.to March, 191 2.] Bce-keefing in Victoria. 177 



of the other races will not leave the hive, and it commences brood rearing 

 very early in spring — almost in midwinter. As in the raising of brood, 

 pollen, the fertilising dust of flowers, is required, the black bee is a 

 most important factor in the fertilisation of the blossoms of the 

 earliest flowering kinds of fruit trees. In cool districts, or when 

 the pollination of fruit blossom is of greater importance than the 

 yield of honey, the black bee or one of its crosses with Italian or Cyprian 

 is probably the best kind of bee to keep. On the other hand. Blacks, 

 although commencing to breed early, do not maintain a high rate of re- 

 production for long and, where the main honey flow occurs in summer, 

 do not give as good a yield of honey per hive as Italians. They are 

 excessive swarmers, more excitable when handled than the other races, 

 offer less resistance to foulbrood, and often allow wax moth grubs to 

 .infest their combs. 



The Italian Bee was introduced in the seventies. It is of somewhat 

 lighter build than the Black and has three yellow or light orange coloured 

 bands across the abdomen. It is gentle and little inclined to sting when 

 properly handled. Italian queens, even those imported direct from Italy, 

 vary greatly in colour, some are quite yellow, and some almost as dark as 

 -black queens ; whilst others have dark and yellow bands. The colour 

 of the queen is therefore no indication of purity of race, the best proof 

 of which is the uniform markmgs of all tier worker progeny. Italian 

 bees cling tightly to the combs when the frames of combs are handled, 

 while black bees or hybrids often drop off without shaking. 

 Pure bred Italians, and, to a lesser degree their crosses with others, 

 are more immune from foulbrood, and rarely allow wax moth grubs to 

 get into their combs. They begin breeding later in spring than Blacks, 

 but at the approach of warm weather soon overtake the latter and main- 

 tain a greater worker force throughout the season. A variation of the 

 Italian is the Golden Italian which was secured by select breeding for 

 colour, or by crossing with Cyprians. It has five yellow bands instead 

 of three — practically the whole of the abdomen is yellow. Bees of this 

 variety are more susceptible to cold and wet than the three banded Italians 

 .and rather predisposed to Bee-Paralysis. Italians, when pure, do not cap 

 their combs so white as black bees do, and are therefore less suitable for 

 the production of comb honey. 



The Cyprian in appearance, and many other respects, resembles the 

 Italian. It is somewhat slimmer, the yellow rings are of a deeper shade, 

 and the fuzz rings of the segments whiter. Cyprians are good breeders, 

 sometimes continuing brood rearing when a honey-flow has stopped till all 

 stores are consumed. They raise a large number of fine queen cells at 

 swarming time or when made queenless. Their undesirable characteristic 

 is viciousness during a dearth of nectar, when even the use of smoke, so 

 effective with other races, will not subdue them. As they are not superior 

 to Italians in honey gathering they are not desirable, and not many are 

 now kept in Victoria. 



The Carniolan is one of the more recent introductions, in appearance 

 and habits resembles the black bee, from which it is distinguished by the 

 greyish colour of the segment rings. Carniolans are excessive swarmers, 

 as gentle as Italians when pure, but owing to their close resemblance to 

 blacks it is difficult to maintain purity of race. Taking the experience of 

 the largest honey producers of this State for guidance the three banded 

 Italians can be recommended as the best bees to keep for honey produc- 

 tion. 



