58 THB bbe-kbbpsr's guide ; • 



Austria, also called Krainer bees, from the mountainous re- 

 gion of Krain, Austria, are praised as a very hardy variety. 

 They are black with -white rings — a sort of albino — German 

 bee. They are like the heath variety, but are specially noted 

 for their very gentle dispositions. Some European bee-keepers 

 claim that this strain or variety is much superior to the com- 

 mon German bees. Mr. Benton, I think, holds strongly to 

 this opinion. After a brief trial I am pleased with these bees. 



The Hungarian bees are longer than the typical German 

 race, and are covered with gray hairs. During the poor season 

 of 187S in Europe, these bees, like the Carniolans, were found 

 superior even to the Italians. 



The beautiful Dalmatian bees are slim, wasp-like, and very 

 black. The rings of their abdomens are banded with lightish 

 yellow. Their honey is even more white and beautiful than 

 that of the German race. Some of the best European bee- 

 keepers claim that they are superior to the Italian bees. 



Akin to the Dalmatian bees are the Herzegovinian variety, 

 which comes from the mountainous region of Bosnia, border- 

 ing on the Adriatic Sea. A better marked variety — the Smyr- 

 nian bees — from Western Asia, and also much praised by some 

 of the noted Austrian bee-keepers, as are also the Caucasian, 

 from the Caucasus Mountains, which are said to be very 

 active and amiable. 



The Tunisian bees, from Tunis in the north of Africa, are 

 said to be even darker than the black or German bee. They 

 are described as quite irritable. These were the " Punic bees " 

 sold in the United States some years since. They did not keep 

 in favor. It is stated that there is a race of bees which are 

 domesticated in the south of Africa. From the descriptions I 

 should think them quite like our Albinos in appearance. They 

 are said to be excellent honey-producers, and to work even by 

 moonlight. It is quite likely that some of these varieties 

 might be found to endure our severe winters better than the 

 pure German type, or the Italians. Now that we are to have 

 an experimental station in each State, we may expect that all 

 these races will be imported, that we may prove them, and 

 know which is the best. 



