Report on Bees, Hives, and Honey at Kilhurn, 1879. 681 
Mr. Neighbour secured third prize, his hive being adapted for working 
sections, both laterally and as supers, having also the same advantages as 
the former hive for the lateral movement of the hive frames. 
Mr. Lee, of Bagshot, reserve and highly commended, No. 975, whose hive 
was a model of neatness and skilful workmanship, desei"ves special mention, 
his dummy being a novel but practical idea. 
Messrs. Clapp, of Abbot's Hill, and Thome, of Ashwell, Herts, fully 
merited the high commendations which they received. 
On the whole, we have no hesitation in reporting this class mo.st excellent, 
and in stating our belief that in no other nation could such a collection of 
liives, either as regards principle or workmanship, be brought together, the 
competition being unusually severe. 
In Class 376 — " Honey in sectional Supers, not exceeding 3 lbs. each 
section " — the show, doubtless in consequence of the unfavourable season, 
and the early time of holding it, was but a poor one. With the exception of 
Mr. Thurber's display of upwards of one ton of honey-comb, in small sectional 
supers, there was no entry of any note. This obtained first prize, but the 
quality was by no means equal to first-class English honey, and if America 
cannot supply us with a finer quality than this, we have no fear of her much- 
dreaded competition in our honey-market. 
The second prize was awarded to Mr. Thome, for sections, which were only 
partially sealed ; and third to M. Lucio Paglia, an ItaUan exhibitor, for 
sections also, to which the same remark applies. 
An American honey-extractor, in which the combs are emptied by means 
of centrifugal force, and atterwards replaced in the hive to be refilled, attracted 
much attention. 
Xo English machine of the kind was exhibited, in consequence, no doubt, 
of there being no class or prize assigned in the schedule. 
^Ve noticed also several smaller apiarian apphances, which need not be 
here specified, but which are well calculated to advance the science, and most 
useful to manipulators. 
The only other subject requiring mention is the Driving Competition, by far 
the most attractive portion of the show. This was witnessed by thousands 
with the greatest interest ; and the people were taught, by demonstrations, 
descriptions, and lectures, the loss sustained by themselves and the coimtry 
at large from the wasteful practice of suffocating the bees in order to obtain 
the honey from even the common straw-hive. Mr. C. X. Abbott, the 
editor of the ' British Bee Journal,' was the most successful competitor, 
driving his bees from the old-fashioned straw-skep, capturing the queen in 
the ascent, and transferring the combs and bees to a bar-frame hive, in the 
space of li minutes 35 seconds. 
Mr. Baldwin, the expert of the British Bee-keepers'. Association, obtained 
second prize, occupying under the same operation 18 minutes 5 seconds ; and 
Mr. Martin, a cottager of High Wycombe, took third prize, performing his 
work in 19 minutes 20 seconds. These manipulators, judging from the cool 
manner in which they handled their bees, captured their queens, and trans- 
ferred the combs, were evidently able tacticians, and skilled veterans in bee- 
culture and practice. 
We cannot conclude these remarks without paying a tribute of well-earned 
praise to the ofiicials of the British Bee-keepers' Association, who, under 
most trying circumstances and unseasonable weather, earned out their pro- 
gramme in such a manner as to give general satisfaction to all concerned ; 
and the Bes Show at Kilburn will long be remembered as an epoch in the 
apiarian annals of this country. 
William Caer. 
George Kavsoe. 
July 2, 1879. Thomas Wm. Cowax. 
