58 



that a quarrelsome man is better natured after dinner, than be- 

 fore, so with the bees, when gorged with honey, they have an 

 amiable disposition. But a new kind of bee has lately been 

 introduced, said to be much more docile, under auy circum- 

 stances than the common bee, and this is the 



ITALIAN BEE. 



Aristotle and Virgil both speak of this bee, but it has been 

 comparatively unknown till within a few years, (after a lapse 

 of two thovisand years). It is receiving considerable attention 

 both in this country and in Europe. It is claimed that the 

 Italian queen retains her fertility much longer than the com-* 

 mon queen, and is more prolific, that the Italians are more in- 

 dustrious than the common bee, produce more swarms and 

 more honey, commence earlier in the spring, and work later in 

 the season than the common bee ; they are undoubtedly an im- 

 provement, but the price at which they are sold has deterred 

 many from obtaining them. The price for an Italian Queen 

 has been ten dollars. As the Irishman said,\" too much money 

 for so little meat," but probably before many years the price 

 will be so reduced as to bring them within the reach of all bee 

 keepers. There are many more points in bee keeping upon 

 which we might touch, but we have already occupied more 

 space than we intended. 



In conclusion we would advise every bee keeper to purchase 

 a copy of Langstroth's Book (thii'd edition), whether they use 

 his hive or not ; we are satisfied it will be money well invested. 

 Huber, Bevan and other Europeans have written good books, 

 but they are not exactly fitted to this continent. Many books 

 on the bee have been published in this country, some of them 

 good, many of them worthless ; one copies Bevan's Preface 

 entirely without giving credit ; the sole object of some seem 

 to be, to abuse and villify Huber long after he occupies his 

 grave. Langstroth goes forward in his work turning neither 

 to the right or left, and our opinion is that any person studying 

 his book, and managing their bees by its teachings must sue- 



