108 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ July 81, 1884. 
instead of being double-walied. All Mr. Steele’s hives and other exhibits 
■were of an exceptional character and well got up ; his tray of supers, which 
was first, was really pretty. Mr. Young’s tin-work, including extractors, 
were of excellent material and workmanship. Mr. Tait’s exhibits were 
advanced and well made. 
Mr. McNally exliibited some pretty straw hives fitted with bars ; the 
principle was good, but too small. With the good feeling that prevailed 
amongst the persevering and determined competitors, if spared until 
another year something grand amongst hives may be expected. When all 
the good points are combined in one it will be a difficult task to win a first 
prize. As it was, the Judges had a difficult task to perform, but as they 
were practical bee-keepers they were guided by their own judgment and 
knowledge, and not by any extraneous pressure. 
In the observatory class there were upwards of a dozen competing. There 
was some grumbling at the awards in this class, but long before the close of 
the Show the decision of the Judges was proved to be correct. The first- 
prize hive was the only one that stood the test, the bees (after they got over 
the agitation caused by some mischievous person closing the entrance, and 
which was not discovered for some time) wrought well, repairing all damaged 
comb caused through rough handling, and built and sealed much new comb. 
The bees were watched with great interest by the visitors carrying on the 
internal economy of the hive, as well as those observed under the glazed 
race, loaded with pollen and honey. In all the others there was not one that 
covered the combs at the close as they did at the opening of the Show, and 
in some of them the bees had retreated to one space, attempting to establish 
themselves anew in their natural sphere, thus proving the fallacy of 
oblong hives. Notwithstanding the advantages that inexperienced bee-keepers 
tell us are to be derived from such hives, the bees show us differently. It 
does not matter how pretty observatory hives are made—and those at 
Edinburgh were very pretty indeed—they will not do where every comb is 
glazed, nor where the combs are separated. Mr. Leslie Tait’s hive in this 
class was, with the exception of the first-prize, the only one on right 
principles, and had the frames been distanced and steadied with knobs or 
staples instead of fillets, which prevented the sliding of the combs, would 
have been at least second. 
A great mistake was made by competitors in the unicomb class by not 
having the combs wrorrght in the hive exhibited. In every one of these the 
combs pressed upon the glass, and the frames wrong placed. If competitors 
would attend to these defects, and the Society provide wooden shades over 
the hives to prevent the glare of the sun through the canvas, which excites 
the bees and prevents visitors seeing the queen, it would be a great improve¬ 
ment, as when the bees are at work they are more interesting and please the 
public better. So that instead of keeping the bees shut in, as advocated by 
Mr. Raitt at Edinburgh, it is to be hoped that the Society will rather 
encourage the bees to be at work, as it is by that that the public learn the 
true habits or requirements of the bee. 
As a whole, the decision of the Judges gave satisfaction, but in the 
comb-foundation class it seemed rather anomalous that prizes should be 
awarded to foreign and adulterated wax in jjreference to the genuine 
article, and that the requirements of the schedule were departed from ; but 
a hint from one of the Judges revealed the cause—the cells were too large 
in the rejected sheets ; but as I have a desire to prove all things I imme¬ 
diately applied the rule, and found that the prizetakers were the largest. 
Perhaps a pair of spectacles will rectify the mistake another year. 
A suitable instrument to extract Heather honey has been long in request. 
This year the Society offered a prize for the best extractor of Heather honey. 
A screw press with a narrow perforated cylinder and drainer for honey was 
shown in this class, but the Judge, Mr. Raitt, rejected it on the ground 
that it was a presser and not an extractor. I could prove that the common 
extractor is not one either, and I am sorry that what has been proved to 
be a good and cleanly extractor should be passed over. I will show the 
differenee between honey squeezed by the hand and that pressed by the 
screw presser. I.n the former the hand breaks the cells and mixes poUen 
and honey together, which is liable to ferment. The presser, being more 
powerful, presses the cells together, forcing out the honey, but not the pollen, 
the former being preserved in all its purity, while that pressed by the 
hands is opaque and frothy. People are every day growing more fastidious, 
and the more generally it is known that gentlemen are encouraging 
cleanliness amongst cotters and adopting the means to put into the market 
honey canned ready for consumption without either a clean or dirty hand 
having touched it, the better wiU it be for all concerned. 
