AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 9 



the hardiest bees, but of late it is claimed that there 

 are " Golden " bees equally hardy. 



HYBRID BEES. 



This is the name generally given to the cross between 

 the Italian and black or common bees. Much has been 

 said for and against hybrids, but from experience I feel 

 satisfied that bees of the first cross between the blacks 

 and Italians are in many cases equally as profitable as 

 pure Italians. With regard tO' docility in handling, it 

 is generally understood that hybrids are exceedingly 

 vicious. While this may be true in some cases, I must 

 say, after handling many thousands of hybrid colonies, 

 that I have found very few indeed worse than some of 

 the pure races I have had to do with. The worst bees 

 I have noticed in this respect were nearly pure blacks, 

 with a small dash of Italian blood in them. I advise, 

 however, the cultivation of the pure variety. 



AXIOM. 



** Bees gorged with honey never volunteer an 

 ATTACK." Langstroth. 



