The Portland daily press., 1901-02-16
BUFFALO AND TUE BEES.
A Special structure For the Honey
MaSers nj the Pan-American.

A SrcctaI structurc For the Honey
MaSers at the Pan-American.
The busy bee will be in big business
at the Pan-American Exposition the
coming summer. 1t has been decided
to construct a special building for the
proper display of the~sorklng colonies
Of bees and the great variety Of bee
keepers supplies which sill constitute
this exhibit. This will undoubtedly be
the most extensive bee exhibit ever
prepared in this or any other part OF
the world. Any one who is not n stu
dent OF bee culture little realizes the
very great Importance of this industry.
1t is estimated that there are 100000
persons engaged in bee culture In the
United States alone and that the pres
ent annual value of honey and wax Is
In excess of S2O.O00,0 900. There are ITO
societies devoted TO the study and pro-
motion of bsekeeplng. Eight Journals
are sustained by this industry. Fif-
teen steam power factories are produc-
ing supplies of various kinds for the
use of beekeepers. American honey
finds n market in many distant coun-
tries, the United States producing more
honey than any other nation.
The bee exhibits at the PanAmeri-
can Exposition will be so arranged that
the bees may enter their hives from
the exterior OF the building and carry
on their work of honey collection un-
disturbed by visitors, yet In full view
through the glass sides of their hives.
The successful management OF an
apiary requires knowledge of botany
as well as the habits and requirements
of the bees themselves. The little
honey bee plays a very important part
in the general economy. The failure
of fruit crops may be due TO the alb
sence of bees, whose special function Is
TO fertllize the blossoms by carrying
the pollen from stamens TO pistil.
1t is estimated that the flora of the
United States could sustain ten times
as many bees as are now In existence
and nearly every farm could support
an apiary Of profitable size. The bee
exhibit will illustrate the operation Of
an aplary and will show the common
honey producing flora in q way 10 be
uIdeTSloOu ny All Nhp may bt ihANtNSt
ed The relation of bees TO horticul-
ture and agriculture will be clearly
shown and the many uses of honey IL
lustrated. Honey is extensively used
In the manufacture of bake stuffs and
in making medicines and candies, Bees
wax is n commercial article much used
by dentists and manufacturers OF wax
goods
The actual demonstration of beekeep-
ers' supplies of latest pattern will show
what economies may be practiced by
.beekeepers to increase their profits.
The movable frame hive was invented
In 1851 by Langstroth, and since that
time the application of labor saving,
honey saving and bee saving devices
has been very interesting and impor.
tant. Experiments in crossing varieties
Of bees have been carried on with sur
prising success New York. Pennsyl.
vania, Vermont and other New Eng.
land states are large producers Of comb
honey. Any locality in which white
clover, Eastwood and buckwheat are
plentiful is adapted 10 the successful
culture of the bees. In California and
Arizona the keeping of bees. ranks as
one of the most important Industries.
MARK BENNITT.