338 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Oct. 26, 



allow the apiarist to manipulate them 

 with rase and pleasure ; they must lie 

 strong and hardy, to withstand the 

 rapidehangea in climate; and must be 

 of singular beauty, to attract the admi- 

 ration of the fancier of line stock. 



In the general search for the best 

 bees, those of many countries have 

 been tried and more or less discarded, 

 viz: the Carniolan, Dalmatian, Suiyr- 

 nian. Ilerzegovinian and Egyptian. 

 In i860, two eminent Germans, Count 

 Kolowrat and Hern Cori. imported 

 the first < iyprian bees into Europe, and 

 expressed themselves much in their 

 favor. Since then, they have imported 

 several colonies more for their own 

 use. but never placed any upon the 

 market, so that other bee-keepers may 

 obtain them. 



But to Italv and America belong the 

 honor of putting forth the greatest 

 exertions to produce the best bees in 

 the world. Did not Mons. J. Fiorini, 

 an Italian, make a journey to the Isl- 

 and of Cyprus and to Palestine in 

 search of Cyprian and Syrian bees, to 

 improve the race of Italian bees by- 

 crossing, or to improve those races 

 by careful breeding r Mr. 1). A. Jones, 

 of Canada, at a cost of thousands of 

 dollars, also journeyed to the Island of 

 Cyprus and to Palestine, for the same 

 object ; he secured many colonies of 

 Syrian bees, and established an apiary 

 in Cyprus, in charge of Mr. Benton, a 

 brave and fearless American, who (to 

 his honor be it stated) has journeyed 

 through Arabia, India, Ceylon, and 

 the Bast Indies, and in the face of dan- 

 ger and difficulties untold, in search 

 of some superior race of bees, or some 

 that may be improved by judicious 

 breeding. True, he has not been as 

 successful as could have been desired, 

 but he has planted in Ceylon some col- 

 onies of bees from Italy and Cyprus, 

 and if a " cross'' of any value can be 

 obtained between these and Apis dor- 

 sata, or Apis florea, he has placed it 

 among the possibilities, in the devel- 

 opment of '-the bee of the future." 



As yet, we think that the better 

 strains of Italian bees are the best- 

 ami that they will be the source from 

 which will be bred the "coming bee." 

 They possess so many desirable points 

 of superiority, that it wiU be a difficult 

 matter to supersede them with any of 

 the newer races, about which there is 

 much difference of opinion among 

 careful and observing apiarists. We 

 have not sufficiently tested any of them 

 to hazard a positive opinion from per- 

 sonal knowledge. 



Regarding the Cyprians ( from which 

 much was expected), we have some 

 very damaging reports. They are said 

 to be very lierce in disposition, rest- 

 less on the combs, easily aroused, and 

 display no superiority to the Italians 

 as honey-gatherers. Some of these 

 objections may be based on prejudice, 

 or insufficient investigation. 



The Syrian bees appear to have met 

 with more favor, though many are 

 unable to find any superior traits. 

 We have one colony of Syrians in the 

 Bee Journal Apiary. The queen is 

 large, well-developed, and quite slow 

 and deliberate in her movements. We 

 have reared several very promising 

 daughters from her, and all present 

 the same general characteristics of the 

 mother, and nearly approach duplica- 

 tion. They bear no resemblance to 

 the hybrid Italian— in fact, not so 

 nearly as the pure Italian does. The 

 body is nearly a maroon-color, the seg- 

 ments being very distinctly cut, and 

 a polished dark-mahogany color. The 



mother queen is certainly very prolific: 

 the daughters are quite young yet, and 



were reared lor the purpose of cross- 

 ing with Italian drones. The workers, 



have a quick, nervous, hurry-scurry 



movement, are smaller than Italians. 

 and more ready to repel intrusion. 

 They are very good workers, and we 

 think they become more amiable with 

 frequent gentle handling. 



