AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



441 



moth. At one time in this State, Italian 

 queen bees brought .$100 each. They 

 are shipped through the mails in wooden 

 cages covered with wire-cloth. Eight or 

 ten workers always accompany the 

 queen in transportation, to insure her 

 warmth and companionship. In 1878 

 the Syriap and Carniolan bees were first 

 introduced into California by prominent 

 apiarists, and are recently growing in 

 favor. Eminent authorities in Europe 

 and America declare the Carniolan to be 

 undoubtedly the bee of the future, but 



The wax-makers are astonishing little 

 gymnasts. They cling together in a 

 series of intersecting chains that form a 

 sort of curtain, which is motionless ex- 

 cept for the fluctuations imparted to it 

 by the exertions of the inside layers. 

 While officious comrades assist the pol- 

 len-bearers to unload their golden pellets, 

 the latter slowly fan themselves with 

 their gauzy wing; the wax-bringers, 

 wagging their bodies from side to side, 

 run to and fro in their efforts to dislodge 

 the scaly particles on their abdomens : 



THE BEE-KANCHEIJ'S HOME. 



in this climate the Syrian and Italian 

 give more uniform satisfaction. 



Here, as elsewhere, the Langstroth 

 hive, variously modified, is a general 

 favorite, though on many ranches it is 

 being superseded by the Harbison. The 

 latter has a door that opens like that of 

 a cupboard. This is often made of glass, 

 through which the bees can be seen at 

 their divers labors. The upper chamber 

 is reserved for the sections of comb 

 honey, and the lower for the brood. It 

 is a curious and fascinating spectacle — 

 Mils interior of a bee-hive. 



honey-carriers deposit their burdens in 

 newly-made cells ; zealous workers re- 

 move the offal and litter, and one and all 

 rudely shuffle unsophisticated young baes, 

 or tease and bite the lumbering drones, 

 which seem to be in everyone's way. 



The •'frames" used for comb-honoy 

 are constructed of the soft white timber 

 of basswood and poplar. As neither of 

 these trees belongs to California, api- 

 arists send East for their frames. When 

 filled and capped the sections are glassed, 

 and fitted into strong shipping crates, 

 ready for transfer by land or sea. ''hie 



