THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



of the crop is gathered in the first half of 

 the day, unless it should be a little damp 

 all day ; in that case the bees buckle right 

 in as long as they can see. 



I desire to say just a few words in re- 

 gard to my article. "Facing Comb Hon- 

 ey," published in Gleanings for Feb. ist, 

 1898. It seems to be the rule that after a 

 discussion has run along to a certain de- 

 gree it is wise to "drop it for the present;" 

 then, after a while, if there were some 

 points that were not fully understood, 

 bring up the matter again; so I am will- 

 ing to drop the subject where it is, think- 

 ing that it has been fully and fairly dis- 

 cussed. The case of Snyder vs the peo- 

 ple went to the jury, and the verdict ren- 

 dered is almost unanimously in my favor; 

 only one(Doolittle) standing out; and he 

 I think through stubborness. I believe 

 this has been a very healthy discussion; 

 causing the bee-lqeepers to open their 

 eyes and bringing them to their senses 

 more than any subject published in a long 

 while. 



Kingston, N. Y. May 25, 1898. 



THE LAWS OE HEREDITY. 



How Honey Producers and Queen Breeders 

 Working Together may Profit by Them. 



J. E. CRANE. 



TN previous is- 

 ^ sues of the 

 Review I have 

 t^iven a lunnber 

 or illustrations 

 s h o w in g the 

 great changes in 

 plant and animal 

 life brought a- 

 bout by the agen- 

 cy of man. It may 

 be briefly noted 

 that such changes have been made as are 

 most useful to man, or have most plea.sed 

 his fancy. Thus we see that the blo.ssoms 



of different varieties of cabbages or pota- 

 toes remain quite unchanged, as man has 

 taken no special interest in them; while 

 in plants cultivated for the beauty of their 

 flowers we find the greatest changes made 

 in these parts. 



There is really very little that is new in 

 knowledge regarding the laws of heredity; 

 as in an ancient Chinese encyclopedia the 

 principles of selection are fully given. 

 Explicit rules are laid down by some of 

 the Roman classical writers; and we find 

 Jacob, nearly 4,000 years ago, breeding 

 for color. In early English history, laws 

 were made prohibiting the exportation of 

 choice animals and also for the destruction 

 of horses that were undesirable. 



The most eminent breeders do not fav- 

 or the crossing- of different breeds, but 

 rather that of taking that breed that most 

 nearly approaches their ideal, and then, 

 by the most careful selection, breed out 

 defects and up to their standard. To do 

 this the greatest skill is required ; as the 

 law of reversion comes in by which all 

 improved varieties tend to revert back to 

 to their former type. Charles Darwin 

 says; "What English breeders have act- 

 ually effected is proved by the enormous 

 prices given for animals with a good pedi- 

 gree; and these have been exported to 

 almost every quarter of the world. The 

 improvement is by no means generally 

 due to crossing different breeds; all the 

 best breeders are strongl}- opposed to this 

 practice except sometimes among closely 

 allied sub-breeds. And when a cross has 

 been made, the closest selection is far 

 more indispensible even than in ordinaiy 

 cases. If selection consisted merely in 

 separating some very distinct variety, and 

 breeding from it, the principle would be 

 so obvious as hardly to be worth notice; 

 but its importance consists in the great 

 effect produced by the accunuilation in one 

 direction, during successive generations, 

 of differences absolutely inappreciable by 

 an uneducated eye — differences which I 

 for one have vainly attempted to appre- 

 ciate. Not one man in a thousand has 

 accuracy of eye and judgement sufficient 



