 

 excellent honey! Her Ladyship is 

 interesting herself to ameliorate the 

 condition not only of humanity, but 

 also of animals and insects. The 

 London Wo7'ld remarks that "from 

 some cause, possibly from ignorance, 

 children are hideously cruel to ani- 

 mals, taking a great delight in 

 torturing them, especially if they 

 happen to be insects. The Baroness 

 Burdett-Coiitts hopes that by dissem- 

 inating instruction concerning ani- 

 mals in infant schools, this tendency 

 may be checked and interest take 

 the place of cruel tyranny. Of 

 course, she is fond of them individu- 

 ally . Her favori te brooch is a cameo 

 of Fan, a dog of infinite good quali- 

 ties, called some years since to her 

 final rest; and her perpetual com- 

 panions are Ben, a delightful bull- 

 terrier with a beauty-spot on his 

 back, and a perky little black-and- 

 tan of perfect race. At luncheon 

 time these interesting little beasts 

 are naturally to the fore. On either 



side of their mistress is a plate of 

 the daintiest Sevres pate te?idre, from 

 which these lucky dogs eat their 

 cutlets or minced chicken." 



Of course her Ladyship has jewels 

 in abundance; so much so, that 

 special repositories have been con- 

 structed to receive and preserve 

 them, but the World says that none 

 of the many "treasures of the past, 

 however, is dearer to their owner 

 than the most recent addition to her 

 jewels — the grand whatever it is — it 

 cannotbe the cross — of the Medjidjie, 

 conferred on her by the Sultan of 

 Turkey, for her substantial help in 

 establishing the compassionate fund." 



The Best is Always Demanded. 



Not only do rich consumers demand 

 the best article, but all who have the 

 means to buy and the sense to discrimi- 

 nate, demand the same thing. They 

 will turn up their noses at the inferior 

 article, and take the superior one every 

 time. 



Honey as well as flour, beef, cheese, 

 apples or grain, will bring the highest 

 price and readiest sale, when it is of the 

 Jirst qualUy, and put up in attractive 

 style. Poor honey, as well as poor but- 

 ter, is a drug in every market ! And 

 yet many still cling to their old notions 

 and put up their honey in clumsy and 

 unattractive packages, and then grumble 

 because they cannot sell it at the highest 

 price paid for a first-class and attractive 

 article ! Forgetting that it is the gilt- 

 edged article that brings remunerative 

 prices and a brisk demand. 



The market now demands light honey 

 in single-comb boxes, and another yeai", 

 no other will find sale without the aid of 

 a steam engine or some such power to 

 push it off. The enterprising, the wide- 

 awake bee-keeper will use prize boxes — 

 leaving the 6, 12 and 24 lb. boxes for 

 old fossils to use, and then to whine 

 over them because they can't sell them 

 at any price. It makes no difference 

 where it comes from — the best and 

 most attractive goods are always in de- 

 mand. 



