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FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



He claims that he has as much right to employ his time and 

 spend his money in the enjoyment of his peculiar fancy, as 

 others have in theirs. Of course, this claim cannot he 

 questioned, so long as he does not interfere with the rights 

 of others. 



I confess that I have my fancy, but it is not for lawsuits, 

 nor for dogs nor rabbits, and not much for poultry, although 

 I take considerable pleasure in feeding and admiring, and 

 especially in eating my Light Brabmas. My fancy is for 

 bees, and I suppose I am about as wild on this subject as 

 others are on dogs, and rabbits, and pigeons, or even as my 

 Hoosier friend is on lawsuits. I confess that I have "bee 

 on the brain," and have had it for some years, and do not 

 realize any strong symptoms of the abatement of the disease. 

 As the Fanciers' Journal is projected as a medium for the 

 interchange of the views of fanciers upon their favorite 

 themes, I have consented to contribute an occasional article 

 upon what I consider the most fascinating as well as the 

 most profitable of all pastimes — Bee-keeping. 



I may be a little too enthusiastic upon this subject ; but 

 after several years of study and practical experience in the 

 apiary, I am convinced that the honey-bee, in its natural 

 history, its habits and instincts, and, I may almost say, in 

 its reasoning faculties, is the most wonderful and mysterious 

 being below man. 



When the bee was first domesticated is not known. We 

 read of it away back in the early history of the Israelites, 

 where their "promised land" was described as "flowing 

 with milk and honey;" where its rich stores abounded in 

 the rocks and caves of their mountains, and was even found 

 within the carcasses of their wild beasts. It was known 

 and prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and attracted 

 the attention and furnished themes for the pens of their 

 poets and philosophers. 



But it was not until within the last quarter of a century, 

 that apiculture was reduced to what might be called a 

 science. The invention and introduction to the public of 

 the movable frame-hive, forms the great epoch between an- 

 cient and modern bee-keeping. Before this the internal 

 workings of the hive were wrapt in almost impenetrable 

 mystery ; but now the bee-keeper can and should be as 

 familiar with the nature, and instincts, and habits of his 

 bees, as with those of his most domesticated animals. 



I presume that many of the readers of the Journal are 

 proficients in apiculture ; but, for the benefit of those who 

 have not made it a study, I shall, in my proposed articles, 

 endeavor to give such information as will enable the inex- 

 perienced to keep bees with pleasure and with profit. 



Hoosier B. Lover. 



Editor Fanciers' Journal. 



Dear Sir : A friend of mine has a hen of the " common 

 breed" that two days in each week lays a very large egg. 

 One that I now have on exhibition at my store, laid this 

 week, measures 8} inches in circumference the long way, 

 and 6^ inches the short way. On the alternate days she 

 sometimes lays an egg somewhat smaller — the smallest mea- 

 suring 1\ by 5} inches. Who beats? 



Tours truly, 



J. F. Ferris. 



gg^* John A. Lord, Kennebunk, Maine, won two silver 

 cups, three specials, and eight Society premiums at the late 

 Maine State Poultry Show. 



BUFFALO SHOW. 



Churchman's S100 Gold Prize for best D. B. Hen. 

 As it was generally expected by the Dark Brahma fan- 

 ciers, that the clause in the Premium List would be inforced, 

 requiring all fowls entered for this prize to be between the 

 age of twenty and twenty-four months, only four entries 

 were made: one by Wm. H. Churchman, Claymont, Del. ; 

 one by Chas. A. Sweet, Buffalo, N. T.; and two by D. W. 

 Herstine, of Philadelphia. 



Entry No. Points. Judge. 



725, owned by W.H. Churchman. 93 J. K. Felch. 



89 P. W. Hudson. 

 94 P. Williams. 

 598, owned by Charles A. Sweet. 95£ J. K. Felch. 



97 P. W. Hudson. 

 94 P. Williams. 



1053, owned by D. W. Herstine. 91J J. K. Felch. 



81 P. W. Hudson. 

 74 P. Williams. 



1054, owned by D. W. Herstine, 91 J. K. Felch. 



83 P. W. Hudson. 



74 P. Williams. 

 The decision was arrived at by adding the points together, 

 as given by the three judges, and dividing by three, showing 

 that the prize was taken by Chas. A. Sweet, of Buffalo, N. Y. 

 We believe this to be the largest prize on record. Besides 

 the $100 in gold, Mr. Sweet also takes the other three hens 

 which were entered for this prize, the poorest of which must 

 be worth, at least, $50. 



CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITIONS IN 1874. 



1. Grand Show of Pigeons, by the members of the Peris- 

 teronic Society, Second Tuesday in January. 



2. Cage Bird Show, February 14th to 19th. 



3. Mule and Donkey Show, April 28th to 30th. 



4. Spring Flower Show, May 16th. 



5. Dog Show, June 9th to 12th. 



6. Great Pose Show, June 20th. 



7. Autumn Fruit and Flower Show, Sept. 8th to 10th. 



8. Cat Show, Sept. 26th to 29th. 



9. Poultry Show, November 16th to 19th. 



NATIONAL C0LUMBARIAN SOCIETY. 



The first annual meeting took place at the rooms of the 

 Society on January 14th. 



The reports of the officers show the Society to be in a 



very flourishing condition. The committee on nominations 



reported the following list of officers for 1874, which, on 



being balloted for, were unanimously elected: 



president, 



Wm. Simpson, Jr., of West Farms, New York. 



vice-presidents. 



Maine John W. Harris, . . Eastport. 



New Hampshire, . V. G. Gilman, . . . Nashua. 

 Massachusetts, . . Philander Williams, Taunton. 

 Rhode Island, . . J. F. Peckham, . . . Providence. 

 Connecticut, . . . E. P. Tiffany, . . . Hartford. 

 New York, . . . Andrew Scheld, . . Brooklyn. 



Canada, . . . . R. Heap, Lauzon. 



Pennsylvania, . . Jos. R. Carpenter, . Philadelphia. 

 Delaware, . . . Wm. H. Churchman, . Wilmington. 

 Maryland, . . . Thos. S. Gaddess, . . Baltimore. 

 District Columbia, E. S. Miller, . . . Washington. 



Ohio, J. C. Long, Jr.,. . . Ravenna. 



Florida, . . . . J. H. Fry Pilatka. 



California, . . . T. E. Finley, . . . San Francisco. 



