JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r September 7) 1882 , 
The prizes offered in the four foreign and colonial classes, we were 
sorry to find, produced one entry only, that of an “ Italo-American 
hive,” by P. Bernizzi, which, however, did not appear. This is much 
to be regretted, as the advantage of comparing ourselves with other 
nations in apiculture, as well as in other matters, would tend towards 
clearing away our insular prejudices. 
The class for mead or metheglin attracted four competitors and 
seven entries, Mr. Cowan sending four out of the seven, and most 
justly obtaining the prizes offered with twelve bottles each of what 
he termed Orange, Pine Apple, Raspberry, and Strawberry, “ Meli- 
done ”—a technical word suggested, we suspect, by the now well- 
known “ Zoedone,” and which may be translated into English by the 
term “ Honey-pleasure. 
Through the courtesy of this gentleman, who is the able Chairman 
of the British Bee-Keepers’ Association, we, with many others, had 
the pleasure of tasting these beverages, of which we cannot speak 
too highly. 
Six bottles of each exhibit were labelled “ sweet,” and six “ dry.” 
We preferred the latter, and consider that both will greatly improve 
by age. 
The whole was effervescing, and hermetically sealed in small 
champagne bottles. It was stated to be non-alcoholic, and to be 
made of the juice of the fruits and pure honey. Mr. Scott also 
obtained a high commendation. If any further notice of the exhibits 
in this class were necessary, we would sum up our remarks in the old 
distich :— 
They were like to Jeremiah’s Figs : 
The good were very good indeed. 
The bad too sour for pigs. 
Mr. Cowan again, as is his wont, made a clean sweep of all the prizes 
in the honey-extractor class with his Automatic, Commercial, and 
Rapid Extractors. In the Commercial a new and most excellent 
feature appeared, that of a reservoir with strainer attached capable 
of receiving a large quantity of extracted honey, which may be 
afterwards drawn off in its purest form—a great saving of labour 
indeed. 
In the miscellaneous classes the specimens of beeswax were as 
fine as we ever saw. The glass honey jars were beautifully clear and 
their prices moderate, and most especially to be recommended were 
those with patent fastenings which obtained the first prize in Class 37. 
In crates for the safe conveyance of comb-honey sections by rail or 
otherwise Mr. Cowan again had no mercy on his confreres , carrying 
off all the prizes in Class 38 ; and, with the exception of Mr. Blow’s 
first in Class 30 also (for crates for glass jars) with admirable speci¬ 
mens for safety in transit. 
The foundation fixer which obtained the silver medal for the same 
gentleman in the Any other invention class appeared to us somewhat 
similar to the American machine so generally used in that country. 
Messrs. Hart of Stockbridge, Hants, exhibited in Class 44 some very 
superior, strong, English-made 1-lb. sections, cut by machinery from 
the whitest poplar, and which we were informed could be supplied 
on more advantageous terms than the American sections. This being 
the case, we predict for Messrs. Hart an enormous sale of this now 
necessary article to all advanced bee-keepers. 
In the driving competition Mr. J. K. Filbee was placed first, Mr. 
Walton second, and Mr. Martin third, the shortest time occupied 
being 3 min. 50 sec. 
In concluding our remarks on this the greatest annual event in our 
bee-keepers’ calendar, we must beg to offer our sincere congratula¬ 
tions to the British Bee-keepers’ Association, and to all lovers and 
promoters of English apiculture, on the results achieved since the 
establishment of the Association in the year 1874, and most heartily 
do we bid them God speed. 
DRIVING BEES. 
I shall be glad to know through the pages of the Journal 
what drug is used for stupifying bees for the purpose of driving. 
I witnessed an operation of driving about three weeks ago, when 
the operator had in addition to the smoky torch, a small bottle 
containing a watery-looking fluid ; a little sprinkling of this was 
put on the alighting board some few seconds before commencing 
his task. This torch was used only in getting the few remaining 
bees from their combs. The bees were rendered stupid and harm¬ 
less. I should say the operation was very complete and well 
performed, doing no harm whatever to the bees. The operator 
refused to say what his drug was.—J. P. C. 
HERTFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The annual Show of this Association was held in the Castle grounds, 
Hertford, on Wednesday and Thursday, August 30th and 31st, by the 
kind permission of A. P. McMullen, Esq. The grounds are admirably 
situated and well adapted for a show of this kind. Considering the 
Hertfordshire Association has only been established about four years 
the Exhibition was an extensive one, and the Committee are to be 
congratulated upon having disseminated so much useful knowledge 
upon a pleasing, important, and profitable industry in so short a time. 
