THE APIARY. 331 



The Italians certainly possess the following points of superiority : 



First, They possess longer tongues (Fig. 12), and so can gather from flowers 

 which are useless to the black bee. 



Second, They are more active, and with the same opportunities will collect a 

 good deal more honey. 



Third, They work earlier and later. 



Fourth, They are far better to protect their hives against robbers. Robbers 

 that attempt to plunder Italians of their hard-earned stores soon find that they 

 have ''dared to beard the lion in his den." 



Fifth, They are almost proof against the ravages of the bee-motli's larvre. 



Sixth, The queens are decidedly more prolific. This is probably in part due 

 to the greater and more constant activity of the neuters. 



Seventh, Brood-rearing commences earlier in the season. 



Eighth, The queen is more readily found, which is a great advantage. 



Ninth, The bees are more disposed to adhere to the comb while being han- 

 dled, which some might hold as a doubtful compliment, but which I consider a 

 desirable quality. 



Tenth, They are far less apt to attempt to rob other hives. 



Eleventh, And in my estimation, a sufficient ground for preference, did it 

 stand alone, the bees are far more amiable. Years ago I got rid of my black 

 bees, because they were so cross. This year I got two or three colonies, that 

 my students might see the difference, but to my regret ; for, come to remove 

 the honey this autumn, they seemed perfectly furious, like demons, seeking 

 whom they might devour, and this, too, despite the smoker, while the far more 

 numerous Italians were safely handled, even without smoke. The experiment 

 at least satisfied a large class of students as to superiority. No, I have kept 

 these two races side by side for years, I have studied them most carefully, and 

 I know that none of the above eleven points of excellence are too strongly 

 stated. 



The black bees are superior in one, and in perhaps two respects. They cer- 

 tauily will go into boxes more readily, to make box-honey, and I have some 

 reason to think that they are more hardy, yet many claim that the Italians are 

 suj^erior in point of hardiness. 



CHAPTER YII. 



TVHAT CONDITION'S ARE REQUISITE TO ENSURE THE GREATEST 

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE APIARY. 



The most important demand, in fact, it is the very key to all success, is, that 

 the bees be kept strong. This fortifies against robbers, is an impregnable wall 

 of defense against the bee-moth, helps to make the apiarist merry despite the 

 disastrous winters, and insures a }'ield of precious nectar, which makes glad the 

 heart, and full the pocket. 



This demands, of course, that if swarming be allowed at all, such swarms 

 should be secured, and that excessive swarming be prevented. It also demands 

 that the queen should never cease laying for want of room, or empty cells in 