Meanwhile, we await developments, 

 and would respectfully request of this 

 International Congress to endeavor to 

 enforce among Italian breeders more 

 rigid work in the production of bees to 

 be exported. The grand object being 

 to elevate the race, there should be no 

 backward steps; no deterioration in 



excellence should be countenanced; 

 no thoughtless or hasty work must be 

 allowed— but the most thorough and 

 rigid treatment should be employed, 

 all looking to the advancement of the 

 art and science of reproduction, and 

 the building up of a strain of beesthat 

 will give the very best of results. 



In developing the highest strain of 

 horses, not all their offspring are equal 

 to the best ; careful selection of those 

 coming the nearest to the ideal animal 

 must always be chosen from which to 

 breed ; and the closest scrutiny is nec- 

 essary while making that selection. 

 The same is true of cattle, sheep, hogs, 

 poultry, and bees. "Sports" and 

 "variations" continually occur, pro- 

 ducing inferior progeny; but all care- 

 ful breeders who have an eye to the 

 improvement of the race will reject 

 those that do not come up to the 

 "standard of excellence," by sending 

 such animals and poultry to the sham- 

 bles; so let us carefully select the 

 best queens and drones to breed from, 

 and sacrifice all others. 



In this way we may hope to attain 

 that degree of perfection in bees so 

 long hoped for, and our exertions may 

 produce that which will be not only a 

 pleasure to ourselves, but will be an 

 honor to the present generation and a 

 blessing to the world at large. 



These thoughts are fraternally sub- 

 mitted by your co-laborer and friend, 

 Thomas G. Newman. 



The President remarked that the Inter- 

 national Congress was deeply indebted to 

 Mr. Newman for this most learned and 

 interesting address, and he thought he 

 was the interpreter of the wishes of the 

 Congress, to ask Moils. Bertraml to thank 

 Mr. Newman, in its name, most cordially, 

 for this favor. The Congress unanimously 

 concurred in the views as expressed by 

 the President. 



Dr. F. Beltramini di Casati read a 

 lengthy but very interesting billiography 

 of the honey bee. He began this work 

 some 20 years ago, and it is yet unfinished. 

 fit is a remarkable and unequalled work. 

 Count Barbo, Count Visconti, aud others, 

 agree with me that it should be published. 

 -E. B.] 



Dr. A. Dubini, one of the editors of "1/ 

 Apiculteur" gave an address on the mova- 

 ble cover for hives, which he much pre- 

 fers to the close top. as used in Italy ; the 

 latter are on the Germau-Berlapsch| prin- 

 ciple and open only on the back. 



Mons. Violati Fescari, Dr. Bianchetti 

 and myself agreed with Dr. Dubini, 

 while Count Barbo and others spoke in 

 favor of the German-Italian system. 

 Count Barbo remarked that the model of 

 the Langstroth hive which the honorable 

 President Newman exhibited tons, with 

 a movable cover, was useful in obtaining 

 comb honey, but tight covers are more 

 healt-'y for the bees. The Germans on 

 that account had discarded the movable 

 cover. The health of the bees being of 

 first importance. 



Mons. Bertrand observed that there was 

 foul brood in Germany and Italy as in any 

 other country, and perhaps more ; there- 

 fore, tight caps had nothing to do With 

 that disease. lie had tried both kinds of 

 eaps f"i' several years and much preferred 

 the movable ones, for the ease of manipu- 

 lation. 



THIRD DAY. 



Sig. A. Marenzi, an able bee-keeper el 



Bergamo, addressed the Congress on the 

 danger of using sulphur for preserving 

 the combs from the moth. (See Aplcoltore, 

 for April. 1881.) He hail observed In 

 several apiaries that sulphurated combs 

 given to bees, had after some time, eon 

 taincd foul-brood, while other combs in 

 the same hive not sulphurated were free 

 from foul-brood. He supposed the danger 

 arose from the combs not being well 



cleaned and dried by the bees, previous to 

 their being Bulphured. lie wished to call 

 the attention of the Congress to this 

 matter. 



