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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



the scientists suppose, which they prac- 

 tice in killing their specimens for scien- 

 tific research. 



Having killed the bee, pick it up by 

 the wings, when you will take it by the 

 thorax with the left hand, and with the 

 point of the blade of your jack-nife pull 

 off the horny scales of the abdomen by 

 slipping it under them and placing the 

 thumb above. When the honey-sac is 

 secured, it is easy to tell what it con- 

 tains, by the taste. 



Don't undertand that I go around 

 killing and dissecting bees all the time 

 during the summer months in this way, 

 for only five or six are killed in a season 

 to guide me in my observations, for I 

 always think it is very cruel to kill any- 

 thing, only as something of importance 

 is to be gained. 



From the above I think the corres- 

 pondent, or any one, can tell when the 

 bees are at work, and when they are at 

 play. All should practice these outside 

 observations, along the many lines that 

 are offered us, for often by them we can 

 learn when and what needs doing ; when 

 different plants are in bloom, etc. 



When we see brood outside on the 

 alighting-board, we know that bees are 

 troubled with moth-worms, or are starv- 

 ing, in which case they need our assist- 

 ance. When we see many round cap- 

 pings on the alighting-board, we can 

 know that drones are hatching ; or, if 

 only one or two, and these thick and 

 dark colored, we can know that young 

 queens are hatching. 



If the bees are entering the hive cov- 

 ered with yellow dust, we can know that 

 they are working on selandine or pump- 

 kin ; and, if a white dust, then on teasel, 

 in this locality. And so, by observation 

 and practice, the bee-keeper can take in 

 many things at a glance. 



Borodino, N. Y. 



Apiarian Display and Premiums 

 at St. Joseph, Mo., Fair. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY REV. E. T. ABBOTT. 



The Fair closed on Saturday, Sept. 

 17th, very auspiciously. The weather 

 throughout the week was all that could 

 be asked, and the crowd was immense — 

 56,000 people went through the gates 

 on Thursday. 



The display in the apiarian depart- 

 ment was in every way creditable, con- 

 sidering the season, and was a success. 

 The premiums were liberal, and the 



Association paid the exhibitors in this 

 department about $300 in premiums. 



There were two attractive displays of 

 comb honey. Messrs. Kimball & Large, 

 of De Witt, Iowa, were awarded the 

 first premium, and Miss Mary Poteet, of 

 St. Joseph, the second. 



There were three displays of extracted 

 honey, all of which were neatly arranged 

 and attracted much attention. Kimball 

 & Large carried off the first, and the St. 

 Joseph Apiary Co. the second prize. 



There were two displays of apicultural 

 literature, the St. Joseph Apiary Co. re- 

 ceived the first, and Miss Poteet the sec- 

 ond premium. 



The St. Joseph Apiary Co. took first 

 on the best display of apiarian imple- 

 ments, and Kimball & Large the second. 



There were three entries for the best 

 crate of 500 sections, but owing to an 

 error in entering them, one was ruled 

 out. G. B. Lewis & Co. received first 

 prize, and A. I. Root second. 



There were four entries for the best 

 all-purpose hive — the Root dovetailed 

 hive, a dovetailed chaff-hive, the im- 

 proved Langstroih Simplicity, and the 

 " St. Joe" hive. The first premium was 

 awarded to the St. Joseph Apiary Co. on 

 their "St. Joe" hive, and the second to 

 Kimball & Large, on a dovetailed chaff- 

 hive. 



There were a number of entries on 

 bees, queens, comb foundation, section 

 presses, smokers, etc., all of which were 

 awarded liberal premiums. 



The Fair, as a whole, was a success, 

 and the Fair Board deserve the thanks 

 of the bee-keepers for the liberal en- 

 couragement they gave this industry. 

 This was the first Fair for most of the 

 Board, and some things did not work 

 very smoothly at the opening, but it is 

 to be hoped that they have learned by 

 experience, and that next year all of 

 this friction will be avoided. 



Long live the apiarian department of 

 the St. Joseph Fair Association ! 



St. Joseph, Mo. 



What Variety of Buckwheat is 

 Best for Honey? 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY D. J. JOHNSON. 



What kinds of buckwheat yield the 

 most honey ? is a question well worth 

 considering for bee-keepers. I believe 

 the favor is with the Japanese for yield- 

 ing the most honey. I have experimented 

 four years in succession with four kinds, 



