Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-07-30
FAIR BEE EXHIBIT
BEST IN VERMONT

BEOl LIN YEKMUNl
I'm no other year, perhaps, has the
bee and honey exhibit of the Addison
County Fair met with the general in
terest that will be manifested in 1920,
The soaring costs of sugar and the
problems of canning and cooking with
out an abundance of it have resulted
in the housewife turning more and
more to the product of the bee. Every
indication 0"'''+S to a record exhibit in
indication points to a record exhibit
in the Fair that has always enjoyed
the distinction of having the greatest
honey exhibit not only in the State
but also in New England and in the
country.
Honey as a food is being used as it
never was before, 1t is found on the
menus of the best hotels and restau-
rants and before long vii be included
quite generally on the workingman's
table The keepers of bees, according
to statistics of the department of agri-
culture, now number in the neighbour
hood of three quarters of a million,
caring for an estimated total of ten
million hives and producing more than
twenty millions of dollars worth of
honey And this valuation could be
increased tenfold without crowding the
industry.
The agriculture experts urge that
bees be kept not only for the produc-
ton of honey but also for the benefit
to the orchards. By disseminating the
pollen from the fruit trees the bees
are known to materially increase the
output of the orchards. Experiments
have left no doubt as to the real value
of the bees in this work.
In Addison County there are about
fifty commercial hivekeepers as well as
numerous farmers who care for but a
few swarms. There are only two bee
merchants who deal exclusively in
honey. The reputation of the County
is one of the best for honey production
and the exhibit at the annual County
Fair has always surpassed all compe-
tition.
The finest honey in the world is pro-
duced in the Champlain Valley and
the largest honey producers in New
England are located in Addison Coun-
ty. The County leads the world in its
honey production, having about fifty
commercial hive keepers
The Addison County Fair will con-
tain practically the same exhibit as in
other years. Various kinds of bees,
Black, Italian and Carniolion will be
shown at their best More than TWEEN
ty-ive varieties of honey will be ex-
hibited to demonstrate that different
flowers affect the nature of the honey
This exhibit will include specimens
from all parts of the world and as in
other years will maintain its right to
the title of the best honey exhibit in
the country
There will be observation hives
showing the bees at work and at stated
times demonstrations of the use of ex-
tractors for the removal of the honey
from the combs The superintendent
of the department, Phillip E, Crane,
one of the largest honey merchants in
the county and in New England, will
have personal charge of the exhibit
The average person does not realize
that each bee brings seven ten thous-
andths of an ounce of honey at every
trip from flower to the hive, that it
travels thirty thousand miles and Wis
its two and a quarter million flowers to
gather a pound of honey. These and
other interesting facts will be explained
to the interested.
The premiums have been enriched
25 per cent this year in this as in all
the other departments. Prizes will be
offered for the following:
Best % pounds comb honey in mar
ketable condition, kind and quality to
De considered; crate of honey packed |
or market, neatness of package con-
,idered; display of chunk honey. Most
attractive display of honey in general.
Best % pounds extracted honey, body,
favor, color and neatness to govern.
argest collection of different kinds of
lonev from different flowers in glasses,
abeled Most attractive display of
extracted honey. Best ) pounds bees
wax, color and purity to govern; dis
)lay of beeswax made into useful arti-
les Best display of Italian bees with
lueen display of queen bees ready for
hipment All articles in this class ex-
ept the different kinds of honey from
lowers, shall be produced - the ex-
libitor
All in all the management of the
xhih;- warrants that the visitors to
he Beehives run there the least pos
ible risk of getting stung Theirs will
lot be a side show but one of the best
of the Fair. Every
fort will be made to encourage the
onev industry in the county in order
o render still more secure the title Of
he largest and best honey county in
Jew England.