AMERICAN BEE JOURJNAI-. 



655 



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 MAII^IIVG QUEEN-BEES XO AUSTRAI.IA, 



BY C. MANSFIELD. 



Some time ago I wrote a few lines on the subject of mailing queens long dis- 

 tances. Since then I have been able to gather another grain or two of information 

 on the subject, which may be acceptable to some. 



In the great majority of cases the queens lately shipped from America to Aus- 

 tralia arrive dead. In fact, a safe arrival now is such a rara avis as to call forth a 

 lengthy report in a recent issue of "Gleanings." One Australian breeder recently 

 received a queen from America in the usual condition— mummified — and being of an 

 inquisitive turn of mind, shook out the dead bees, and put in a queen and attend- 

 ants of his own. The candy was not consumed. The result was that every bee in 

 the cage was dead in three days. How was that? Since then I have examined the 

 candy — almost untouched by the bees — in several cages sent here by Mrs. Jennie 

 Atchley, your Texan prodigy. In every case the bees were as dead as the proverbial 

 " door nail." 



Not to be foiled, some importers here decided to get the queens out in nuclei, 

 and when they arrived it was the same sad story — all dead ! 



Now, why is this, I again ask ? Of course it is only breeders who are so anxious 

 about importations from foreign countries, especially from America, where by cross- 

 ing and selection, and probably by the infusion of new blood from abroad — India, 

 to-wit, or Asia Minor — a very yellow strain of bees has been evolved. And it is this 

 strain Australian breeders are anxious to obtain in its greatest perfection. The 

 leading breeders in this country are regular importers from various breeders in 

 Italy. They come in three-frame nuclei about six inches square, ventilated, and 

 each furnished with two small flat vessels of galvanized iron hanging at the sides 

 with covered mouths hanging downwards. We find here, as you have found in 

 America, that for all the best qualities of a bee these Ligurians cannot be excelled. 

 But Australians in this sunny land, are very aesthetic, and demand the beautiful, 

 even at some sacrifice of the useful. And so we must have the " five-banded beau- 

 ties." But bow ? 



I have one or two suggestions to make. First, regarding the candy, and to 

 bear out what 1 say, I will here cite an experience. A friend of mine received two 

 queens a week ago — one from Mrs. Atchley, and one from Mr. Doolittle. Mrs. 

 Atchley's came direct, and Mr. Doolittle's made a call at New Zealand, to be re- 

 freshed, and then sent on the other four or five days' sail. Mrs. Atchley's was sent 

 in a cage made of pine, and from various indications, the very slight consumption 

 of honey, and the dry, shrivelled condition of the bees, etc., one would readily con- 

 clude that they were coffined and ready for interment before reaching San Fran- 



