254 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



in their separate spheres of action, are 

 subject, in a greater or less degree, to 

 climatic control. Therefore, if bees dur- 

 ing the hibernal period, are supplied 

 with the requisites of a comfortable re- 

 pose, the needs of their natures are met, 

 and nothing else is necessary to accom- 

 plish the designs of nature during that 

 special period of their existence. During 

 the Winter repose, there is no percepti- 

 ble depreciation of vitality in a normal 

 organism. Bees will exercise their in- 

 stinctive functions as vigorously in early 

 Spring as during mid-summer. 

 Cumberland, Me., Jan. 14, 1891. 



Ailyantaps Derived froni Honey ExWIilts 



R. M'KNIGHT. 



Industrial exhibitions are among the 

 institutions which have come to the 

 front during the last half of the nine- 

 teenth century. Many of them are cos- 

 mopolitan in their patronage and char- 

 acter. People from the remote corners 

 of the earth, as well as those from the 

 most enlightened nations, contribute to 

 their displays, and make them huge ob- 

 ject lessons upon which all may gaze, 

 and from which much may be learned. 



Each department of a general exhibit 

 is specially instructive to him whose 

 interest is centered in it. While the 

 general information of all is enlarged by 

 the contemplation of a full display of 

 the products of the field, the forest, and 

 the workshop. 



The prime object of all such exhibi- 

 tions, is to educate, to advertise, and to 

 excite to greater excellence by emula- 

 tion. All of which results flow from 

 public displays of honey. These advan- 

 tages are not confined to the simple on- 

 looker, but are realized in a higher sense 

 by those who make them. 



Let us glance for a moment at the 

 educational effects of honey shows upon 

 those who make them, and their advan- 

 tages to bee-keepers generally. 



The exhibitor, having prepared his 

 goods with all the skill and care at his 

 command (a work which, in itself, is a 

 course of self-improvement), has it con- 

 veyed to the place of exhibition, and in 

 so doing learns a lesson on the best 

 method of transporting it. 



Having set it up, according to his pre- 

 conceived ideas of what is best, it stands 

 forth in its outlines, proportions and de- 

 sign, his ideal materialized. But it is 

 not perfect, for he now sees in the work 

 of his fancy, and the labor of his hands, 



defects here, and mistakes there which 

 it is too late to remedy, but which he can 

 and will correct in the next. So he 

 profits by his mistakes, and takes 

 another step towards perfection. 



Each exhibit we make should be an 

 improvement in its general features upon 

 those previously made — not, necessarily, 

 in the quality of the honey itself (for 

 good honey is not susceptible of much 

 improvement), but in that which en- 

 hances its appearance. Defects in style, 

 finish and quality, of bottle, tin and 

 case, will be noted, and subsequently 

 corrected, if we hope to keep pace with 

 the times. 



Thus we learn practical lessons, and 

 go on perfecting ourselves in the art of 

 display. 



By exhibiting, we become self-instruct- 

 ors. Exhibiting will emphatically teach 

 a man the value of appearances. " The 

 feathers make the fowl " is a- trite and 

 true saying. An otherwise beautiful 

 woman is greatly discounted by being 

 clothed in a frowsy frock. Good honey 

 is no less disparaged when put up in ill- 

 conditioned packages. 



If our exhibit is devoid of taste, we 

 are apprised of the fact by looking upon 

 the neatness of our neighbor's display, 

 and our scrutiny will be all the more 

 keen from being brought into competi- 

 tion with him. If we fail to learn a les- 

 son here, we do not know how to learn. 

 We will assuredly realize the cost of in- 

 difference to appearance so soon as the 

 judges have completed their work ; for 

 judges, like other mortals, are uncon- 

 sciously biased in favor of beauty — ex- 

 ternal though it be. 



The man who has once set up a public 

 display of the products of his apiary and 

 failed to teach himself something there- 

 by, has demonstrated the fact of his own 

 obtuseness, and should retire from the 

 ranks of competitors. 



As a rule, exhibitors are among the 

 most advanced, practical bee-keepers, 

 and their combined displays will give 

 practical hints, and afford food for 

 thought, to non-exhibitors among the 

 fraternity. The combined experience of 

 the former stand out before the latter in 

 the exhibition, and if they leave the 

 ground without carrying away with 

 them something they may profit by, they 

 must have attained an enviable degree 

 of perfection in much that pertains to 

 their business. I venture to say that 

 every bee-keeper who is anxious to 

 familiarize himself with the best methods 

 of putting up honey for the market, 

 will, by a careful inspection of a good 

 honey show, see something to commend 



