1SS4 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



3(59 



fully say, I have never knowingly misrepresented 

 any race of bees, or expressed any opinions con- 

 cerning any race, which were not honest opinions, 

 derived from a careful effort to arrive at the real 

 worth of the race in question. Should any one for 

 a moment suppose that, through the sale of queens 

 of any race whatever I ever gained any considerable 

 sums of money, he is most decidedly mistaken; for, 

 had I stuck to my original occupation, that of a 

 schoolmaster, and kept a few hives of bees for 

 honey, or had devoted my time to honey-raising ex- 

 clusively, I would have been much better off finan- 

 cially than I now am. I beg leave, therefore, to in- 

 sist that whatever statements I make regarding any 

 race of bees are actuated by a disposition to make 

 known the plain convictions which have forced 

 themselves upon my mind during my experience 

 with various races. 



I know of a race of bees that is likely to please 

 the majority, at least, of the bee-keepers of America, 

 and that I can supply with facility; but if any one 

 were to ask for my candid opinion of this race, as 

 compared with Cyprians, I would unhesitatingly 

 give the preference to the Cyprians; yet I would 

 not mean to say thereby that the Cyprians have no 

 faults, nor that the other bees are not good ones. 

 Side by side in the same apiary last year, I found 

 that, during a good harvest, the difference in the 

 amount of honey gathered by strong stocks of Car- 

 niolans and equally strong stocks of Cyprians was 

 only slightly in favor of the latter; but as soon as 

 the harvest slackened, the difference was verj' ap- 

 parent. The Carniolans lost courage, and not only 

 consumed the stores they happened to have, but 

 went on robbing excursions. Madequeenless then, 

 they did not defend their hives well, but fell an easy 

 prey to plunderers. On the other hand, the ener- 

 getic Cyprians were doubly vigilant in keeping oft' 

 robbers, scarcely ever allowing one to alight at the 

 entrance, and often they sprang, apparently, into 

 the air a foot to catch the marauders. There was 

 no earthly use for robbers to attempt to gain an 

 entrance into a hive of Cyprians. After the first 

 disappointment at the check in the honey-flow thej- 

 kept steadily at woi-k bringing what honey and 

 pollen they could find, and continued rearing brood; 

 and it is a fact, that when they were carrying, for 

 their strength in population, double the amount of 

 brood that Italians and Carniolans had, they were 

 daily gaining in surplus stores of honey and pollen. 

 Cj-prians and Syrians furnish me the most honey, 

 and that is what I presume most people keep bees 

 for— at least, the main object in view. All in all, 

 after over four years' experience on an extended 

 scale, most of the time in the Orient, I am decided in 

 favor of the Cyprians as the hardiest, most energetic, 

 Und stable race of bees yet known, and no one can 

 point to handsomer bees. As a practical proof that I 

 believe in what I say, I will add that I have pur- 

 chased both the "Cyprus Apiary" of Mi-. Jones, and 

 the"Mt. Lebanon Apiary" of Mr. Baldenspei-ger, yet 

 am making Cyprus the chief scene of operations in- 

 stead of Syria, having greater faith in the bees. 



The great question, then, lies in their disposition. 

 Al! Eastern bees are nervous, quick-tempered fel- 

 lows; hut there is much diffei-ence in Individual 

 stocks. There are Syrians just as bad as the worst 

 Cyprians, and yet in general I find both races quite 

 manageable— much more so than the Palest.ines. I 

 have many colonies at present which I handle with- 

 out smoke, veil, or gloves, and do not often get stung. 



Exceptionally irascible stocks must be weeded out 

 of every apiarj\ It must be borne in mind, that 

 these races are natural races; that is, their chance 

 surroundings have brought them up to a high point; 

 yet there is still a good opportunity for improve- 

 ment. We have a most excellent foundation upon 

 which to start— that vital energy and activity so 

 peculiar to the Cyprians (the bees must have com- 

 pletely robbed their masters of these valuable 

 traits), and in twenty-four years— yes, far less time 

 than that— the Cyprians can beat Italians " all hol- 

 low;" indeed, they have already done so, having 

 given the largest record yet made. Hold up the 

 Lone-Star banner, friend Carroll; and Michigan, my 

 native State (I "once lived in Americal"— see 

 Americmi Bee Journnl for Feb. 3V), look well to your 

 laurels. Frank Benton. 



The Cyprus Apiary, Larnaca, Cyprus, Apr. 23, 1884. 



Friend B., I am sorry to know that any 

 American lias been so nnconrteous as to ac- 

 cnse yon of having left your native land, 

 with the principal object in view of making- 

 money. I have not noticed any thing of the 

 kind ; but those who know you, and who 

 know friend Jones, certainly would not be- 

 lieve any such statements ; and those who do 

 not know you are certainly very nnconrteous 

 and ungeiitlemanly in making any such re- 

 marks. People who indulge in siich things 

 are usually set down by the world as judging 

 others by themselves."— I am glad to Jiear 

 your good report from the Cyprians. I do 

 know there is a vast difference in the temper 

 of the [)rogeny of the queens we receive from 

 friend Jones! ilv past acquaintance with 

 the Holy-Lands induced me to pronounce 

 them very gentle and pretty bees. I have 

 found some tiueeiis since, however, whose pro- 

 geny are as l)ad as any l)ees I ever saw. The 

 Cyprian (jueen tliat friend Ilayluu-st happen- 

 ed to get was one of tlie worst type; and 

 queens raised from her down to several gene- 

 rations show tliis same vicious disposition. 

 Cyprians reared from other imported queens, 

 however, are almost all tliat can be desired 

 in the way of temper; and so far as yellow 

 bees are concerned, no one could well be dis- 

 appointed in that respect. 



THE CLOVER-HAY WORM. 



SOMETHING ABOUT A NEAR RELATIVE OF THE 

 BEE-MOTH. 



W FEW days ago a load of hay was brought 

 ^Ih into our town, infested" with worms, 



jll and some of tliem were procured and 

 ^'*' sent in a bottle to Prof. Cook. He 

 gives us the following particulars in 

 regard to them : 



The larvse, or caterpillars, which you send are 

 quite a common pest in our countr.v. It is not only 

 found in the Mississippi "Valley, but also has at- 

 tracted attention in the New England and Middle 

 States. The insect is a moth {Asopia costaUs, Fabr.). 

 Curious enough, it belongs to the same family as 

 does our old acquaintance the bee-moth (GaUcn'a 

 crrri.na), and shows its kin-ship by the abundant silk 

 it spins. In stacks of hay and in hay-mows it not 

 infrequently mats the whole together with a firm 

 web of its silken threads; so, though it does not sur- 

 round itself with a gallery, as does the bee-moth, ii 

 does nearly as extensive weaving 