A long discussion ensued, and it was 

 agreed to make observations and report 

 upon the subject. 



Dr. Bianchetti detailed the method of 

 making swarms by dividing, and a long 

 discussion ensued. 



A. committee, appointed by the Congress, 



reported on the best way to extend hec- 

 CUlture among the peasants. Mons. 

 Lanza suggested that the State Normal 



Schools should teach bee-culture ami thai 

 the teachers should have some bees to In- 

 culcate their lessons. The report was 

 approved. 



The next Congress will be held at 

 Bologna, and the, same Committee ol 

 Arrangements were re-elected, and were 

 directed to correspond with foreign apia- 

 rists and to endeavor to get them to attend. 



Each member received a diploma, as a 

 souveneir of his presence. 



On the fourth day at the banquet, many 

 humorous speeches were made ; it was a 

 very enjoyable occasion. 



The National Exhibition was magnifi- 

 cent— the bee section being well tilled 

 principally with honey, in various forms. 

 I never saw or tasted such delicious honey 

 before. It was both comb and extracted, 

 light and dark, from all parts id' Italy. 



Count Barbo. Count Visconti, Dr. Du- 

 bini, I'rof. Sartori, and others did every- 

 thing possible to entertain the visitors— 

 and all sent their best regards to the Edi- 

 tor of the Americas Bee Journal, and 

 wished he were with them, to enjoy the 

 occasion. Er>.,BKi;TRAND. 



We are glad to see that the Congress 

 met the question of '■' breeding for the 

 best" fairly and impartially. We 

 have long known and urged through 

 the Bee Journal that, as a rule, not 

 enough attention was paid by the Ital- 

 ian exporter in the breeding and selec- 

 tion of queens for export; indeed, 

 many of them have been worse than 

 worthless. Sig. Sartori undoubtedly 

 gave the true explanation when he 

 remarked that " such careful breeding 

 should not be expected for the low 

 price now paid for queens." With the 

 low price for export queens in Italy, 

 combined with our pernicious dollar- 

 queen system here, it is not a matter 

 for wonder that many fail to recognize 

 the superiority of the Italian bees ; and 

 this, too, has made it possible for our 

 scientitic breeders to develop better 

 strains of Italian bees than they have 

 in Italy. The five main points enum- 

 erated by Mr. Ed. Bertrand regarding 

 queen-rearing are well chosen. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Improvement of the Race of Bees. 



DR. I. P. WILSON. 



Bee Eater.— I send you a "bee eater" 

 of some sort, together with his prey. 

 I have often seen them in my apiary, 

 but could never, until to-day, prove 

 them guilty of the murder of my pets. 

 Please give me name and general 

 characteristics. Rose P. Thrall. 



San Marcos, Tex., Sept. 22, 1881. 



[The strange looking insect sent by 

 Rose P. Thrall is the Praying Mantis 

 (Mantis Carolina), and receives the 

 name Praying Mantis from its devo- 

 tional attitude, as it seems to be on its 

 knees. It is a Southern insect, though 

 I have received it from Indiana, with 

 the same report as to its preying upon 

 bees. It belongs, with the crickets 

 and grasshoppers, to the order Or- 

 (kroptera, and is closely allied to the 

 walking-stick of our northern States, 

 the spectrum femoratum, which, in a 

 general way, it strongly resembles. 

 Unlike the most of the locust order, 

 it is strongly predaeeous, and is even 

 cannibalistic, as it will eat itsjown kind. 

 It has been reported to eat grass- 

 hoppers, and it has been recommended 

 to introduce it in localities to which it 

 is not a native, as an abettor in the 

 work of insect destruction. Unless it 

 is a serious pest, as a " bee eater," 

 which I think is probably not true, 

 our southern friends better overlook 

 its minor faults, and cherish it as a 

 friend. Although this queer looking 

 insect looks like our walking-sticks, it 

 has wings, though the female is not 

 able to fly. Its eggs are glued together 

 in a Hat oval mass, and attached to 

 some leaf or twig. The 1' raying Man- 

 tis is entirely safe, and may be fear- 

 lessly handled. The attitudes which 



it strikes as it is handled are alto- 

 gether odd and comical. I wish the 

 lady would send me several more of 



them, and any other Texan insect will 



be very thankfully received.— A. J. 



