892 



THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



ITALIAN BEE. 



and the bee moth with great energy. They are so gentle that, after a little experience, 

 any one can handle them without fear of being stung. They breed faster, and, being 

 larger than the common or German variety, have longer tongues, which 

 enable them to reach to the honey deposit of certain flowers not reached by 

 the latter; they will, therefore, gather much more honey during the season 

 than the common variety. Mr. W. S. Blaisdell, of Eandolph, Vt., a suc 

 cessful and extensive apiarist for many years, says: &quot; The Italian bee has 

 become very generally known, and the leading apiarists have pronounced 

 very emphatically as to its superiority over the common variety. These 

 bees adhere with great tenacity to their combs, and go with much reluctance 

 into the surplus boxes, especially when these boxes are not at the nearest 

 possible point to their brood. In this respect they are unlike the blacks, and 

 those who have been successful with the latter are not always careful to note this disinclina 

 tion of the Italian, and, careless of what their instinct demands, fail to reap the benefits of 

 their superior capacity.&quot; 



The Cyprian variety, from the island of Cyprus, and the SYRIAN, from the mountains 

 of Lebanon, resemble the Italian very closely, being marked quite dis 

 tinctly with the yellow bands. They differ from the Italian in 

 disposition, especially the Cyprian, being of strong, nervous tempera 

 ment, and apt to be very combative in disposition when disturbed. They 

 are, however, more prolific in late fall breeding than the German or 

 Italian, furnishing a stronger colony of young bees to endure the 

 winter. They have a swifter flight and longer tongues than the 

 German or common black variety, and also seek the surplus boxes 

 fully as readily as the latter. Hybrid bees are apt to be cross and 

 vicious in disposition. 



Implements Essential for the Apiary. In bee-keeping, 

 as in any other business, certain implements are essential. The first 

 requisite in the apiary is a good hive, and the very best should be 

 secured. A bee-feeder is also a necessity for every hive; one should be 

 procured that does not drip, and which can be filled without disturbing 

 the bees. A bee- veil will be found of great convenience for the novice 

 in the business in handling the bees in swarming 

 time, etc., but the apiarist of long experience will 

 scarcely require this protection. A honey knife for 

 taking the honey from the hive is also very essential, 

 although any well-tempered, thin knife will answer the 

 purpose. &quot;Where honey is made in small, movable 

 frames, the honey knife is not essential. 



A good bee-smoker is a very serviceable implement, 

 and is really a necessity where bees are kept on an ex 

 tensive scale. These implements are used for subduing bees by fumigation, when necessary 

 to handle them or to remove their honey from the hive; also for causing parts of different 

 swarms to unite when desired. A few puffs of smoke from any of the modern bee-smokers 

 will quiet and subdue the most angry and combative swarm of bees in a few moments, so 

 that they may be manipulated at will without danger to the operator. 



BEE VEIL. 



HONEY KNIVES. 



BINGUAM S BEE-SMOKER. 



NEW BELLOWS SMOKEK. 



Bingham s Bee-Smoker, manufactured by A. H. Newman, Chicago, 111., has extra wide 

 shields for protecting the hands and bellows from heat, and obviates the danger of burning 



