THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



January 



released without force, combining 

 simplicity and moderate cost, still af- 

 fords ample scope for the inventive 

 genius of the fraternity. 



It is said that buyers in San Diego 

 are paying but 2^c per lb. for Califor- 

 nia honey. By the time the trans- 

 portation companies and the non-pro- 

 ducing " middlemen" are satisfied, 

 however, the consumer will pay a 

 much higher price for it than he 

 would, had the producer received a 

 fair price for his goods, under a co- 

 operative and equitable system of 

 distribution. AVith the advantages of 

 such a system the consumer could 

 buy cheaper, the producer would re- 

 ceive just remuneration for hisjlabor, 

 and the middleman would be released 

 from his present burden of cares and 

 schemes, and at liberty to engage in 

 some legitimate avocation that would 

 add to, instead of detract from the 

 worlds storehouse of wealth. 



A union of the N. A. B. K. A., and 

 the N. A. B. K. U., seems quite evi- 

 dent and eminently desirable. There 

 is indeed a " broad field of labor" for 

 such an organization, and, I opine, 

 hundreds of dollars waiting only for 

 the announcement that the union has 

 been effected, to pour into the treasury. 

 My dollar is ready. 



We have a few copies of A. B. C. 

 of Bee Culture, with paper cover, 

 which we will send post-paid for 50c 

 each. 



Clubbing List. 



We will send the American BeeKeeper with 



the— PUB. PRCE. BOTH. 



American Bee Journal, (81 00) 81 35 



Americiin Apicuitunst, ( 75; 1 15 



Bee-Keeper's Review, (1 00) 1 35 



Canadian Bee Journal, (1 00) 1 25 



Gleanings in Bee Culture, (1 00) 1 35 



(From the Canadian Bee Journal.) 



WHAT IS INDICATED BY OOLOE 

 IN ITALIAN BEES? 



BY J. P. H. BROWN. 



"What is indicated by color in 

 Italian bees?" 



Before I can proceed to answer this 

 question I beg leave to ask another, 

 and to make a few observations there- 

 on. Is the Italian bee a fixed type or 

 race with a distinct individuality, or 

 only a variety of a'pis melificaf That 

 it is only a variety and not a fixed 

 type, is a fact well established, both 

 by its physical characteristics in 

 breeding and by a study of its geo- 

 graphical distribution in its "Sunny 

 Italian clime." 



But to constitute a variety or breed 

 of any species there must be some dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics. Thus, 

 the different breeds of cattle, horses, 

 swine, poultry, etc., can readily be 

 distinguished from each other by cer- 

 tain physical markings, and by pecul- 

 iarities of temperament. This same 

 law applies to the Italian bee. 



We have been accustomed to find it 

 in those Italian districts where it ex- 

 ists in its highest state of development, 

 with the three abdomical segments 

 next the thorax of a color varying 

 from a bright yellow to a dark leather. 

 These three yellow bands are claimed 

 to be a test of purity ; but there are 

 physical conditions that prevail is this 

 variety of bees that are really more 

 reliable as a test of purity than the 



