OR, MANUAL OF THB APIARY. 309 



perfectly furious, like demons, seeking whom they might 

 devour, and this, too, despite the smoker, while the far more 

 numerous Italians were safely handled, even without smoke. 

 The experiment at least satisfied a large class of students as 

 to superiority. Mr. Quinby speaks in his book of their being 

 cross, and Capt. Hetherington tells me that if not much 

 handled they are more cross than the blacks. From my own 

 •experience, I can not understand this. Hybrids, between 

 blacks and Italians, are ofttimes even more cross than are the 

 pure black bees, but otherwise are nearly as desirable as the 

 pure Italians. 



I have kept these two races side by side for years ; I have 

 studied them most carefully, and I feel sure that none of the 

 foregoing eleven points of excellence are too strongly stated. 



The black bees will go into sections more readily than 

 Italians, yet the skillful apiarist will find it easy to overcome 

 this objection in the manner already described. 



There is no question but that the German bees produce 

 nicer, whiter comb honey than do the Italians. This supe- 

 riority is due in part to thicker cappings, and to a wider air- 

 space between honey and capping. This, however, is too nice 

 a point to count very greatly in their favor. ' The comb honey 

 produced by Italians does not have to go begging in the 

 markets. 



The advantages of the Italians, which have been consid- 

 ered thus fully, are more than sufficient to warrant the exclu- 

 sion of the German bees from the apiary. I say truly, no one 

 needs to be urged to a course that adds to the ease, profit and 

 agreeableness of his vocation. Darwin showed, years ago, 

 that introduced or newly imported plants or animals usually 

 possessed more vigor than those " to the manor born." Hence 

 the wisdom of frequent and repeated importations from Italy. 

 This is the more desirable unless the queen-breeder works 

 carefully and scientifically to improve his stock. No doubt we 

 have American queen-breeders whose bees are superior to any 

 they might secure from Italy. Yet even these may find it 

 desirable to bring occasional fresh stock from the I^igurian 

 hills. 



