Maroh 10, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



197 



No. 4 was a very weak colony in a straw hive with an agile 

 dark queen, but with by far too small a population ever to 

 prosper in so large a domicile. I therefore picked out four 

 frames well stored with brood and food borrowed from No. 5, 

 and placed them in a frame-hive with temporary contracted 

 moveable ends, into which I transferred her and her attendants. 

 So delighted were they with the change, that from being a pecu- 

 liarly inert helpless squad they were transformed into the 

 pluckiest little colony in the lot, improving to the utmost every 

 favourable blink. The combs of their old straw hive were cut 

 up to partially furnish a lower box for No. 5, which, by the 

 way, was a particularly good colony, shifted from a nine-inch-deep 

 bar-hive into a frauio one. To the beautifully-loaded tops of 

 their bars we were indebted for the only remembrance of a honey- 

 harvest obtained. No. 6 was a weak colony in a frame-hive, 

 reinvigorated by a contribution of three heavy frames levied 

 from the strong stocks. 



After a large and final draft on the cask, I set my half-dozen 

 stocks fast on their ekes for the winter, thankful that the disas- 

 trous season of 1862 had passed, leaving my industrious little 

 friends, although not an augmented, still not a diminished, band, 

 and in better trim to begin the campaign of 1863 than 1862 had 

 found them. That campaign opened I may say on the 31st of 

 tTanuary, such a day as your esteemed correspondent, "A 

 Dbtonshiee Bee-keeper " described the 29th to have been 

 with him, when I had the pleasure of seeing the first indications 

 of pollen-carrying, only two days later than with his beautiful 

 Italians in salubrious Devonshire. They have lately embraced 

 every favourable moment in this unusually mild spring to rifle 

 the aconites and crocuses now in bloom. This, however, will 

 have no effect in tempting their master to deviate from his usual 

 course of increasing the temperature one whit till March has 

 fairly lost her "adder head," and displays the departing azure 

 brilliancy of her " peacock's tail," when, by withdrawing the 

 ventilating ekes, and administering small doses of food, each 

 stock will be put upon its mettle. — A Renfbbwshibe BEE- 

 KEEPEE. 



DRONES IN MARCH. 



Out of a Ligurian hive to-day (3rd March), which is very 

 warm, I saw two droneB come. The hive was populous last year, 

 and was the only one that swarmed (it swarmed twice). But 

 misfortune overtook it on the moors, for it came back populous 

 but devoid of honey. I have fed it by bottle all the winter, and 

 this day, the first warm one (out of the sun), they have taken 

 their first spring flight. I observe that they have pulled out 

 many immature bees, as far as I can see, not drones, which 

 proves that breeding has been going on, and that there is the 

 possibility of a queen existing. Whether it is only the com- 

 paratively eommom occurrence of a hive deprived of its queen, 

 and of working bees breeding, I know not ; but the existence 

 of drones on the 3rd of March is worthy of note. — A Nobthebn 

 Bee-keepee. 



.[Setting aside the possibility of a drone-breeding queen or of 

 fertile workers as anticipated by " A Nobthebn Bee-keepee," 

 either of which circumstances if they exist, will probably soon 

 make themselves sufficiently evident by the undue development 

 of the male element in the hive ; there is yet another con- 

 tingency which will account for the occasional appearance of a 

 few drones in March. This is the irregular deposit of isolated 

 drone eggs amongst those of workers, which sometimes occurs, 

 and of which I saw an instance only a few days ago in one of my 

 own stocks. In the middle of a patch of sealed worker-brood 

 projected the unmistakeable hemispherical cover of a drone 

 larva which has probably arrived at maturity, and may even 

 have taken its first flight before these pages are printed. — A 

 Deyonshibe Bee-keepee.] 



AT 



MEETING OF GERMAN BEE-KEEPERS 



POTSDAM. 



The bee-keepers of Germany held their tenth annual meeting 

 at Potsdam, on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of September last. 

 Here were met the most distinguished "bee-fathers" of Vater- 

 land, the illustrious Dzierzon and his nephew, who is stated to be 

 a worthy follower in his uncle's footsteps, Baron von Berlepseh, 

 Count Stoach, Pastor Kleine, and a host of others more or less 

 distinguished, to the number of from 500 to 600. 



