THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



47 



characteristics were taken into considera- 

 tion. 



But, before undertakinj^ the work, an 

 effort to eUniinate all undesirable traits 

 was attempted. This special work I con- 

 sider the first step requisite to rapid and 

 permanent improvement. 



Let us note some of the undesirable 

 traits to be eliminated. Possibly I ma}' 

 be rather particular in my desire to weed 

 out; but thoroughness in all things is 

 the key to success. So I began by su- 

 perseding the queens of all colonies hav- 

 ing a vindictive disposition, supplanting 

 them with others reared from my best 

 tempered colonies. In this selection I 

 have also been careful to avoid other un- 

 desirable traits; among which is the ten- 

 dency to build an excessive amount of 

 burr-combs. I have found this latter 

 type to concentrate their eflfoits, instead 

 of expanding in securing the largest 

 yield of comb honey; to say nothing of 

 the objectional trait, necessitating fre- 

 quent scraping of the top-bars and su- 

 per bottoms. So this necessitated the 

 supersedure of queens in all such colonies. 

 Then, again, most bee-keepers have 

 noticed that some colonies are less pro- 

 lific than others — notably so for genera- 

 tions. I here speak of colonies, believing 

 the queens are not altogether at fault. As 

 strong colonies, other things being equal, 

 store the greatest amount of honey, it is 

 evident that the unprolific queens should 

 be superseded. 



With chronic unprolificness, bad tem- 

 per, and the burr-comb tendency elimin- 

 ated, we now begin to improve our stock 

 by selecting the best honey gathering 

 colonies, which must contain, not only 

 the largest workers, but queens and 

 drones, all having good and uniform 

 markings. Here, demands are forth- 

 coming for the reslricitive breeding of 

 inferior drones, they bring the greatest 

 impediment to the successful breeding of 

 improved stock. Parenthetically, let me 

 say, that artificial comb would be a great 

 factor in the improvement of bees. It 



would allow the production of drones 

 from desirable colonies only. 



Speaking of queens, I am aware that 

 many of our successful queen breeders 

 contend that small queens are fully equal 

 to those which are larger. Still, if size 

 of the workers is to be increased, parent- 

 age will sustain the law of heredity. 



Under no circumstances do I retain a 

 small or dark queen; believing, as I do, 

 that the Italian variety of bees are but — 

 tlioroughbreds. Since the first importa- 

 tion of them into this country, I have 

 found the queens far from being uniform 

 in color. Distinct varieties in nature are 

 alike in color and markings. 



The drones, having no sire, are the best 

 test of the progeny of large queens. 

 Those who decide that the progeny of 

 small queens is equal to that of large 

 ones, have possibly been looking at 

 the business end, the workers. But 

 they have a sire, and partake of charac- 

 teristics from both sides, consequently, 

 maintain a fair average. So thoroughly 

 am I convinced of this, that in my best 

 efTorts, the drones receive a share of 

 attention. Having one queen which 

 produces extra large drones, I have re- 

 queened nearly one-fourth of my colonies 

 from her daughters; most of them pro- 

 ducing fine workers and drones. 



All efTorts to improve our stock of bees 

 should be eclectic — we should follow 

 every possible lead. Queens reared very 

 earl}' in the season, or previous to the 

 drone period, I have generally found in- 

 ferior; while those reared in September 

 have proved my very best. The limited 

 period of egg laying which follows late 

 impregnation, undoubtedly tends to con- 

 serve their vitality for another season. 



The promiscuous breeding of drones is 

 doubtless unfavorable to the production 

 of improved stock. It tends to a general 

 nrixing instead of developing desirable 

 characteristics. The principle object of 

 requeening one-fourth of my colonies 

 from daughters of the queen producing 

 large drones, was to aid in preventing 

 the promiscuous breeding of them. 