Nearly every important town within the county sent exhibits, and 
many of the villages were ably represented. 
The number of entries of honey were not so numerous as could be 
wished, but this is accounted for by the adverse weather which pre¬ 
vailed during the month of July. Notwithstanding, some excellent 
exhibits both of comb and extracted honey were shown by the Rev. 
F. G. Jenyns and F. Noules of Stevenage ; Miss Gayton of Much 
Hadham ; Mr. E. Mathews, Royston ; Mr. Gulston, King’s Langley ; 
Mr. H. E. Roberts, Hitchin ; Mr. Sambels, and others. The prizes 
for honey offered by the British Bee-keepers’ Association were 
awarded to Mr. E. Gulston, first, silver medal; Miss Gayton, second, 
bronze medal; Mr. E. Mathews, third, certificate. The special prize 
of £2 2s., offered by the Hertford Local Committee, was awarded to 
Miss Gayton. 
The exhibits of hives made by members of the Association not 
being carpenters or hive-dealers, showed a considerable advance in 
the knowledge of hive-construction. The first prize was awarded to 
Mr. G. H. Baines, a pupil teacher residing at Tring ; the second prize 
to the Rev. J. L. Seager of Stevenage ; and the third to Mr. E. Jack- 
son of Welwyn. There were nine entries in this class, and two extra 
prizes were awarded. An excellent display of hives and other appli¬ 
ances were shown in the classes open to all England. For the best 
and most complete hive the first prize was awarded to Messrs. Dines 
and Son of Maldon, Essex, foi a well-made and cheap hive (“ The 
Raynor Eclective,” price £1 15s.). Messrs. Neighbour & Son took 
second, and Mr. Blow third prizes. Messrs. Dines & Son were also 
first “ for the best hive for cottagers’ use,” Mr. Blow being second. 
“ For the best collection of hives and bee furniture,” first, Mr. T. B. 
Blow ; second, Neighbour & Son ; third, Abbott Bros. Mr. Blow 
also took first and second prizes for the best observatory hives, the 
third prize being awarded to Abbott Bros. 
Mr. J. M. Hooker (from the British Bee-keepers’ Association), 
assisted by the Rev. J. S. Seager, Col. E. Smyth, Rev. F. G. Jenyns, 
and Capt. Croft, acted as Judges, their awards giving general satis¬ 
faction. 
Capt. Croft, as Chairman of the Local Committee, was most assidu¬ 
ous in his labours to promote the success of the Show. The honey 
on sale found ready purchasers at good prices. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Harrison & Sons, Leicester.— List of Flowering Bulbs. 
Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, London.— Autumn Catalogue of Bulbs. 
Louis de Smet, Ledeberg, Ghent, Belgium.— Supplementary Cata¬ 
logue of Plants. 
Charles Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.— Catalogue of Hyacinths 
and other Bulbs. 
De Smet Freres, Ledeberg, Ghent.— Autumn Catalogue of Plants. 
Dobbie & Mason, 66, Deansgate, Manchester.— Catalogue of Bulbs, 
Roses, Fruit Trees, ifc. 
Joseph Schwartz, Lyons.— List of New Roses. 
James Carter & Co., 237 and 238, High Holbom, London.— Illus¬ 
trated Autumn Catalogue of Winter and Spring Flowers, i fc. 
Edward Philip Dixon, Yorkshire Seed Establishment, Hull.— 
Autumn Catalogue of Bulbous Plants. 
o r 
Wnmmrmub 
TO CORRESPONDENTS.) 
!all/ 
*** All correspondence 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. We 
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 relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, and 
should never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended 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. 
Antirrhinums (S. <£• M .).—Many of the flowers sent are beautifully 
marked, but small; possibly the plants may belong to the dwarf section of this 
family, and if the spikes are good masses of them would be very attractive. The 
insertion of this reply was inadvertently omitted last week. 
Duchess of Oldenburg Apple (G. Marsdeii ).—This is both an early 
Apple and an early bearer—that is to say, the trees bear in a small state, and 
hence are suitable for small gardens. The fruit is attractive in appearance, 
being streaked with dark red, deepening to crimson in the sun. It is a very 
good Apple for dessert purposes, and excellent for cooking. It is of Russian 
origin, and will succeed in your Yorkshire garden. 
Wintering Alternantheras (J. M. 0.1.—If you carry out the plan you 
propose of enclosing a space with boards and glass over the “ bend ” of the 
hot-water pipes in the corner of your greenhouse, you will no doubt be able to 
maintain a temperature of 60° to 55°, and in this you may, with care, preserve 
sufficient plants for supplying the requisite number of cuttings for striking in 
