14. BEES. 
Various races of bees have been imported into the United States 
and among experienced bee keepers there are ardent advocates of 
almost all of them. The black or German race was the first imported, 
very early in the history of the country, and is found everywhere, 
but usually not entirely pure. Asa rule this race is not desirable. No 
attention has been paid to breeding it for improvement in this country, 
and it is usually found inthe handsof careless bee keepers. As a result 
it is inferior, although it often produces beautiful comb honey. 
The Italian bees, the next introduced, are the most popular race 
among the best bee keepers in this country, and with good reason. 
They are vigorous workers and good honey gatherers, defend their 
hives well, and above all have been more carefully selected by Ameri- 
can breeders than any other race. Especially for the last reason it is 
usually desirable to keep this race. That almost any other race of bees 
known could be bred to as high a point as the Italians, and perhaps 
higher, can not be doubted, but the bee keeper now gets the benefit of 
what has beendone for this race. It should not be understood from this 
that the efforts at breeding have been highly successful. On the con- 
trary, bee breeding will 
y compare very unfavora- 
: Pbise hc St, WD rae es bly with the improve- 
fi i : i it | Ai i AN ment of other animals or 
AN i! lH 
| iM MAR plants which have been 
the subject of breeding 
investigations. 
Italian bees have been carefully selected for color by some breeders 
to increase the area of yellow on the abdomen, until we now have 
what are known as ‘‘five-banded”’ bees. These are very beautiful, 
but it can scarcely be claimed that they are improved as honey pro- 
ducers or in regard to gentleness. They are kept mostly by amateurs. 
Some breeders have claimed to select Italians for greater length of 
tongue, with the object of getting a bee which could obtain the 
abundance of nectar from red clover. If any gain is ever made in 
this respect, it is soon lost. The terms ‘‘red-clover bees”’ or “‘long- 
tongued bees’’ are somewhat misleading, but are ordinarily used as 
indicating good honey producers. 
Caucasian bees, formerly distributed throughout the country by 
this department, are the most gentle race of bees known. They are 
not stingless, however, as is often stated in newspapers and other 
periodicals. Many report them as good honey gatherers. They are 
more prolific than Italians and may possibly become popular. Their 
worst characteristic is that they gather great quantities of propolis 
and build burr and brace combs very freely. They are most desirable 
bees for the amateur or for experimental purposes. 
447 
Fia. 9.—Bee brush. 
