706 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



tical question arises with the beginner how he can keep to the best 

 type, or at least approach it, while learning how further improve- 

 ment may be effected. There comes also to his mind, at least in 

 many instances, a dread of cross bees and the fearful stinging which 

 may result from unskillful manipulation of bad-tempered races. 

 Since, however, there exist bees so gentle as to remove all difficulties 

 in this direction, and which are, at the same time, productive work 

 ers comparing favorably with most others, there need be no question 

 whatever but that the most advisable thing is for the beginner to 

 adopt one of these races. The gentlest are the Caucasians, imported 

 originally from the Caucasus, a Russian territory lying between the 

 Black and Caspian Seas, partly in Europe and partly in Asia. They 

 have been cultivated to a greater or less degree for some twenty- 

 five years in Europe, and, although imported into the United States 

 a number of years ago, but little has been done in the way of multi- 

 plying them and introducing them generally. Their manifest place, 

 however, in popularizing bee-keeping in cities and towns and among 

 the rural population, wherein fear of stings is the chief obstacle to 

 a more or less extended introduction of bee culture, makes the 

 Caucasian race preeminently one wdiich should receive much consid- 

 eration. In view of this, the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture has recently imported quite a number of breeding queens, and 

 plans an extensive introduction and testing of this variety in various 

 portions of the country. The most prominent particular in which 

 they differ from other races is their gentleness. It is quite possible, 

 without the slightest fear of stings, to open the hives at any time 

 during the working season, without the use of smoke and with no 

 protection to face or hands. The bees may be given the roughest 

 possible treatment — shaken, brushed and tumbled about, as though 

 they were so many beans, yet no resentment will be shown. The 

 queens are exceedingly prolific, and the workers industrious. They 

 are, therefore, decidedly to be recommended for all novices in bee 

 manipulation. 



Carniolans for Comb Honey. — Should the purpose of the bee 

 raiser be the production of the very highest grade of comb honey 

 Carniolan bees, or bees largely composed of this blood, are to be 

 recommended. The qualities for which they are noted are prolific- 

 ness, hardiness (both as regards the individual workers and as 

 regards whole colonies). Their industry is marked. Their gentle- 

 ness, when pure in blood, is acknowledged by all who have had 

 genuine Carniolans. In this respect they are second only to the 

 Caucasians, and, as a race, quite in advance, in gentleness, of the 

 best Italians. 



The question might be raised here why I would not recommend, 

 in preference to the Carniolans, the Italians, so long and favorably 

 known in this country. While admitting that many strains of the 

 Italians quite exceed others in productiveness, gentleness, hardiness, 

 and honey-yielding powers, I cannot in these particulars rank them 

 as averaging equal to the Carniolans. Their disposition to cease 

 brood rearing, wholly or in part, at critical times and their great 

 predisposition toward dwindling in early spring oftentimes makes 

 it very uncertain whether their colonies will or will not be in proper 

 shape for the given harvest. On the other hand, the native hardi- 

 ness, the race prolificness, and the steady brooding qualities of the 



