760 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



The Apiarian Exhibit at the 



coming World's Fair from now on will 

 attract the attention of every one inter- 

 ested in bee-keeping. As promised last 

 week, we present below Dr. Mason's 

 letter descriptive of various interesting 

 points in connection with the proposed 

 exhibit of apiarian products. We com- 

 mend to all what the good Doctor has to 

 say, and trust that it may receive a very 

 careful reading. Here is his letter : 



TO AMERICAN BEE-KEEPERS : 



Since the appointment of the commit- 

 tee by the North American Bee-Keepers' 

 Association at Albany, N. Y., last win- 

 ter, to be the representative of the Asso- 

 ciation in matters relating to the inter- 

 ests of bee-keepers at the World's 

 Columbian Exposition, all has been done 

 that could be done by the committee and 

 the Exposition Managers to put things 

 in shape for bee-keepers ; although it 

 Eias seemed that the same might have 

 been accomplished in less time. 



Mr. Buchanan, the Chief of the Agri- 

 cultural Department, has done, and will 

 do, all he can to aid us, and by his invi- 

 tation I have twice been to Chicago to 

 consult with him and Mr. Newman in 

 regard to the Apiarian Exhibit, and on 

 Thursday, May 19, the plan was 

 mapped out and mutually agreed upon. 



Several of our fraternity have urged 

 the appointment of a Superintendent for 

 our department, but as yet no appoint- 

 ment lias been made, and the same is 

 true of the other departments, and none 

 will be made at present in any depart- 

 ment. I believe Mr. Buchanan will 

 look after our interests the same as he 

 does after that of the other departments 

 over which he is chief. In the mean- 

 time, let all who desire information that 

 they do not get from the bee-periodicals, 

 address " W. I. Buchanan, Chicago, Ills., 

 Chief of Department of Agriculture, 

 World's Columbian Exposition." 



The plan outlined is for all honey and 

 beeswax to be exhibited in glass cases, 

 which are to be 5 feet wide and 6 feet 

 high above the platform on which tlie 

 cases rest, the platform being 18 inches 

 high. 



The exhibit will be by States, each 

 State occupying as much of the cases in 

 length as may bo needed, all the exhibits 

 being grouped in one locality. 



Mr. Buchanan will submit the plan to 

 the commissioners of the different States, 



and ask them to put the preparing and 

 making the exhibit in the hands of their 

 respective State bee-keepers' societies, 

 and I would like to URGE upon the 

 State bee-keepers' societies the import- 

 tance of at once putting themselves in 

 communication with their State commis- 

 sioners, either by correspondence or by 

 personally meeting with them when in 

 session, and ask them for instructions. 



Of course It is expected that the com- 

 missioners will provide for and pay all 

 expenses ; and it seems to me that unless 

 the commissioners are made to under- 

 stand the needs of our specialty better 

 than do those of Wisconsin (that ap- 

 propriated $500 for their apiarian ex- 

 hibit), that bee-keepers will not make 

 much of a display of the products of the 

 apiary. Not many will furnish honey 

 or wax and pay all expenses, for glory 

 alone, and not many will feel inclined to 

 do the work of getting things together 

 and putting them in shape and place 

 "just for the fun of the thing." 



It is not intended to see how large or 

 much of a display can be made by each 

 State, but to make as fine a representa- 

 tive display in as small a space as possi- 

 ble ; so let those having charge of pre- 

 paring the exhibits have as much of a 

 variety as possible, and have everything 

 of the very best representative qualities, 

 and put in the best and most attractive 

 shape. 



Every package will have to be labeled 

 with the owner's name, address, and 

 kind of honey. Application for space 

 will be made through those having 

 charge of the different State exhibits. 

 If this is not made plainer by what 

 Chief Buchanan may publish, I will ex- 

 plain more fully in a future article. 



What I said in an essay read at the 

 meeting of the Michigan State Bee- 

 Keepers' Society at Detroit in January, 

 1891, has met with the (so far as ex- 

 pressed) universal approval of bee- 

 keepers. 



No premiums will be paid for exhibits 

 by the Exposition, unless in Medals or 

 Diplomas, so that the expense will have 

 to be provided by the State Commis- 

 sioners. 



I shall bo glad to answer any inquiries 

 that may be made of me, either by letter 

 or through the bee-papers, and if an 

 answer by letter is desired, I shall not 

 refuse to use " stamp enclosed for 

 reply.'" I don't get stamps at reduced 

 rates because I have charge of a post- 

 office. A. B. Mason. 

 Auburndale, Ohio, May 27, 1892. 



