Rcjiort on the Exhibition of Livc-Stock at Derhj. 5951 
Meport of the Judges of Butter. 
In lianding in our awards as Judges of the Butter exliibited at this Show, 
we beg to remark tliat we were somewliat surprised and disappointed at the 
limited number of entries. We certainly expected, from its being in a large 
dairy district, a much greater competition. We consider the make generally 
as fair, but not extra choice ; some allowance, however, should be made on 
account of the exceptionally hot weather, which has a prejudicial effect upon 
butter, when it is exposed after leaving the dairy. 
Jas. Watson. 
BeNJ. BRIKDLEt. 
Bees 
Clearly come within the definition of " live-stock," and there- 
fore are within the jurisdiction of the Stewards of Stock. For- 
tunately they need not " handle " them ; nor are the Veterinary 
Inspectors required to look in their mouths. They are the only 
live-stock that are shown in a natural state, simply because 
they cannot be fattened. Bees are desirable in a Royal Show- 
yard, as living, moving, and stinging incentives to industry ; 
as being profitable to keep, and as one of the minor cultures 
which may well be added to every farm-house, and as being 
immensely useful in the fertilisation of the blossoms of fruit- 
trees and fruit-bushes, and the flowers of various cultivated 
plants. Mr. Darwin, in his " Cross and Self-Fertilisation of 
Plants," says : — " The extraordinary industry of bees, and the 
number of flowers which they visit within a short time, so that 
each flower is visited repeatedly, must greatly increase the chance 
of each receiving pollen from a distinct plant." * In this work 
of Mr. Darwin's the result of many experiments is given, 
showing the effect of insect agency ; and a list of plants, among 
which are certain sorts of clover, which, when insects — hive- 
bees among others — are excluded, " are either quite sterile or 
produce, as far as I could judge, less than half the number of 
seeds produced by unprotected plants." The diagrams that 
were exhibited in the shed near the bee-tent, at Derby, clearly 
illustrated the action of bees in this direction, and depicted the 
arrangement of their proboscides for the extraction of honey 
from the nectaries of flowers, and the manner in which the 
pollen of plants is conveyed by them. 
This exhibition of bees was organised by the British Bee- 
keepers' Association, who offered three prizes for the best exhi- 
bition of Hives and Bee appliances, all of which were taken by 
Messrs. G. Neighbour and Son. The representative of this Asso- 
ciation gave interesting explanations daily of the various hives 
* 'The Efifects of Cross and Self-Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom,' 
page 424. By Charles Darwin, M.A., F.K.S. 
VOL. XVII. — S. S. 2 S 
