544 
The Chester Meeting. 
show ; though the inventor claims to have made it succeed in America after 
trial with a large number of colonies of bees. 
The only other class requiring mention at our hands is Class 345 (the 
most interesting and instructive exhibit not mentioned in the foregoing 
classes). The most notable exhibit in the class was the admirable set of 
Lantern Slides on bees and bee culture staged by Messrs. Newton of London, 
and prepared by them for the use of lecturers engaged in imparting instruc- 
tion under the “ Technical Education Act.” 
These slides are arranged in two sections, the Scientific and the Practical, 
the former including some beautiful microscopic slides of the Bacillus Alvei, 
or bee-pest, known as foul brood, together with many other fine ones illustra- 
tive of the anatomy and physiology of the honey bee. The practical section 
embraces photographs of various operations connected with bee-management, 
all of which are from direct negatives from nature, and form a valuable and 
interesting series of educational pictures admirably suited for the purpose 
for which they are intended. In this class was also exhibited the 
Rietsche hand-press for preparing home-made comb-foundation, a useful 
appliance for beekeepers desiring to work up beeswax, the produce of their 
own apiaries, into comb-foundation for home use. 
The above embraces such features of the bee department as we con- 
sider worthy of special reference, and we cannot close without express- 
ing our gratification at the progress which is being made in the art of 
beekeeping, a progress in a large measure attributable, as we think, to the 
far-reaching influence of well-managed Bee and Honey Shows. 
Competitions of Butter-Makers. 
These contests were, as usual, conducted at the Dairy, a 
commodious building occupying a central position in the Show- 
yard. Here, also, Miss Maidment delivered a series of instruc- 
tive addresses, and, with the aid of her assistants, gave daily 
demonstrations in butter-making, and cream cheese-making. 
Regarding the butter-making contests generally, the Judges 
report : — 
The work done was very creditable in all classes, and with few exceptions 
was executed without undue delay, but too little attention was given in the 
first instance to the condition of the cream. 
The judgment and skill shown in churning were on the whole very satis- 
factory, and equal. 
The appearance of the butter when finished left a good deal to be desired 
in some cases, the merit of the previous good work in churning, working, &c., 
being rendered of much less value unless this essential point is carefully 
carried out. Too much attention cannot be given to the appearance of the 
butter as it is presented to the purchaser. 
The butter on being cut showed that the compactness had been too little 
attended to, and the quantity of water left in the butter was, as a whole, 
excessive. 
In point of firmness the butter was in most cases satisfactory, although 
its softness in some instances was evidence of inattention to the proper tem- 
peratures, or of overworking. 12 lb. of cream was allowed to all the com- 
petitors, 
