BEE-KEEPING 343 



Profits in Bee-keeping. In sections where honey- 

 yielding flowers are numerous, and not too many bees 

 are kept, bee-keeping may often be made a profitable 

 addition to the industries of the farm. The bees gather 

 their honey wherever they can find it, and no one disputes 

 their right. 



Bee-keeping by modern methods requires watchful 

 care and skillful management. The work connected with 

 it is, however, very light, and is easily performed by 

 women. 



With good management, bees yield a considerable in- 

 come to the owner. It is necessary, however, to protect 

 them from their enemies, shelter them through the win- 

 ter, and furnish them with sufficient food when the flow- 

 ers are not in blossom. 



Races of Bees There are numerous breeds or races 



of bees : the common brown or black bees, the Italians, 

 the Carniolans, the Cyprians, the Syrians, and the Cau- 

 casians. The first two are most widely spread and much 

 intermixed throughout the country. Any bees possess- 

 ing black blood should be avoided, because of their spite- 

 fulness and inability to defend their hives wholly against 

 the wax moths and other bee enemies.- They are also 

 less industrious than the Italians. The Carniolans are 

 quite prolific, excellent honey gatherers and very gentle; 

 being quite hardy, they winter and breed well in the cold- 

 est of climates, and their comb honey is of snowy white- 

 ness. The Cyprians gather the most honey and are the 

 best defenders of their hives, but require quite skillful 

 handling, as they are very vindictive when aroused. The 

 Syrians are similar, but not superior, to the Cyprians. 



