JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
September 14,1882, ] 
257 
the visitors through the Show, explaining the various hives, itc.; and 
Mr. W. Broughton Carr had the honour of presenting, on behalf of the 
Association, samples of prize honey to the Countess of Lathom, Lady 
Augusta Stanley, and the Mayoress (Mrs. Birley). 
The exhibits in the honey classes for members only were small in 
number, but the quality was so good that it compensated for quantity. 
The first-prize extracted honey was very fine, and in the opinion of 
several apiarians who have visited most of the shows the best which 
has been exhibited this year. The first prize for a collection from one 
apiary had some fair supers ; but the best one, a square Lee’s super, 
was damaged in transit, and much deteriorated in consequence. The 
whole exhibit weighed a little over 1 cwt. 
The first-prize sections were neatly put up in a reticule sort of glazed 
case, with leather handles to carry by. No doubt many will admire 
this style of section case, particularly if it induces the purchaser to 
keep the case and send it each year to be refilled. The similar col¬ 
lection in the open class was a very fine display, and consisted of 
honey in sections entirely, while the neat way in which the wood was 
concealed by a paper covering, and the usually imperfect cells round 
the edgeof thecomb hidden byaborder of lace paper, wasalesson which 
will not be lost by those who came to see and learn. Class 11 was 
very poorly represented, the one which took first being a square 
Lee’s super containing straight combs, but rather dark Heather honey. 
Class 12, for the best glass super, is one we should like to see done 
away with. It looks very nice, no doubt, to see a huge bellglass 
filled with good white comb, but those who have had much to do with 
such things look with a certain amount of horror on the task of 
cutting up such a super, especially as was the case with one of the 
three exhibits. There was a counterpart of the abominable “ stick 
through the centre of a skep ” in the shape of a lath, or something 
carefully worked by the bees into a solid mass, right through. 
If exhibitors will have circular glass supers, why not adopt the 
plan of a circle or rim of glass—which can be had for a few pence— 
and have a top and bottom board of wood ? This sort of super when 
full can be turned bottom upwards, the board and glass removed, and 
the combs cut away neatly as required. Messrs. Abbott Brothers’ 
collection was not quite so large as either of the others, but every 
article displayed was of a good and useful kind. The Irish hive 
exhibited by this firm is wonderfully cheap, and will no doubt be 
largely used ; and their cheap extractor at 25s., which won second 
prize in its class, while simple in principle, is one that will do its 
work well, and we think will become popular. 
Class 5, for the best hive for observation purposes. There were 
four exhibits. Mr. T. B. Blow took first with a hive which combined 
the good qualities of the second and third-prize hives. H. Gibbons 
took second, Messrs. Neighbour & Sons third. The mechanism of the 
last hive was ingenious, but not so safe in working as Mr. Gibbons’, 
while it had the advantage of a revolving platform similar to Mr. 
Blow’s hive. In Class 7, for the best and cheapest hive, the price not 
to exceed 125. Gd., some excellent hives were shown, and the wonder 
was how several of them could possibly be made for the money ; but 
in the case of two exhibits much feeling was displayed, and the 
Judges unanimously excluded them from competition, as being both 
unfairly described in the catalogue and calculated to mislead. We 
quite agree with the Judges in their effort to put a stop to this sort 
of thing. Here was a hive which upon being looked at and examined 
would be set down by most people as worth £1 to £1 5s. It had a 
strong outside case, well painted, with hinged roof, and a large let¬ 
down shutter at back, set on legs, with flooi'-board, porch, &c., and 
on opening it contained two large stock boxes made of mahogany or 
teak, with windows at back, ten frames in each, had crown boards, 
comb foundation, supers, quilts, &c., and the whole of this was priced 
in the catalogue 8s. On inspecting the roof a written statement 
was found giving some particulars, by which it was seen that the 
outer case and roof were made from a bacon box, value Is.; the 
two stock boxes from a tea chest, value Gd .; the twenty frames, 
Is. 8 d .; legs, hinges, &c., 10d. ; and labour and profit, 4s. Under¬ 
neath this was a statement to the effect that paint, crown boards, 
comb foundation, supers, &c., were extra, but how much was not 
stated. This, we maintain, is not legitimate hive-making, and cer¬ 
tainly not fair to regular manufacturers, whose business is not to 
buy up bacon boxes and tea chests for working up into bee hives ; and 
we heard the opinion expressed by many that exhibits of that kind 
retard rather than promote bee culture, unless a special class was 
devoted to home-made hives and such like. In this case much merit 
would be awarded to the makers. 
Class 14, for the best extracted honey, was a very singular collec¬ 
tion, consisting of over twenty entries, and the honey varying in 
colour from a white crystallised lot somewhat resembling furniture 
paste to almost black honey gathered occasionally, we think, from 
Oak trees when honeydew is plentiful. 
The three collections of hives and apiarian appliances sent by 
Messrs. Neighbour, Mr. Blow, and Messrs. Abbott Bros., reflected 
great credit on those gentlemen. An examination of the various 
articles displayed made it clear that each manufacturer had speci¬ 
alities of his own ; Messrs. Neighbours’ containing workmanship of 
a very high order, almost too good for the purpose of bee-keeping. 
Mr. Blow, on the other hand, while not forgetting to stage some very 
costly articles, had a great number of a cheap and useful description. 
His extractor, which won first prize, was a very good one, and worked 
admirably. He also showed a most useful little feeder, though the 
principle was not quite original, being an improvement on the well- 
known one invented by Mr. Abbott. He had an excellent case of 
apiarian cutlery, and also a sample of the new Dunham Comb Founda¬ 
tion, said to be better than any other, but having had no experience 
of it we cannot give an opinion.—W m. Broughton Carr. 
