116 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



June 



even in the imported Italians, and it 

 is usually decidedly to their advan- 

 tage. 



I do not believe that any of the races 

 in their purity are in all ways suited 

 to all persons and localities, or that 

 any one of them is an all-purpose bee. 



I believe the quickest advance can 

 be seciu-ed by crossing different races 

 and strains, and acting on that belief 

 I have for years introduced new biooa 

 into my apiaries. I began with a 

 sti'ain of Italians which I lilvs^d. ^Alit-i. 



likely to be in an undesirable as a de- 

 sirable direction. 



Blacks, Cyprians, Carniolans ana 

 Italians all have points of excellence 

 and all have faults, and strains of 

 each race vary so that it is unsafe to 

 extol or condemn any race by the trial 

 of only one strain. 



While my article on the use of smoke 

 seemed to reflect on Dr. Blanton's 

 ability in manipulation, it was not so 

 intended. I simply used his record of 

 experience with the Cyprians as a text. 



MR. WILLCUTT IN HIS APIARV. 



ever I got a new strain that showed 

 promise of virtues, I crossed them on 

 what I already had. Later I used 

 Carniolans and still later Cyprians. 

 The latter seem to be the strongest 

 blood of all, and they have proved tUt- 

 most valual)le for raising the gra^^i 

 of whatever strain they were crosseii 

 with. In crossing great care and pains 

 must be exercised in selecting in or- 

 der to secure the best results, for var- 

 iation induced by crossing is (piite a» 



Dr. Blanton has had far more experi- 

 ence in handling bees than I have, and 

 I have great i-espect for his abilities; 

 also I have often received much aid 

 from his articles. If I offended him, 

 I beg to apologize. 



Providence, R. I., May 17, 1904. 



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