July 9, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
33 
might, if desired, be dispensed with, or used for supers, and as 
there were four dividing boards, close fitting, could be transformed 
into many shapes, and instead of frames supers could be substi¬ 
tuted. At the sides there were entrances, so that a nucleus or two 
nuclei could be formed without interfering with the body of the 
hive. Mr. Abbott was first in this class. 
The next class was for the cheapest storifying hive 3 , competed for 
by Mr. A. Ferguson, Stewarton, with one of the Lanarkshire stori- 
fying hives at 12s. fid. The first prize was awarded to an English 
one at 34s. or 34s. fid. Both instances were decided by English 
Judges, Messrs. Hooker and Abbott. The following year the 
same hives were in competition. My hive was awarded first, but 
on being consulted I agreed to compromise the matter, and allow 
Mr. Abbott to appear as equal. There were no medals awarded. 
Messrs. Neighbour’s goods were too late in arriving, or the awards 
in many cases would have been altered. 
It is a well-known fact that queen excluder zinc has as yet been 
a failure, creating labour for the bees, and by keeping the centre 
of the hive open the super combs are darkened. It has never 
been reliable to keep queens out of the supers, consequently much 
comb has been spoiled, both workers and drones being bred in them, 
and the latter often found dead in the supers. Mr. Hooker admits 
its failure in his article of June 4th, or why, if it was so good, was 
there necessity for a new pattern ? I am pretty certain that if 
excluder zinc was to be used on our hives at the Heather there 
would be few supers. The bees swell to such an extent when there 
is a glut of honey, that they would actually have to adopt the 
modern idea, to store it below, then carry it aloft in small quantities. 
The best way of using excluder zinc is as I described it some 
six or seven years ago, and which has been copied elsewhere—the 
plan of cutting it into narrow strips and running it between the 
bars. That plan was never attempted till it appeared in the 
Journal of Horticulture. I should be very sorry indeed to make a 
single misleading statement, and I now call upon Mr. Hooker to 
prove that I ever made “ prior claim to any invention or improve¬ 
ment ” not my own. 
The form of the “ standard ” hive, with its flimsy frames of one 
size, is now altered, and has two different sizes of frames, which 
are heavier. At my suggestion, but not till then, was an effort 
made to rectify the error indicated. 
In conclusion, may I ask Mr. Hooker to explain why it is that 
they have abandoned their original styles of hives, and are 
adapting ours which have been in use so long, although not prize- 
takers ? If that alone is not good proof that I have been in the 
right, I do not know what is. —A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
[In consequence of extreme pressure on our space, we have 
been obliged to abridge this communication, and must request 
that any reply to it be as brief and concise as possible. Our 
readers prefer practical matter to controversial indulgences.] 
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS’ ASSOCIATIONS SHOW. 
The annual Exhibition of this Association, the twelfth held in 
connection with the Royal Agricultural Society’s show, took place 
at Doncaster, June the 20th to the 26th, where “ The Royal” held its 
fifty-second country meeting. At twelve o’clock each day there were 
lectures on bee management, with practical demonstrations, bee 
driving, &c., by Mr. Roland Green, who repeated his interesting lectures 
periodically during each day. 
The lectures and manipulations took place in a bee tent, so made 
that visitors could hear and see all that was going on through a 
screen, without the least chance of their being stung. The bee tent was 
only a few yards from the exhibition of the bee department of the Show, 
and tbe lectures were listened to by thousands, who appeared to be 
greatly interested by what they saw and heard. On the last day of the 
Show several members of the Council of “ The Royal ” visited the bee 
tent and expressed themselves well pleased with the instruction given, 
and perfectly satisfied with the general management of this department, 
so ably carried out by Mr. John Huckle, the Secretary of the British 
Bee-keepers’ Association. Among those present were Earl Cathcart, 
the chief Steward ; the Mayor of Doncaster ; Mr. Ernest Clark, the 
Secretary ; Sir Jacob Wilson, Hon. Director of the Show, accompanied 
by Lady Wilson and several other ladies. 
Tbe Judges appointed to make the awards in the hives and honey 
classes, of which there were 144 entries, were Rev. J. F. Buckler, Bed- 
ston Rectory, Cheshire ; Mr. W. B. Carr, Orpington, Kent ; Jessie Garratt, 
Meopham, Kent; and Mr. Walter Martin, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire. The 
classes were open to all, the honey not being restiicted to that of the 
present year. 
Class 300, for the best collection of hives and appliances, to consist of 
three frame hives complete 1 ; one pair of sectioncrates, fitted with sections ; 
one extractor; one slow stimulating feeder ; one rapid feeder ; 
one smoker; one veil ; one swarm box for travelling purposes ; one 
nucleus hive ; one travelling crate for comb honey ; and any other dis¬ 
tinct articles not specified ; to be staged on 50 superficial feet. Five 
only of the seven entries were staged.—First prize, Messrs. George 
Neighbour & Sons, 127, High Holborn, London ; second, Mr. W. Dixon, 
5, Becket Street, Leeds; highly commended, Mr. A. C. Jameson, 26',, 
Coll urgate, York. 
Clas3 801, for the best observatory hive stocked with bees and their 
queen.—First prize to Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons, Carniolian. 
bees. Second, Mr. W. Dixon. Third, Mr. E. C. Walton, Muskham. 
