The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-03-08 00:00:00

PI7DDL LTOWN.

DOILSET BUNKERING ANSON ATION. —On Friday
evening a very interesting and instructive lecture w
given in the schoolreom in connect' with the above
society. The meeting commenced at 7.30, be which
hour there was a large attendance of ladies aid gentle-
men present. After a selecton of air had been played
by the Puddletown brass band the Rev. N. W.
Gresley (vicar of Milborne St. Andrew and Dowliah),
who occupied the chair. expressed his regret at the
enforced absence of the Rev. E. Freeman, the vicar of
the parish, who had at first consented to preside ; but
he (the chairman) stated how much pleasure it gave
him to be present, and to further in any way he could
the objects of the meeting. He proceeded to point
out the advantages derived from the study and
practice of beekeeping, when conducted upon modern
and unproved principles, and showed how much
pleasure and pecuniary profit may be obtained even by
the cottager. for whose benefit this aasociatien existed.
He then e tiled upon the lecturer, Rev. L. W. Stanton
(vicar of Comb., Keynes), who proceeded to give a full
and learned disquisition upon the structure and habits
of the bee. The lecture was largely illustrated by
coloured diagrams, drawings, and specimens of all
kinds of bee appliances It was unwritten, and
delivered in simple colloquial language, freed as far as
poodble frost technicalities, and all necessary technical
terms simply awl clearly explained. It was divided
into two parts—, on the physiology of the honey bee;
secondly. on the practical management of the
apiary. The rev. gentleman explained the struc-
ture and function of the working bee, the drone
and the queen, describing their wings, leg., oyes,
mouth, nervous and breathing apt stratus, tce., showing
by help of the diagrams how wisely, wonderfully, and
beautifully these little creatures are formed and
adapted to their condition. In the soctmd part the
superiority of the box-frame hive over the ordinary
skep WM poiwed out, hunts on extracting honey,
driving and inviting colonies, the large profits to be
derived from the unproved management which the
box-frame system afforded, with instances given of
very large profits of from £3 to £4 per hive, while LI
per hive was shown to be an easily secured average;
all this, in addition to the oleaxure which such an
interesting pursuit secures. At the conclusion of the
lecturer'. remarks, which were frequently received
with applause, Mr. Dunman was called upon for a
song; "As the Old Cock Crows" was rendered with
excellent effect. Then followed a chart song by
Mrs. G. Graham, "In a Distant Land," which was
enthusiastically encored and responded to by the sub-
stitution of "The Kelpie's Bride." The lady's voice and
style are certainly as near perfection as any ordinarily
mot with. The J.'uddletown string band delighted the
audience by their performance, and 4r. Geyer', song
was evidently much appreciated. The Chairman then
called upon Mr. Dumnan, jun., the laborious and in-
defatigable secretary illustrated various appliancesand
model hives which were exhibited upon the platform,
which he proceeded to do, illustrating the decided
advantages attending the science of modern beekeep-
ing, which at the cost of a small outlay, enables the
cottager to at any rate pay his rent, if not also to keep
his family in shoe leather, by the male of the honey
produced in his hives. One or two more songs were
then sung. Mrs. Graham being again encored. Mr.
Oldfield proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the
chairman, and the lecturer, who duly acknowledged
the compliment, congratulated the people of Puddle-
. town in having Mr. Dtmtnan, the hon. secretary of the
Dorset Beekeeping Association, living so near them.
with his sound and practical knowledge of both the
scionceand art of modern beekeeping. The National
Anthem brought a very successful meeting to a
conclusion.