16 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



[Oct., 



in subsequent bi-eeding, if we may trust our 

 own observations ; and till sucla point is readied, 

 it cannot be said tliat the product possesses 

 any cliaracter at all. We have frequently seen 

 the third and fourth generation of cross bred 

 bees, on both sides of the family, and could 

 not perceive that there was yet any "fixity" 

 about them, except that all of them had, in- 

 variably, like their remotest ancestry, four 

 wings and six feet. The first cross, liowever, 

 always proved true to name, for cross they ever 

 were, through all the moods and tenses. In sub- 

 sequent crosses this bad trait was perhaps less 

 prominent, but neither was there any indication 

 of a tendency to permanent improvement. Fur- 

 ther than the fourth or fifth generation we have 

 no experience to speak of, nor do we think we 

 shall have shortly, as we mean to cut off the 

 whole tribe, "without remainder," next season, 

 by dethroning the queens and substitviting pure 

 Italians in their stead — for, as at present advised, 

 we must candidly say those are good enough 

 for us. 



But we do not wish to be understood as de- 

 nying the possibility of originating and estab- 

 lishing a superior breed of bees. Far from it. 

 On the contrary we believe it is practicable and 

 will be done, though not lightly nor speedily. 

 "When the principles of scientific breeding shall 

 have been investigated and ascertained in regard 

 to bees, as they liave been in regard to other 

 domestic animals, and means devised for carry- 

 ing on the process with precision and certainty, 

 as a definite branch of business, the way will be 

 open for improvement in this direction, and per- 

 sons will be found to devote to it the requisite 

 time, attention and skill. Then, and not till 

 then, may the "coming bee" that will stay, be 

 looked for with some confidence. 



Captain Baldenstein, who introduced the Ital- 

 ian bee in Switzerland long before it attracted the 

 notice of German ajjiarians, had during eight or 

 ten years, only one stock of the pure race, with 

 a number of hybrid colonies of various degrees 

 of intermixture ; but he does not appear to have 

 observed among the latter, at any time, any that 

 were sni^erior or even equal as honey storers 

 to the original, puie Italians. As a genial bee- 

 keeper and close observer, he may be regarded 

 as a trustworthy reporter of what was seen 

 when the first cross-bred bees presented them- 

 selves outside of Italian territory. Casual mix- 

 ture, or loosely managed cross-breeding, has. not 

 yet led to any encouraging results. More is to 

 be hoped from systematic methods, when we get 

 into position to adopt and prosecute them ; 

 though it will never do to proceed on the Dar- 

 winian theory of breeding men from monkies, 

 fur that, according to the great dramatist, pre- 

 cisely reverses the natural course, as he told us, 

 hundreds of years ago, that 



" The straiu of man's bred out 



luto baboon and monkey;" 

 and we feel pretty sure that if facts be appealed 

 to in demonstration of theory, the poet would 

 distance the philosopher. — [Ed. 



[For the Americau Bee Jourual ] 



An Hour Amous: the Bees. 



Mr. Editor : — Before 1 give you an account 

 of a most interesting hour I lately had among 

 my bees, permit me to return my thanks to your- 

 self, Mr. Editor, and Mr. J. M. Marvin, for the 

 proposed solutions of ray problem ; though I am 

 not j'et perfectly satisfied with the explanations 

 given. The event occurred on the 25th of July. 

 The queen was not old, but vigorous. There 

 was neither a young queen nor a queen cell in 

 the hive ; the l^i'ame, with queen, was not more 

 than a minute out of the hive, nor were there any 

 robbers jn-esent. 



I could yield to Mr. Marvin's solution, if I 

 could see how any poison could touch the queen 

 before she was first attacked, which was evi- 

 dently with deadly design. The bees were in no- 

 wise irritated previously. I can easily account 

 for poison getting to the queen after the battle 

 commenced. But I am not sorry for sending 

 my problem to the Bee Journal, as it has been 

 the means of giving an important fact, which 

 but few know, to the public :— I mean, that if 

 a queen be touched with poison from a worker 

 bee, it produces parricides. For this, we must 

 thank J. M. Marvin. 



On an afternoon last July, I visited a populous 

 hive to which, a week previous, I gave a fine 

 large queen cell. From my Journal I ascertained 

 that the Qgg around which the cell was formed, 

 must have been laid at least seventeen days be- 

 fore. On opening the hive, I expected to meet a 

 nice young Italian queen two or three days old, 

 but to my disappointment, the cell was just as I 

 left it, unhatched. Of course I concluded that 

 its occupant was dead. So with my penknife I 

 removed the top of the cell, and behold ! a worker 

 issued, or a bee even less in size than a worker. 

 It could ruii quite smartly among the rest of the 

 bees, though it would have required a day or two 

 more to hatch it. In case the little thing should 

 give me some future trouble, I at once carried it 

 to a queenless miniature hive, and placed it on 

 one of its central combs ; but not being fully 

 matured, it was soon dragged out through the 

 entrance as a worthless bee. Since that day I 

 have had some thoughts about the aftair, and the 

 conclusion I am inclined to come to is, that the 

 occupant of the cell was too old when set apart 

 for a queen ; and were it allowed to hatch in the 

 ordinary way, and live, it would become a laying 

 worker. Now, I am sure, Mr. Editor, if my con- 

 clusion is erroneous, some of the readers of the 

 Bee Journal will soon expose it. — But as my 

 purpose is to give you an account of an hour 

 among my bees, I must proceed to the other 

 part of it. 



Having then taken a spoonful of warm sweets, 

 I opened one of my miniature hives which had an 

 Italian young queen about a week old. I poured 

 the sweets on the top of the frames, closed the 

 hive, and took my seat opposite the entrance, 

 so as to get a good sight of the queen, as she 

 would leave on her hymeneal excursion. The 

 day was calm and bright. The drones were 

 numerously flying through the air ; and as the 



