(i I. K A N r N G S IN B K E C U Ij T U R E 



NOVKMBKR, 1920 



H EADS OF GRAirr^ QMlO TDIFFERENT FIELDS 



Best Time An exhibit of beekeep- 



for Organizing ers' products and sup- 

 Counties, plies at a fair is no re- 

 markable event, but the 

 outstanding feature here was the difference 

 between this year's display which filled a 

 good-sized booth and held the interest thru- 

 out the week (Sept. 13 to 17), and the dis- 

 play of only a small showing of honey and 

 .sup])lies in previous years. This gain is 

 due to the bcekeei)ers' county organization, 

 which is a little less than a year old. From 

 an exhibit of only two oi- three entries in 

 the past it jumped this year to about a 

 dozen entries, and the competition was very 

 keen and interesting. 



The large exhibit was a surprise to the 

 Fair association, and therefore it was not 

 prepared to give us judges who were ex- 

 perienced in judging honey in the most ap- 

 proved and up-to-date methods; but I doubt 

 if any method used, from laboratory tests 

 to judging from taste and color, could have 

 been other than confusing to the best of 

 judges, as out of nine entries in light spring- 

 extracted honey, no difference could be dis- 

 tinguished in color and flavor. Eight here 

 I want to toll you how the first and second 

 prizes were awai'ded. The judges, after 

 several trials at tasting and comparison of 

 color, were very much confused as to where 

 to place the awards, when at this moment 

 a fly, aligliting on a small quantity of 



honey poured out on paper from each jar 

 of honey, insisted on alighting on the same 

 drop of honey after several attempts at 

 driving it away. This recalled to mind the 

 story of the wisdom of Solomon and the 

 test placed before him by the Queen of 

 Sheba; so the judges agreed to give the 

 first award to the entry of this particular 

 jar of honey, and the second prize to the 

 honey on which the fly next alighted. This 

 way of awarding the premiums, while a 

 little out of the ordinary, was nevertheless 

 satisfactory to all concerned. Our associ- 

 ation having been organized last fall after 

 most of the orders for spring supplies had 

 been placed, we thought it useless to try 

 collective buying until this fall; but, after 

 sending out to all the members a letter 

 giving a price list and about the amount 

 of discount they could expect, we placed 

 over - a - thousand - dollar order, and saved 

 two hundred dollars for our members. 



In just one year's time, the advertising 

 we have received, thru the daily paper in 

 the way of write - ups regarding county 

 meetings ahd field demonstrations by the 

 State Apiarist, and now the big Fair ex- 

 hibit have started people in this locality 

 to talking honey, and the result can be 

 nothing but a benefit to all concerned. "A 

 word to the wise is sufficient, ' ' to wit, 

 if you have no county organization, now is 

 the best time to start one. 



Marshalltown, Iowa. N. A. Talbot. 



A liuncy e.xliiliil tliat lielped bee keeping in Murshall I'oiuiiy, I; 