The following is the prize list :— 
Class 1.—For the best exhibition of honey (super honey in preference) from 
one apiary. First, W. B. Carr ; second, not awarded. 
Class 2.—For the best super of honey (not being a sectional super). The 
super to be of wood, glass, straw, or of wood in combination with glass or straw. 
First W. B. Carr; second and third not awarded. 
Class 3.—For the best exhibition of 1-lb. or 2-lb. sections of comb honey, the 
total weight not to be less than 12 lbs., nor more than 30 lbs. First, J. H. 
Buckley ; second, W. Watkin ; third, W. B. Carr. 
Class 4.—For the best exhibition of 12 lbs. to 30 lbs. of run or extracted honey 
in 1-lb. or 2-lb. glass jars. First, W. B. Carr; second, G. Stocks; third, P. 
Wood. ’ 
Class 5.—For the best hive for observation purposes, all combs to be visible 
on both sides, to be exhibited stocked with bees and their queen. First, T. B. 
Blow ; second, H. Gibbons ; third, G. Neighbour & Sons. 
Class 6.—For the best moveable-comb hive, complete, for summer use, with 
facilities for harvesting honey and with arrangements for wintering. First, 
T. B. Blow ; second, Abbott Bros.; third, G. Neighbour & Sons. 
Class 7.—For the best and cheapest hive on the moveable-comb principle, for 
cottagers’ use, with arrangements for summer and winter. Price not to exceed 
12 j. Gd. First, T. B. Blow ; second, C. Foxon ; third, Abbott Bros. 
Class 8.—For the best stock of Ligurian Bees. 1, G. Neighbour & Sons ; 
second, T. B. Blow. 
Class 9.—For the best stock of English bees. First, T. B. Blow; second, G. 
Neighbour & Sons. 
Class 10.—For the best exhibition of super honey from one apiary. First, W. 
Raitt; second. J. W. Measures ; third, J. Walton. 
Class 11.—For the best super of honey, not being sectional supers. The super 
to be of wood, straw, or of wood in combination with glass or straw. First, T. 
Christie. 
Class 12.—For the best glass super of honey. First, T. Sells; second, Mrs. J. 
Howard ; third, J. Lighton. 
Class 13.—For the best rack or crate of 1-lb. or 2-lb. sections of comb honey, 
the total weight not to be less than 20 lbs. nor more than 30 lbs. First, W. 
Raitt; second, .1. Rogerson ; third, J. Walton. 
Class 14.—For the best exhibition of 12 lbs. to 30 lbs. of run or extracted 
honey in 1-lb. or 2-lb. glass jars. First, P. Wood ; second and third, W. Martin. 
Class 15.—For the best and largest collection of hives and bee furniture, most 
applicable to modern bee-keeping. First, G. Neighbour & Sous ; second, T. B. 
Blow ; third, Abbott Bros. 
Class 16—For the best honey extractor. First, T. B. Blow; second, Abbott 
Bros.; third, S. Walton. 
Class 17.—For the best sample of comb foundation (a) for worker-cells, (b) for 
supers, not less than 2 lbs. of each. First, T. B. Blow ; equal first, W. Raitt; 
second, Abbott Bros. 
Class 19.—For the competitor who shall in the neatest, quickest, and most 
complete manner, drive out the bees from a straw skep, eaplure aud exhibit the 
queen. First, J. Walton ; second, G. Stocks ; third, E. Devenport. 
Special Class.—Highly commended, Rev. W. E. Burkitt (crate of sections with 
cover for use on straw skeps) ; T. B. Blow (method of supering a straw skep) ; 
commended, F. Lyon (self-adjusting and removeable frame ends). 
Special local prize given by the Guild Mayor.—First, J. Forshaw. 
The following gentlemen officiated as Judges Honey Classes: 
C. N. Abbott, G. Neighbour, and T. B. Blow. Hives, Bees , and 
Apiarian Appliances : W. Broughton Carr, W. Raitt, and C. Wood- 
head. 
BEE-KEEPING FOR BEGINNERS.—No. 5. 
SWARMING VERSUS NON-SWARMING. 
In bee-keeping as in other things first principles should be well 
understood. Though the subject of swarming has been often dis¬ 
cussed in the pages of this Journal we have resolved to notice it 
once more for the benefit of beginners. Ihat it is natural for 
hooey bees to swarm all intelligent and experienced apiarians 
freely admit, and the bees prepare for swarming months before 
it takes place. The diligent care and labour which bees under¬ 
take in preparing for the important event are interesting, and 
which, like other secrets of Nature, appear more surprising as they 
are better understood. 
My aim in these notes is simply to express my opinions on the 
advantages of managing bees on the swarming principle, and 
when and where it should be interfered with, and the non-swarm¬ 
ing system resorted to or followed. In investigations of this 
subject many points have to be noticed—viz., large and small 
hives, good and bad seasons, early and late localities, spring and 
autumn flowers. On the swarming system of management large 
strong hives have great advantages in good seasons and good 
localities. In such seasons and localities bees, under fair manage¬ 
ment, swarm early, and the swarms do better and rise to greater 
weights than hives managed on the non-swarming principle. It 
may be difficult to explain how it comes to pass that early swarms 
in good seasons fill their hives with combs and often surpass hives 
of bees that never swarm at all. Very few bee-keepers will question 
the fact here stated, even if the reasons given in explanation are 
unsatisfactory. 
Swarms are beginning life on their own account, and this seems 
to stimulate the bees to make greater exertions. How fast they 
work, secrete wax, and build combs 1 A single swarm has been 
known to fill its hive with combs and weigh 45 fbs. in seven days. 
In such cases both season and locality were favourable ; but all 
