698 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



should have to do this work. Had this 

 matter developed 20 years ago (when I 

 was 40, and in my prime) I might have 

 been induced to take it in hand, but 

 now I feel that my days of usefulness 

 are nearly at an end; and while "old 

 men " are essential for counsel, it takes 

 the younger men to fight. I am willing 

 to do What I can to further the object 

 sought, but desire to be excused from 

 taking the management of such an im- 

 portant undertaking. 

 Chicago, Ills., Nov. 17, 1892. 



Bees and Honey in Bee Trees 

 Italians vs. Native Bees. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY C. J. ROBINSON. 



Referring to "Query" No. 841, I beg 

 leave to mention, in answer thereto, 

 that every disciple of Blackstone (the 

 expounder of the common law) is cog- 

 nizant of the plain principle of law in- 

 volved in the question. "If I buy a 

 woodland," all of the natural growth — 

 trees included — upon the land is a part 

 and parcel of the freehold which grantors 

 of land convey by deed in all States. 

 Hence, trees in which bees have de- 

 posited honey are included in the title 

 of the grantee as a part of the purchase ; 

 so also the honey is a product of the 

 land where deposited by the bees, and 

 though the honey is not a part of the 

 freehold, it is personal property belong- 

 ing to the owner of the land, the same 

 as any product of farm lands. 



In case A " finds a bee-tree " on B's 

 land, the discovery does not acquire 

 title to the tree or the honey, in a legal 

 sense, no more so than the discovery of 

 any other tree, or ore of any kind. The 

 common law does not recognize property 

 in creatures naturally wild; so, whoever 

 discovers a colony acquires a title to 

 them against any who have not taken 

 formal possession of the colony — only 

 the bees. 



Concerning "trespassing," each State 

 enacts laws setting forth what consti- 

 tutes trespass, and the common law pro- 

 vides a remedy for trespass upon real 

 property. 



ITALIAN AND NATIVE BEES. 



I have just perused Hon. Eugene 

 Secor's article on page 531. I will not 

 attempt criticism, but I will ask of any 

 real, expert bee-keeper, whether or not 

 himself or others are able to demon- 

 strate as a fact that " the Italian bees," 



as a variety of Apis mellifica, are super- 

 ior in any point, or points, when com- 

 pared with the native variety of this 

 country ? I mean the taking into con- 

 sideration the production of marketable 

 honey during a series of years. 



I have experimented during more than 

 half a century, was concerned in the 

 first successful importation of Italian 

 bees, have had queens from many breed- 

 ers of Italian queens, and compared the 

 behavior and the products of the two 

 varieties named, and still I ask the fore- 

 going question. 



I am well aware that a considerable 

 difference is noticeable in colonies of 

 both races. The first importation direct 

 from Italy came from the region of Lake 

 Corao. Most of the importations are 

 from Milan — not much above the level 

 of the sea. Climate has something to 

 do with bees as domestics and their ap- 

 pearance. The climate of the middle 

 and northern States compares nearer to 

 that of the Alps region than that of 

 Milan ; hence, bees inured to the Alps 

 climate, it may be inferred, are better 

 adapted to our cold climate than bees 

 bred in a climate like that of Milan. 



Richford, N. Y. 



Clipping the Wings of Queens- 

 Is it Advisable? 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY "MALTA." 



The article by Mr. Eugene Secor, on 

 page 112 of the Bee Journal for July 

 21st, having brought up the question of 

 clipping queens' wings, I would like 

 more information on the subject on two 

 points. 



1st. Is it advisable as regards economy 

 of labor and anxiety on the part of the 

 bee-keeper? 



No doubt clipping will prevent the 

 queen flying with the swarm, and she 

 will fall to the ground close to the hive, 

 and so be easily captured and treated as 

 most convenient ; but what of the 

 swarm ? Is it not so scattered, and con- 

 sequently so reduced in numbers, as to 

 be almost useless when gathered and 

 hived ? Do not a large number of the 

 bees very reluctantly return to the par- 

 ent hive with the idea in their heads, or 

 instincts, that the attempt to carry out 

 the natural laws of increase has failed ? 

 and will not instinct cause them to 

 " after-swarm " or "cast" at the first 

 opportunity ? while if the re-clipped 