The following is an epitome of the subjects brought under 

 discussion. 



I. What are the results of experience with regard to the ad- 

 vantages and disadvantages of the Italian bee ? 



Herr Radlow who was the originator of this inquiry, stated 

 that he had himself but little experience with the Italians, and 

 he therefore requested Pastor Dzierzon to enlighten thorn on the 

 subject. 



Pfarrer Dzierzon in reply said, " When ten years ago I 

 received the first Italian stock, multifarious opinions were pro- 

 mulgated concerning them. Some 6aid the Italian bees were 

 nothing but German bees in a coloured dress, they were merely 

 a climatic variety, and in our climate would soon degenerate 

 into the common grey or black bee. This opinion has not, 

 however, been confirmed. The Italian bee is a distinct Bpecies, 

 which is not only of a different colour, but has also other great 

 peculiarities which have since come to light, especially during 

 the past year. The Italian bee is decidedly more diligent and 

 richer in honey. When I examined my hives in the beginning 

 of last August, what a striking difference was there to be seen 

 between the Italian and the black bee! Unfavourable as this 

 season has been, the Italians had generally much more honey, 

 but on the average fewer bees. The Italians begin breeding 

 earlier and cease earlier than the black bees. Being more diligent 

 and intrusive, they wear themselves out more rapidly, and there- 

 fore a greater mortality must be the result. Towards autumn, 

 however, it must at all events be agreeable to bee-keepers to find 

 more honey than bees, whilst as greater diligence must naturally 

 produce a greater result, they are decidedly better honey- 

 gatherers. That the Italian bee is less inclined to sting is 

 undisputed ; and this is a great advantage, since the bee-sting is 

 very formidable to some, whilst in most a degree of swelling is 

 produced which is very disagreeable to clergymen, teachers, and 

 others who have to appear in public. Then the Italian bee is 

 more watchful, and will not submit to be robbed by others like 

 the common Bpecies. Even the weakest stock, if it has a queen, 

 will repel courageously the most violent attacks from strangers— 

 at least it is so with me ; for though I am frequently obliged to 

 operate in the robbing season, not one Italian stock has been 

 plundered. My conviction is that these advantages are of such 

 importance, that it is well worth while to bestow both care and 

 attention on the introduction and multiplication of the Italian 

 race" (cheers). 



Herr Gotze declared the Italians had many advantages, hut 

 no disadvantages. Passing through a teazel field in full bloom 

 after seven o'clock in the evening he was surprised to find a 

 number of bees still working zealously. A close examination 

 proved them to be all Italians, not a single German bee could be 

 found among them. The flight continued until eight o'clock. 



Pastor Kleine declared the superiority of the Italian species to 

 be beyond a doubt. It had also been of great value in deciding 

 debateable points, such as the intercourse between the sexes 

 taking plaoe outside the hive, and but once during the life of a 

 queen — the doctrine of parthenogenesis, which has been of so 

 great importance in physiology — the turning-out of fertile 

 workers being an indispensable element in every normal hive — 

 the discovery of the mode of life and duties of young bees — and 

 the longevity of workers. He also considered that bee-keeping 

 in order to prosper should be a favourite occupation. Every 

 one who has introduced Italian bees into his apiary must 

 confess that his love for bees has been increased, and that by 

 their means he has become rapidly initiated into the mysteries of 

 bee life (applause). 



Herr Harmuth declared his preference for the hybrid race, 

 stating that the true Italian bee neglects the heath. 



Pastor Kleine, on the contrary, averred that the Italians seemed 

 to riot in the blossoms of the Liineburg heath. 



II. How may water-dearth* be discovered, what are its conse- 

 quences, and how can it best be ■prevented ? 



Count Stosch recommended the honey-room being on the same 

 level as the brood-room, avoiding the use of too thick as well 

 as stuffed double walls, but giving the bees water in a sponge. 



Pastor Dzierzon agreed with the former speaker, recommend- 

 ing also a supply of water outside the hives in vessels covered 

 with moss, and keeping the floor-boards cool in order to promote 

 condensation upon them. — A Deyonshibe Bee-keepee. 

 (To be continued.) 



* AVater-deavth ia an evil which is, so far as we are aware, unknown in 

 England, and appears to owe its existence to the extreme dryness of the 

 atmosphere in Germany. 



