GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



August, 1921 



age. The Fair stood all such losses, how- 

 ever. The second year was better, as pack- 

 ing instructions were followed, resulting in 

 less breakage. 



Last year the Fair bought the honey out- 

 right from the beekeeper, at a price pre- 

 viously agreed on. Quotations were asked 

 for from all interested and the honey was 

 bought at the price quoted. It could have been 

 bought cheaper; but we wanted the exhib- 

 itor satisfied, and we wanted the best he 

 had. No one was prevented from sending 

 honey, however, for which he would be paid, 

 and his name would be printed in the list 

 that was given out during the Fair. As 

 stated there were 10,000 pounds of honey on 

 <lisplay, all arranged along one side of the 

 building. An entire building has been used 

 each year for the nuitual display, while be- 

 fore we had only a part of the building. On 

 the opposite side were four colonies of bees 

 in glass hives, connected with the outdoors 

 by two-inch gas pipes, the bees working 

 thru these during the Fair. They put up a 

 much better appearance when so connected, 

 because they were natural and were not 

 running around in the hives. These hives 

 were all glass, there being no wood or metal 

 corners to obstruct the view. 



Handling Live Bees. 



In addition to these four hives, was one 

 other colony in a regular ten-frame hive, in 

 a large screen enclosure. At a certain time 

 each day this hive was opened, the frames 

 covered with bees were taken out, and a 

 brief lecture on the production of honey 

 was given. No attempt was made to make 

 this demonstration spectacular. In fact, the 

 opposite was tried. It was only to show the 

 everyday workings of the beekeeper. Two 

 exhibitors of bee supplies were there show- 

 ing a full line. Both, I believe, have ar- 

 ranged to be present again this year, with, 

 in one case at least, doubled space. Their 

 displays were certainly a gathering place 

 for beekeepers and others. 



The Michigan Agricultural College has 

 been represented at each of the three mutual 

 exhibits. Last year samples of honey from 

 different sources, honey vinegar, samples of 



foul brood, and many placards telling about 

 bees and honey were shown. A representa- 

 tive was in charge during the Fair, and he 

 was kept busy explaining and answering 

 questions. 



A Commercial and Educational Exhibit. 



Summed up, the exhibit as now conducted 

 is far ahead of the old competitive plan. 

 There is no question now as to whether 

 there will be an exhibit. Before we never 

 knew until the Fair started what we would 

 have. Then it was a mixture of each indi- 

 dividual 's ideas. Today it is uniform. Every 

 pound glass jar looks like every other pound 

 glass jar. The labels are all alike. Last 

 year five packages were used: the 5-ouncc 

 jelly, the 8-ounce glass jar, the 1-pound glass 

 jar, the 5-pound tin pail, and the 10-pound 

 tin pail. Labels read, "Prize Honey, put 

 up for the 1920 Michigan State Fair by 

 members of the Michigan State Beekeepers ' 

 Association." There was no address. Of 

 course, the weight was also put on. 



This year, the same general plan will be 

 used. The honey will be bought outright. 

 The State Fair will furnish the packages 

 and labels. They will be shipped to the 

 beekeepers for filling. About the same 

 quantity will be secured. The Fair will own 

 its own bees, however, as it now has four 

 colonies on the grounds working. The honey 

 will be sold at retail, as hundreds of people 

 are now depending on the State Fair for 

 their supply of honey. It advertises Michi- 

 gan honey, and gets people eating honey 

 who would not otherwise do so. And re- 

 member that we are pushing the large pack- 

 age — the 5 and 10 lb. pail. We can put up 

 any-sized display we want on the present 

 plan, and, last but not least, we can plan 

 the display in advance. 



I am frank to say that these .results 

 could not have been accomplished without 

 the splendid co-operation given the bee- 

 keepers by the secretary and manager of 

 the Michigan State Fair, George W. Dickin- 

 son. You will have a hard time making a 

 good bee department unless the manager of 

 the fair is with you. 



Detroit, Mich. 



Honey display at the Wichita "Wheat Show, Wichita, Kansas. Note the appearance of large quantities of 



honey. 



