THE. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



553 



some thousands of years ago. Virgil 

 tells in his pastorals, that there were 

 two distinct races of bees there in his 

 time (that was in the time of Julius 

 Cffisar), and that the yellow race was 

 the best thought of ; but as the black 

 bee is a native of Europe, it results 

 that the black blood in the Italian bee 

 preponderates— there is more of it than 

 tliere is of the Egyptian blood, hence, 

 they are gentle, and the addition of a 

 little more black blood makes them 

 all black, as we have many times 

 learned to our cost. I judge that the 

 Syrian, Holy Land and Cyprian bee 

 were originallv produced by a cross 

 between the black bee of Europe and 

 the Egyptian, but in their case, I take 

 it, tliat the Egyptian blood predomi- 

 nates; the queens are small, they are 

 very light in color, and their disposi- 

 tion, in many cases, resembles the 

 Egyptian more tiiau any other race. 

 In fact, 1 am perfectly satislied that 

 is Just where tliey obtained it. 

 Binghamton, N. Y. 



For the Ameiicuii Bee Juurnal. 



Caledonian Apiariau Society. 



This Society held its ninth exhibi- 

 tion in connection with the Iliglihuul 

 Agricultural Society's Sliow, in the 

 King's Park, Glasgow Green. It oc- 

 cupied two large marquees in the 

 south-west corner of the yard. 



Every exhibition seems to be ad- 

 vancing always on tlie precediug one, 

 botli as regards the number of entries 

 and the quality and quantity of the 

 hives, bee furniture, etc. The entries 

 numbered upward of 100, exactly 

 double that of last year, when tlie 

 show was held in Stirling. Not only 

 did the entries show an excess in 

 number, but tlie quality of tlie exliibits 

 were of such a character as to denote 

 the distinct advances beiug made in 

 the science of apiculture. A few of 

 the sections and supers on exhibition 

 were under the prescribed weight, 

 which suggested the fact that tlie sea- 

 son has not been favorable for the 

 production of lioney. 



I'assing into the largest marquee, 

 we liud the centre ef attraction to be 

 in the observatory hives, wliicli were 

 placed along the north side of the 

 tent. As the greatest interest was 

 manifested in this class, I shall give a 

 brief account of it: 



In this department there was a keen 

 competition, the first prize falling 

 deservedly to Mr. D. Wood, Benmore 

 via Greenock, wliose hive was notice- 

 able both for its ingenuity and beauty. 

 It consisted of four frames double- 

 hinged, folded together and set at 

 proper distances, so ttiat tliere is no 

 possibility of bee-crushing. When 

 folded together it occupies 11x17x24 

 inches in height; when expanded it 

 is 2 ft. 7 inclies, into the sluipe of a W, 

 so that the eye sees everything that is 



going on. All the necessary opera- 

 tions can be done by drawing the ends 

 and top. The glass doors and top at 

 eacii side are made to fold, when open 

 to form the sides and top. The frames 

 atttched to tlie end, wliicli wtien drawn 

 out exposed them fully 14 inches. It 

 is made to revolve on a foundation 

 which is so arranged that no single bee 

 can be crushed. It will at once be 

 seen, when closed, the bees are in a 

 perfectly natural condition for all the 

 operations of bee life, without loss of 

 heat or inconvenience. 



In addition to the above, it is so ar- 

 ranged that a crate of sections can be 

 put oil the top, in which tlie bees en- 

 ter most readily. The excluder zinc 

 is so arranged that the queen cannot 

 ascend the sujier, which presents a 

 very pleasing apiiearance. In short, 

 this is a hive which meets the condi- 

 tions laid down by the Society, being 

 a perfect hive fcu-' both summer and 

 winter use, and having all combs visi- 

 ble on both sides. 



Mr. James Johnstone, of Touch via 

 Stirling, came second with a very nice 

 hive, which has seven bars in number. 

 These were of the Woodbury size, ar- 

 ranged in n row, and standing parallel 

 to each other. These, working on a 

 pivot, opened out like the leaves of a 

 book, while the bees found their w.ay 

 to the main channel down the centre 

 of the pivot. 



Mv. Wood also exhibited anotlier 

 two leaved hive, which had six frames. 

 It was well stocked, and also a great 

 source of attraction. 



Mr. Johnstone gained the first prize 

 for tne best colony of British bees, 

 which he exhibited in a six-bar Wood- 

 bury hive, which was well stocked. 