Cook.] 



Since receiving the $10 prize offered 

 by Rev. E. L. Briggs, of \\ ilton, Iowa, 

 for the best Italian queen. I have re- 

 ceived several letters of inquiry with 

 reference to my strain of bees, where 

 they came from, etc., and with your 

 permission, Mr. Editor, I will answer 

 those inquiries through the Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal. 



I purchased my first Italian queen 

 about 8 years ago of Rev. A. Salis- 

 bury, of Camargo, 111., but lost her 

 from want of a proper knowledge of 

 introducing her. I then sent to Mr. 

 Oatman, and procurred from him a 

 very nice queen, also received through 

 you a " perfect beauty " from Aaron 

 Benedict, of Bennington, Ohio, and 

 also through you an imported queen 

 from Charles Dadant & Son, of Ham- 

 ilton, 111. I have purchased quite a 

 number of queens from other breed- 

 ers, but all being the leather-colored 

 Italians, and not uniformly marked, 

 I disposed of them in one way and 

 another, and set about breeding from 

 the Oatman, Benedict and the Da- 

 dant queens. The first year I raised 

 all my queens from the Oatman stock, 

 but found that this queen did not al- 

 ways duplicate herself, in fact, her 

 queen progeny was far from being sat- 

 isfactory ; her drones were also dark. 

 I raised all the drones I could from 

 my imported queen, and as few as pos- 

 sible from my other queens. I did 

 this by placing one or two new drone 

 combs in the center of the colony con- 

 taining the imported queen, and re- 

 moved every drone cell I could find in 

 the other colonies. My neighborhood 

 was full of black bees, and I only suc- 

 ceeded in getting 2 or 3 purely ferti- 

 lized queens the first summer. The 

 following and subsequent Bummers 1 

 furnished all the queen cells I could 

 to my neighbors, and aided in every 

 way I could the introduction of pure 

 Italian bees. Year after year I worked 

 away in this direction, accomplishing 

 but little that was satisfactory, until 

 the present season. 



Last fall there were over 200 colo- 

 nies of bees in Burlington, and this 

 spring there were less than 25, and 12 

 of this number were my own. This 

 furnished me a " golden opportunity " 

 to purely Italianize my bees and cross 

 them as I desired. 



During the summer of 1879-80, 1 bred 

 my queens from the one I received of 

 Mr. Benedict. The past summer I 

 have had things pretty much my own 

 way, and have had mv queens nearly 

 all purelv mated with my best drones. 

 When using one queen for breeding 

 queens, 1 allowed her to produce as 

 few drones as possible, and selected 

 those colonies from which I wished 

 drones, and encouraged them to raise 

 all the drones possible. In this way. 

 the queens from the Benedict stock 

 were impregnated from the drones of 

 the Oatman queen, or the imported 

 one. In this way I have crossed from 

 the three queens named year after 

 year, destroying every queen that did 

 not suit me after she was tested, until 

 I found myself the happy possessor of 

 40 colonies of the finest looking bees I 

 ever saw. This work has been an ex- 

 pensive one, for when I would find a 

 queen not up to the standard in some 

 small particular. I would decapitate 

 her, and thereby interrupt the work of 

 the colony at a time when a great loss 

 of honey would be the result, but at 

 such a time a poor queen may vitiate 

 your apiary, for her drones are almost 

 sure to be successful in meeting more 

 queens than any others, at least it has 

 seemed so to me. 



It has been stated by some that 

 white combs will produce light-colored 

 queens, while dark combs will pro- 

 duce darker queens. I have not found 

 this statement to be true, but there 