In the honey classes never was there a better display under one roof. 
There was not a single bad or inferior lot but the pride and centre of attrac¬ 
tion of the Show was the octagon supers from the Stewarton hives, clearly 
proving all I have said in their favour, and of deep frame hives. No matter 
what interested people may say in favour of oblong hives, they are a mis¬ 
take, and contrary to the nature and instinct of the bee. There were some 
imitation supers on the Stewarton principle, but every one of them, by their 
ragged combs, betrayed the objectionable narrow top bars and open crown 
of stock hive. 
Of dripped honey there was a fine display. Mr. Paterson of Struan com¬ 
peted in the class for Heather honey. This is the first time that Heather honey 
of the current year has been shown at this Show, and shows that neither Mr. 
Paterson nor his bees have been idle. The flavour and colour were fine, it 
being from bell Heather was thinner than that gathered from the common 
Heath. We were sorry to see such a fine sample denied the prize on the 
ground that it -was not Heather honey, as it was Heather honey with a very 
fine body and aroma. 
Mr. A. Neighbour exhibited several Syrian and Italian queens, as well as 
some cases of honey drops. The cakes made from honey were exceptionally 
fine. The wine and beer made from honey, exhibited by Mr. Sword, was 
really fine and refreshing. 
The judges were Messrs. Alfred Neighbour, London; Mr. J. Buchanan, 
Jamestown; Mr. George Patrick, Gartmore; Mr. Raitt, Blairgowrie ; 
Mr. Armstrong, Bannockburn ; and Mr. Bailie, Loughland, Kilmarnock.— 
Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
PRIZE LIST. 
Best Stock of British Bees—1 and silver medal, W. Sword ; 2, W. Munn. 
Best Stock of Cyprian, Ligurian, or any other Foreign Bees — Silver medal, B. 
McNally ; 2, W. Sword. 
Hives. —Best Hive for Observation Purposes, all Combs to be visible on both sides, 
stocked with Bees and their Queen, suitable either for summer or winter use—1 and 
Highland and Agricultur.al Society’s silver medal, W. Thomson ; 2, W. Munn. Most 
Complete Bar-frame Hive on the Moveable-Comb Principle, with cover and stand com¬ 
plete, stocked with Bees and their Queen, showing Super Arrangements in full operation, 
or Duplicate Hive—1, W. Thomson ; 2, W. Sword. Best Moveable-Comb Hive. This 
Hive must be e.xhibited in duplicate—firstly, for summer use, with facilities for har¬ 
vesting honey; secondly, with arrangements for wintering—I, "W. Thomson; 2, R. 
Steele. Best Fr.ame Hive for general use—1, W. Thomson ; 2, R. Steele. For Inventions 
or Improvements in Hives and Appliances, including the best Divisible Super, the best 
plan of placing Sections on Hive, and the best Top Feeder—1, W. Thomson; 2, J. 
Armstrong. Best Straw Hive of any description—1, W. & R. McNally ; 2, R. Steele. 
For the best Hive (Stewarton or otherwise) on the Storifying Principle—-1, R. Steele ; 
2, 'W. Thomson. 
Comb Foundation. —Best sample of Comb Foundation made of pure beeswax, to 
consist of ten sheets, each sheet measuring not less than 14 inches by 8 inches ; worker 
cells for stock hive; and ten sheets thin for supers.—1, W. & R. McNally; 2, W. Rait. 
Best t-\vo samples of Wax, in cakes of not less than 1 and 2 lbs. each, weighing not less 
than 4 lbs. in all.—1, W. Rait; 2, R. Steele. 
Honev. —Best Display of Honey and Honeycomb. ■— Highland and Agricultural 
Society’s silver medal and 1 and 2, W. & R. McNaUy. Best two supers above 20 lbs. 
each.—1, J. Morton ; 2, J. Crawford. Best Super above 20 lbs.—1, W. Laughland; 2. J. 
Gemmel. Best Super above 10 lbs. and under 20.—1, W. & B. McNally; 2, E. McNaUy. 