Class 302, for the best and most complete frame hive for general use, 
unpainted. — First prize, Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons, price 24s. 
Second and third, Mr. C. Redshaw, South Wigston, Leicester, price 25s, 
and 20s. 
Class 303, for the most complete and inexpensive frame hive for 
cottager’s use.—First, Mr. C. Redshaw, price 10s. 6d. Second, Mr. C. 
Redshaw, price 12s. 6d. Third, Mr. W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester, 
price 8s. 3d. 
Class 304, for the best honey extractor.—First, Mr. W. P. Meadows, 
“ The Raynor,” price 30s. Second, Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons, 
price 35s. Highly commended, Mr. Thos. Lowth, Riseholme, Lincoln, 
price 21s. 
Class 305, for the best pair section racks.—First, Messrs. Geo; 
Neighbour & Sons, price 8s. 6d. Second, Mr. C. Redshaw, price 7s* 
Highly commended, Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons, price 7s. 
Class 306, for the best rapid feeder.—First, Mr. C. Redshaw, price 33. 
Second, Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons, price 6s. 6d. Highly commended, 
Mr. W. P. Meadows, price 3s. 
I propose to give an illustration and full description of the hives, &c^ 
to which prizes were awarded at a future time. 
Honey. 
Class 307, for the best twelve sections of comb honey.—First. Messrs. 
Sells & Son, Uffington, Stamford (last year’s). Second, Mr. W. Woodley, 
World’s End, Newbury, this year’s Sainfoin honey, and I do not under¬ 
stand why this exhibit was place 1 second, as the sections were nicely 
filled. Third, Mr. W. Christie-Miiler, Broomfield, Chelmsford. 
Class 308, for the best six sections of comb honey.—First prize, Mr. 
J. Greenhill, Wimbledon (not uniform in colour). Second, Mr. Woodley. 
Here again I think this exhibit should have been placed first. Possibly 
the Judges do not like the rich golden colour of Sainfoin honey, although 
uniform. In my opinion the only honey that can compare with Sainfoin 
honey is that gathered from Raspberries. 
Class 309, for the best exhibit of run or extracted honey, not to 
exceed 24 lbs.—First, Mr. A. J. Carter, Newfields, Billinghurst. Second, 
Capt. St. G. Ord, Bury St. Edmunds. Third, Mr. C. T. Overton, Crawley, 
Sussex. 
Class 310, for the best 12 lbs. cf granulated honey.—First, Capt. 
St. G. Ord. Second, Mr. W. Dixon. Third, Mr. J. T. Harveyson, 
Finchley. 
Class 311, for the best and most attractive display of honey.—First, 
W. Dixon. This consisted of honeycomb worked to represent the Prince 
of Wales’s feathers with A. E. on either side, last year’s production. A 
crown of 1890 honeycomb and Y.R. of 1889 all very well worked out, 
and shows that with the aid of comb-foundation almost any device can 
be made. This exhibit well deserved the honours it obtained. Second, 
Miss Cooper, St. Nicolas Square, Leicester. 
Class 312, for useful inventions introduced since 1889, silver medal,. 
Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons for section racks (for which they obtained 
first honours in class 305). Silver medal, Mr. P. Harbordt, Liverpool, for a 
hive readily put together by means of a piece of wood with male dovetails- 
projecting on one side and at one end, the two pieces to be fixed together, 
having the corresponding sunk dovetails, so that when in position the 
male dovetail is pushed into the groove and holds the side of the hives 
tightly together at right angles. The object sought to be gained is the 
sending of hives in the flat in such a shape that they can be put together 
by an ama f eur upon arrival without the aid of a carpenter. This is an 
ingenious invention, and makes a firm and rigid hive, but great care will 
have to be taken that nothing but well seasoned wood is used or they 
will become loose in the joints. The hive is practically put together 
without nails. A bronze medal was awarded to Mr. W. P. Meadows for 
his new registered frame, in which the comb foundation is easily placed 
and firmly held in position when the metal ends are on. A certificate 
was given to Mr. W. Dixon fora swarming arrangement,also one to Mr. 
C. Renshaw for his patent glass sections, in what he calls an observa¬ 
tory rack. The glass sections are held together by small angle pieces of 
white wood, and are neat and firm. The above are all that have any 
special merit in this class. There were fifteen entries, but several of 
them were not staged. 
Mr. J. Hewett of Sheffield exhibited metal frame ends and frames, 
and a rack with glass sections, also a frame of his Punic bees. If these 
Punic bees are exhibited again it is to be hoped they will have at least 
three frames in a suitable hive with bees and their queen, having brood 
and sealed honey, properly ventilated, with the means of egress and 
ingress similar to those observatory hives to which prizes were awarded. 
Class 313, for the best model of a bee tent for lectures.—The silver 
me lal was granted to Mr. F. Harbordt ; this was the only entry. 
Class 314, for the most interesting and instructive exhibit connected 
with bee culture.—Second prize, Mr. W. DixoD, for a case of specimens, 
a swarm on a branch of a tree, other natural specimens, photographs, <kc. 
The Association is to be congratulated on having had a most successful 
Show.— John M. Hooker, 9, Beaufort Gardens, Leioisliam, S.E. 
[This report was prepared for our last issue, but owing to a pre33 of 
matter could not be inserted.] 
