have for several years contended that 

 there was much difference in Italian 

 bees. Some strains are no better, if as 

 good as the blacks, while others are far 

 superior ; and I have invariably found 

 this superior strain a shade darker (or 

 rather leather-color), than the bright 

 strain ; but there are exceptions even 

 to this rule, for one of my brightest 

 colonies give 125 pounds, and is very 

 full for winter. No other did as well 

 in such a poor season as this. This 

 rule also holds good with black bees. 

 I knew, a few years ago, of an apiary 

 of black bees, in a good location, to 

 do nothing for 7 or eight years, while 

 some others in the same neighborhood, 

 but perhaps not as good a location, 

 were doing well. I once had the same 

 sort of Italians that so disgusted friend 

 Heddon, but owing to the nature of 

 that season I found them better than 

 the blacks. I had then several black 

 colonies in the same yard, and it was 

 one of the poorest of seasons. No sur- 

 plus at all ; but the Italians had made 

 enough to winter on, while the blacks 

 had to be fed. The bright ones I now 

 have are better than the bright ones 

 I had 6 or 7 years ago, as I have been 

 improving my bees for years. 



While on this subiect I will say a few 

 more words on a 



STANDARD OF PURITY FOR ITALIANS. 



In my last article on that subject, I 

 stated that it would be no easy task. 

 I now say, that so far as the color of 

 the queen is concerned, it will be im- 

 possible ; for she will have to be 

 judged by her progeny. Every bee- 

 man of long experience knows that 

 every black queen does not duplicate 

 herself ; or in other words, they are 

 not all alike ; some are larger than 

 others; some are coal-black; some so 

 light that it is hard to tell the differ- 

 ence between them and Italians. It is 

 just so with Italians. The dark or dif- 

 ferent colors are no evidence of im- 

 purity. I have found in my experience 

 that the comb they are hatched on has 

 some influence oil the color of the 

 queen ; as for instance, raise a batch 

 of queens in old black comb, or at a 

 time while the bees are not gathering 

 honey, and they will be apt to build the 

 queen cells from the old black comb. 

 They are considerably darker than any 

 raised from the same queens in new 

 comb, or while the bees were gathering 

 honey, for the bees would then build 

 the cell of new wax, even if the comb 

 was old and black. I prefer a bright 

 leather-color queen of good size, with 

 black on tip of tail, and good sound 

 wings. Each of the workers to show 



three plain regular golden bands, long 

 tapering abdomen and long wings ; but 

 I think that the more regular the 

 golden bands, the better. I notice for 

 years that the best imported Italians 

 have the three bands finer and more 

 regular than our home-bred ones. 



The drones should be longer and yel- 

 low, with three wide bands, and as even 

 and uniform as the workers. I make 

 it a practice to destroy all drones that 

 do not come up to the standard. I also 

 remove all queens, no matter how 

 bright and beautiful, if they are not 

 prolific. I have had queens hatch out 

 almost black, and yet turn yellow soon 

 after impregnation. Last year I had 

 one hatch almost as dark as a black 

 queen, and in July she was among the 

 very brightest queens in the apiary. I 

 have also had some look very bright the 

 day they came out of the cell, and yet 

 turn several shades darker as they 

 grew older. 



I would advise all queen raisers to 

 breed from their purest and most pro- 

 lific queens, whose progeny are the best 

 honey gatherers, and to use new comb 

 to start the cells on. 



For tlie American Bee Journal. 



Glucose— Imported Queens, &c. 



BY THE REV. A. SALISBURY. 



The war having opened, I hope the 

 Journal will continue to throw " shot 

 and shell " into the ranks of the enemy, 

 until glucose will every where, be sold 

 only by its proper name. 



IMPORTED QUEENS. 



There is no doubt but that the last 

 National Convention, did a good thing 

 when it gave its influence against 

 a farther and promiscious importation 

 of Italian queens. 



We now have the Italian bee in all 

 its markings of purity, and good quali- 

 ties. Americans, without doubt, will 

 make a greater effort to improve these 

 good qualities than almost any other 

 people. Prices are so low that no im- 

 porter can afford to discard worthless 

 imported queens. It is also true that 

 queen breeders will be compelled for a 

 while to breed considerably from 

 imported mothers to meet the demand. 



PROLIFIC QUEENS. 



I feel somewhat inclined to advance 

 an idea slightly in conflict with the 

 opinions or many good men. Are dark 

 colored queens most prolific V Erom 

 some cause they seem to have gained 

 the preference. Why should it be V 

 Perfection is the true type by which we 

 judge. Fecundity, bright color, in an 



