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Display of Bee Furniture. 



We have received a copy of the Lex- 

 ington, Ky., Daily Transcript; contain- 

 ing the following notice of the exhibit 

 made by Williamson & Brother at the 

 Fair: 



The fine display of bee-keepers' sup- 

 plies made by Williamson & Bro., of 

 this city, on which they took the pre- 

 mium, deserves special notice. Per- 

 haps no display in Floral Hall attracted 

 more attention, and was less understood 

 by the majority of visitors. Even a 

 great many bee-keepers do not know 

 the innumerable number of imple- 

 ments used in the successful manage- 

 ment of the apiary, sucn as bee-veils, 

 queen-cages, honey extractors and 

 knives, comb foundation, section 

 frames, bee feeders, bee smokers, rub- 

 ber gloves, honey jars, &c. of different 

 makes and styles of the above articles 

 to suit the fancy of all. 



Their beautiful display of honey was 

 greatly admired. 



The greatest novelty in their display 

 is perhaps the Queen Hatching Nur- 

 sery for raising queen bees by steam. 

 It is a square box, with an inside tin 

 box with double walls, and a space be- 

 tween all around, in which is placed 

 water heated by lamps below. The 

 thermometer is kept at about 100° Fah- 

 renheit. The queens can be seen 

 emerging from their cells, which resem- 

 ble a peanut. 



Their observation hive of Italian bees 

 were admired above all else in their 

 display ; probably because every bo .y 

 knows they " improve each shining 

 hour," and moment, too, when in a 

 stinging mood. 



They have also in their display all 

 kinds of bee literature, and it seems to 

 us that such displays cannot receive too 

 much encouragement at the hands of 

 the Association. We hope to see this 

 branch of industry encouraged. 



The Fair Directors say that the lively 

 interest displayed in this exhibit, and 

 the attraction that it proved to be, will 

 warrant them to offer larger premiums 

 next year. Keep the ball rolling ! 



1^° James Mclntyre, London, Ont., 

 writes : It has been said a bee-hive is 

 the poorest thing in the world to fall 

 back on. Let no one believe it; for 

 there is nothing in the world that will 

 raise you up again so quickly ! 



Is it a Superior Strain of Bees ? 



Mr. Otis Ames, Fort Fairfield, Maine, 

 writes as follows : 



I had but 1 colony of Italians and 

 that one cast a swarm on June 10th, a 

 second on June 16th, a third on June 

 18th, and a fourth on June 20th, making 

 4 in 10 days ; they were put in Gallup 

 hives containing 1,900 cubic inches; 

 they have all built up and gathered 88 

 lbs. of comb honey ; the fourth produced 

 12 lbs. The first swarm that came out 

 on June 10th, cast a swarm July 18th, 

 and second July 31st, and they have 

 each filled their hives of same size as 

 the others. They have a plenty to win- 

 ter on. The parent colony, after swarm 

 ing four times, produced 48 lbs. of comb 

 honey, which is 130 lbs. from 1 colony 

 and its increase of 6, so that I now have 

 seven. 



If any of the readers of the Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal can beat that, this 

 season, I should be pleased to hear from 

 them. Now, Mr. Editor, is that an 

 every day occurrence for Italians, or are 

 mine an extra strain of Italian bees? 

 I never had them before and I do not 

 know what they will do on an average. 



This has been rather a poor season 

 here, not more than % a crop. I put 

 out 57 colonies last spring, 10 weak and 

 the rest in fair condition. I have 2,000 

 lbs. of comb honey, which is about 35 

 lbs. on an average, per colony. In the 

 year 1870, my average per colony was 

 60 lbs. I have increased to 89 colonies 

 by natural swarming this year. 



[Such a report as the above, in a poor 

 season, is quite refreshing. This is 

 another proof of superiority for the 

 Italian race. 



i^Just at the hour of going to press, 

 we have received the minutes of a very 

 interesting meeting of the Northwest- 

 ern (Mo.) Bee-Keepers' Association, 

 and a copy of the St. Joseph Democrat, 

 containing a lengthy editorial notice of 

 the same. R. S. Musser, Secretary, 

 writes : " The American Bee Jour- 

 nal was awarded the premium at our 

 Exposition tor the 'Best Bee Journal.' " 

 The Association adjourned to meet in 

 St. Joseph, Mo., on the 13th inst., at the 

 Court House. All interested in bee- 

 keeping are cordially invited to attend, 

 as there will be many questions of im- 

 portance brought up for discussion. 



