The Globe-republican., 1893-08-04
THE BUSY BEE.
How They Gather Honey-"Food Fit for
the Gods "-Groat Exhibit,

How They Gather HOney-"FO0d Fit for
the Gods "-Great Exhibit.
Prof Rodney Welch, of New York city,
is writing some interesting descriptions
of the various exhibits in the Agricul
tural building at the Columbian expo.
sition for New York paper. In . re-
cent tour of that enormous building
the professor Investigated the exhibits
of honey and beeswax, which are to be
found at the east end of the Agricul-
tural building. He discovered that in
the Grecian agricultural exhibit SIAM
altos Papagannakis, of Athens, shows
nearly fifty varieties of honey, some of
which were collected by bees from
flowers that grew upon Mount Olympus.
There is nothing in the appearance of
this honey that would seem to warrant
the praise bestowed upon it by Homer
and other Grecian poets It must be re-
membered, however, says Prot. Welch,
that Homer was blind and therefore
could not notice that its color was ex-
ceedingly dark. No modern poet with
good sight would pronounce it flood
tit for the gods" though it must be
acknowledged that the flavor of some
of this Grecian honey was delicious.
Each of the states, except New York,
making exhibits Colorado, California,
Ohio, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Min
nesota, Michigan and Indiana-confine
their displays to a single case. Nebras-
ka makes an interesting showing of
the chief honey producing plants of the
e.
and beeswax from New York. The bee
keepers of the state also have . large
case in which five colonies of bees may
be seen at work. Through apertures
in the walls of the building the in
dustrious insects 60 ''far out upon the
prairies," collect the harvest of the
flowers and return with their sweet
stores. In the display of New York is
a large quantity of apparatus employed
in handling bees and extracting honey
from the comb. Many styles of bee
hives are also shown, including some of
the straw ''skeps" which were in use
two centuries ago. An attempt is made
by those in charge of the New York
display to show visitors the honey pro-
1uced b. different flowers.
Next to New York Ontario, Canada,
makes the largest display of honey, and
is in many respects the most satisfacto-
y to dealers. 1t is chiefly in large
packages, weighing from fly to sew
.nty-five pounds. Most of these pack.
Iges contain the honey extracted from
! single kind of flower. The large
blocks of candied honey attract con-
siderable attention, as the Canadians
ire endeavoring to find a market for
heirs in this condition. The comb
honey in this display is by far the finest
m exhibition, as all the cells are per-
ectly sealed.
At one end of the gallery devoted to
displays of honey and beeswax is q
arge collection of hives, honey ex-
bee smokers, face protectors,
lOney knives, comb foundations and |
many other appliances used in handling |
ices and honey. There is also large
Collection of literature pertaining to
ices and honey.
Beekeepers desire to sell extracted
honey and consumers desire it in the |
Omb. Comb honey is difficult to trans
'ort, and on that account is expensive.
Is an article of commerce honey no
onger deserves much attention. Ithas
sentimental rather than an intrinsic
alue. All the poets from David to
Whittier have sung its praises But re-
emily other sweets have beer pro-
uced that take its place, and it now
ONES in competition with many con-
iments unknown to the people of for
ner times. Cheap and rapid transpor-
alton make it practical to have fresh
ruits nearly all the year, while canned
ruits of every kind are 30 cheap that
he poorest can consume them freely.
Candles made from an adulterated
'eeswaX are required for Catholic
hurches, and an exhibit of them is
nade by several countries Some of
he altar candles are eight feet in
ength and are most beautifully orna-
nented with representations of Christ,
he holy virgin and the apostles. Can
les superior to these in design and
nish cannot be seen in any of the great
of Europe.