ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 153 



read: "Honey Lemonade: Most Delicious Drink on the Grounds; 

 Only Five Cents a Glass." I have sold as high as $20 worth of this 

 in one hot afternoon, and the profits are at least three-fourths. Such 

 exhibitions and sales certainly do the pursuit of bee-keeping no 

 harm, while they bring a profit to the exhibitor. 



Neither ought the social feature to be overlooked. Every bee- 

 keeper attending the fair hunts up the "Bee and Honey Depart- 

 ment," and only one who has been at an exhibition knows of the 

 many new acquaintances thus formed, and the old ones that are re- 

 newed. It is well to have one day set apart as "Bee-Keepers' Day," 

 giving the date in advance in all of the bee journals, then all bee- 

 keepers will be present on the same day. When possible to do so, 

 it is an excellent plan for two, or three, or more, exhibitors to club 

 together and take a tent, or a portable house, each bringing his share 

 of bedding, provisions and utensils, and live a la picnic during the 

 fair. Some of the happiest hours of my life have been spent in going 

 through just such experiences with boon companions. 



I doubt very much if the exhibition of bees at fairs is any great 

 advantage to the pursuit. The most that can be said in its favor is 

 that they attract attention. There is certainly no necessity of ex- 

 hibiting full colonies, unless it might be at some permanent exhibi- 

 tion that is to last several months, when the bees can be allowed to 

 fly, a la house apiary, provided the apiarian department is on the 

 second floor. A single-comb nucleus with a queen and a few drones 

 and workers, together with Tsrood in different stages of development, 

 can be made to show more that is really interesting than can be 

 shown with a full colony. 



Of course it is impossible to goon and cover, in detail, all the 

 points in regard to planning and putting up an apiarian display, as 

 circumstances vary greatly, but here are a few hints: Extracted 

 honey should be shown in glass. Not common green glass, but in 

 white, flint glass. Have tin foil over the corks, and small tasty 

 labels. Aim to get a white, or light colored background for ex- 

 tracted honey. A dark color gives it a dull, or muddy, appearance. 

 I know of nothing better, or more appropriate, for this purpose, or 

 as a background for any apiarian display, than honey producing 

 plants pressed and mounted on white card boards and the cards 

 tacked upon the wall back of the exhibit. A pyramid of extracted 

 honey in bottles, in front of a window, is a beautiful sight; the light 

 "shimmering and glimmering," as it passes through the bottles and 

 their contents. Comb honey must be in cases with glass next the 

 comb. For several years, I exhibited honey built up into a circular 

 pyramid. First there was made a stout, board wheel, perhaps eight 