 In it the frames were arranged in two 

 perpendicular rows, showing artificial 

 comb foundation in the various stages 

 of extension up to the complete cell. 



Mr. Young, of Perth, came second, 

 with one almost exactly the same, 

 which was also well stocked. 



Mr. Sword, of Falkirk, came third, 

 which were exhibited in a single leaved 

 hive, and contained four frames. This 

 was also well stocked. 



These were entries for the best 

 colony of foreign liees, but as none of 

 them were perfectly pure, the judges 

 made no awards. 



In the class for hives, the competi- 

 tion was very keen : they were all of a 

 superior kind, both as to workmanship 

 and design, the bar-frames making a 

 splendid clisplay by themselves. For 

 the best collection of liives, bee furni- 

 ture, etc., Mr. Young gained first 

 prize, Mr. Steele, of Dundee', coming 

 second. Both exhibited very inter- 

 esting collections of everyihing con- 

 nected witli apiculture, even from a 

 needle to an anchor. There was also 

 a good display of various sized supers, 

 comb foundation and samples of wax. 

 In the honev classes the quality shown 

 was of high'merit. For the best super 

 above 20 lbs., Mr. Anderson, of Ste- 

 venson, carried off the first prize, 

 while Mr. Crawford, of Arran, came 

 second. Both looked remarkably 

 well, so much so, that both were 

 bought immediately after the judging. 



All the otiier classes, which were 

 glasses and small supers, were well 



competed for. Mr Sword gained the- 

 first prize for tlie best exhibition of 

 extracted honey in two pound glasses, 

 while Mr. Templeton took first prize 

 for the best comb honey in small 

 sections. 



Mr. Sword was awarded first prize,, 

 and Mr. Scott second prize for the 

 best honey cakes, which were "very 

 tasty." 



Mr. Young was awarded 3 prizes of 

 merit for various honey extractors- 

 which he exhibited, proving a good 

 source of attraction. 



Mr. Wood gained first prize for his 

 fine display of honey producing plants, 

 exhibited in a dried state. 



Passing out of this tent we find our- 

 selves enclosed in a smaller canvas, 

 one (which has been several times- 

 illustrated in the Bee Journal), and 

 which was the scene of great interest 

 during the show. Manipulating was 

 carried mi daily, while the public were 

 protected by a "gauze-screen. Driving 

 bees from a straw skep and trans- 

 ferring their combs and bees to a bar- 

 frame hive, were performed at inter- 

 vals during the day and never failed 

 to astonish the many visitors, who 

 seemed amazed at the easy manner in 

 which the bee master could handle 

 them, like flies. 



The following gentlemen acted as- 

 judges: Mr. Cowan, Horsham near 

 London ; Mr. Wilkie Gourock, Mr. 

 Patterson Struan, and Mr. Garvie 

 Bridge, of Earnwhile. Bailie Laugh- 

 land, of Kilmarnock, acted as Umpire. 



The weather throughout was very 

 wet with the exception of the last day 

 (Friday), otherwise the show was a 

 great success. 



John D. Hutchison, Sec. 



The National Convention. 



The Xortli American Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Society will hold their 13th an- 

 nual meeting at Washington Park 

 Hall. Cincinnati, O., across Washing- 

 ton Park from the Exposition build- 

 ing. Time, Oct. 3rd to oth, 1882. 

 First session Tuesday, 10 a. m., Oct. 

 3. We are encouraged to hope that 

 this will be a very profitable meeting, 

 as we are promised papers from, and 

 the presence of, a large number of 

 our most prominent bee-keepers both 

 in the United States and Canada, and 

 essays and implements of the apiary 

 are expected from abroad to add to- 

 the knowledge imparted by the re- 

 search and inventive skill and meth- 

 ods of our countrymen. 



Ehkick Parjily, Sec. 



NewYork, July 12, 1882. 



i^The Central Micliigan Bee- 

 Keepers' Association will meet Sept. 

 ioth, at Lansing, in the Capitol Build- 

 ing. We call the meeting- two weeks, 

 before the Annual Fair of the Central 

 Michigan Agricultural Society meets, 

 for the purpose of making the final 

 arrangements for a large exhibit of 

 bees, honey and apiarian supplies. A 

 cordial invitation is extended to bee- 

 keepers everywhere. The meeting 

 will be of especial interest, and a large 

 attendance is expected. 



E. N. Wood, Sec. 