Best Super of Honey, not being sectional supers, the super to be of wood, straw, or of 
wood in combination with glass or straw, not less than 12 lbs.—W. & R. McNally. Best 
twenty-four 2-lb. sections of Comb Honey.—1, C. Camegde; 2 . W. & R. McNally. Best 
twenty-four 1-lb. sections of Comb Honey.—1, W. & R. McNally; 2, C. Carnegie. Best 
twenty-four 1J lb. sections of Comb Honey.—1, Rev. F. Taylor; 2, W. Lowe. Best twelve 
2-lb sections of Comb Honey.—1, W. Lowe; 2, L. Tait. Best twelve 1-lb. sections of Comb 
Honey.—1, W. & R. McNally; 2, D. Liff. IBest run or extracted Honey, in twelve 2-lb. 
glass jars.—1, C. Carnegie; 2, D. Mackintosh. Best exhibition of run or extracted Honey 
in twelve 1-lb glass jars.—1, C. Carnegie ; 2, W. & R. McNaUy. 
Special Prizes for Ladies.— Best Super above 10 lbs. and under 20 lbs.—Mrs. 
McNally. Best Glass Super of Honeycomb.—Mrs. McNally. Best sample of run or ex¬ 
tracted Honey in glass jar containing not less than 12 lbs.—Mrs. Thomson. 
Comestibles. —Best Liqueur or Wine made from Honey, with recipe attached (not 
less than 2 quarts), age of wine to be given.—Small silver medal, W. Sword. Best Mead 
or Beer made from Honey, with recipe attached (not less than 2 quarts).—Small silver 
medal, W. Sword. Best Cakes made with Honey, with recipe attached (not less than 
2 lbs.).—Small silver medal, W. Sword. 
Miscellaneous. —Best Collection of Hives, Bee Furniture, Bee Gear, for general 
use, no two articles to be alike or for the same purpose—1, R. Steele ; 2, W. W. Young, 
Perth. Cheapest, neatest, and Best Tray of Supers for producing Honeycomb in a 
saleable form, and to be complete with glass—1 and 2, B. Steele. Best Honey Extractor, 
cost to be taken into consideration—1, W. W. Young ; 2, R. Steele. Best and Largest 
display of Honey-producing Plants, in a dried state or otherwise—1 and 2 (silver medal), 
W. & R. McNally. Best Collection of Natural Enemies of Honey Bees—1 and 2 (silver 
medal), W. & B. McNally. Best Straw Hive stocked with Bees, to be used at the Driving 
Competition—1, 2, and 8, James Johnston, Stirling. 
* All coiTespondence should be directed either to “The Editor ’’ 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. ^V’e 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions rel;it- 
ing to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should never 
send more than two or three questions at oilce. All articles in¬ 
tended for insertion should be written on one side of the paper 
only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, and we 
do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Books {G. S., Benfrew). —There is much that is good in the work you 
name, but for present requirements it is practically obsolete. {B. D). —For 
economy, conciseness, and comprehensiveness we have no doubt our “ Garden 
Manual ” will compare favourably with any other work. This also appears 
to be the opinion of the public, as the large sale of the work testifies. Its 
price is Is. GcZ.; post free, Is. 9d. 
Ferns Eaten (Sussex). —Slugs are probably the depredators, and if you 
examine the plants at night with the aid of a lantern you will probably find 
them feasting. At that time, if you apply perfectly clear lime water, then 
dust the centre of the patch with soot, you will destroy the slugs and 
benefit the plants. 
Myosotis dissitiflora (Idem). —We have grown this plant for years as 
raised from rooted offsets with the most satisfactory results, and we have 
also raised hundreds of plants from seeds, which were also satisfactory, but 
grew stronger than the others. If you have strong seedlings now they will 
probably answer your purpose, but it is fully late for sowing for raising 
good early-flowering plants. 
I-vy on Trees (Idem). —Ivy is injurious to trees by abstracting the 
moisture from the bark, by sealing the pores, and excluding the air, also, 
especially in the case of young trees, by preventing the expansion of the sap 
vessels, and consequently restricting the supply of moisture from the roots. 
Fungus on Onions (C. B.). —The fungus on the Onions is Peronospora 
Schleideniana, an ally of the Potato fungus. It has been very destructive 
this year. Spring-sown Onions are always said to be the most affected, and 
growers say they can prevent the disease by autumn-sowing. As in the 
Potato disease, no cure is known ; sulphur placed on lime might answer, but 
we have not tried it. The fungus, of course, causes putridity. 
