316 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



work after the rest had come to a 

 stand still in gathering- honey from 

 some unknown source, probably out- 

 side the range of flight of the other 

 bees. 



In no other way is the vigor and 

 strength of constitution of different col- 

 onies better shown than in seasons or 

 periods of scarcity. Some colonies 

 will build up, storing some honey, and 

 swarming, perhaps, while the weaker 

 sisters wear out so fast as hardly to 

 hold their own, and some will run 

 down and die, or become worthless, in 

 spite of our etiforts in their behalf. 



Soine years ago I moved a yard of 

 bees two-thirds of a inile to the east of 

 its fonner location, only to find later 

 that I had moved it away from the best 

 part of my range, and the yield of 

 honey was a good deal reduced. 

 What was I to do ? Move my bees 

 back a mile to the west, and so much 

 further from my present home, but 

 nearer the best honey ? I finally de- 

 cided to let them remain where they 

 were, but breed for stronger bees, such 

 as would be able to reach the best of 

 their former range; and I am led to 

 believe from the increased yield in 

 this yard that I have, to quite a de- 

 gree, accomplished my purpose 



Another time in which the greater or 

 less endurance shows itself is when a 

 new swarm is placed in a new hive 

 with no brood hatching for three weeks 

 during the tiine the flowers are yield- 

 ing honey freely; for greater endur- 

 ance means longevity, and length of 

 days in bees is of quite as much im- 

 portance as length of tongues, and I 

 tio not wish to say anything derogatory 

 to this most excellent quality. 



But say ! Was it not amusing to see 

 when, a few years ago, the subject of 

 long tongues was discussed, how many 

 queen-breeders were breeding queens 

 that produced just such tongues ? I 

 have sometimes fancied that Jonah's 

 gourd would have blushed at its own 

 slow growth compared with the tongues 

 of our American-Italian bees for a 

 year or two, could it have known about 

 it; but this is only a fancy. 



The longer I live and handle bees, 

 the more I am convinced that consti- 

 tution, strength, and endurance are of 

 the utmost importance in bees, as in 

 other dotnestic creatures. Let us have 

 long tongues if we inay, and all other 

 good qualities; but all these will be of 

 little value without the strength to use 

 them. If we breed for constitution we 

 may, if we breed wisely, secure most 



desirable results. If I were to say 

 what would doubtless be most popular 

 with a large number, I presume the 

 majority of progressive bee-keepers, 

 I should say that the darker shades of 

 Italian bees are to bo preferred. 



Now, I do not believe that the qualit3' 

 of a bee depends on the color of its 

 body alone; nevertheless, I believe that 

 the darker shades of Italians in this 

 country are, as a rule, stronger and 

 more enduring than their lighter- 

 colored sisters — not that the darker 

 shade makes them stronger, or that 

 the lighter color makes the others 

 weaker, but that the darker ones have 

 been bred for honey-gathering quali- 

 ties, without inuch regard to color, 

 while the lighter ones have been bred 

 for strength and endurance — some ex- 

 ceptions, doubtless. 



That a strain of bees can be produced 

 that will be of a light beautiful color, 

 and at the same time most enduring, I 

 have not the slightest doubt; indeed, 

 the queen that I have thought has 

 made the greatest improvement in my 

 own bees has been one whose workers 

 were, a large portion of them, five- 

 banded golden bees; in fact, the lightest 

 and handsomest I have ever handled 

 I like a handsome bee. It rests me to 

 open a hive of beautiful bees. It min- 

 isters to our higher nature; but if we 

 cannot have both, let us make sure of 

 strong, vigorous, enduring bees that 

 fill our supers, for this also is beau- 

 tiful. 



SUPERIOR QUEENS 



For the balance of the season. 

 CAUCASIANS, untested, 75 cts. each, 

 $8.00 per dozen. Tested, $1.00 each; 

 $11.00 per dozen. Select tested, $1.25; 

 $12.00 per dozen. 



ITAIJANS and CARNIOI.ANS un- 

 tested, 60 cts. each; $6.50 per dozen. 

 Tested, 75 cts. each, $8.00 per dozen. 

 Select tested, $1.00 each, $11.00 per 

 dozen. 



CHAS. KOEPPEN, 



Fredericksburg, Va. 



A 15,000 FERRETS. Send 6 cents 

 ^^^^ (or illustratod terri-t book published, 

 y^^MPv 4,s paRe^ of practical experience from 

 ^^^6 ^ a life study of these useful little ani- 

 mal>-. telling- how to .'-uccessfuUy breed 

 and work ferrets, how ferrets clear buildings of 

 rats, drive rabbits from burrows. Price list free. 



SAMUEL FARNSWORTH. Middalton, Ohio. 



