306 THB bkb-kbbpbr's guidb; 



CHAPTER XL 



ITALIANS AND ITALIANIZING. 



The history and description of Italian bees have already 

 been considered, so it only remains to discuss the subject in a 

 practical light. 



The superiority of the Italians seems no longer a mooted 

 question. I now know of no one among the able apiarists in 

 our country who takes the ground that a thorough balancing 

 of qualities will make as favorable a showing for the German 

 as for the Italian bees, though I think that the late Baron of 

 Berlepsch held to this view. 



I think I am capable of acting as judge on this subject. I 

 have never sold a dozen queens in my life, and so have not 

 been unconsciously influenced by self -interest. In fact, I have 

 never had, if I except six years, any direct interest in bees at 

 all, and all my work and experiments had only the promotion 

 and spread of truth as the ultimatum. Again, I have kept 

 both blacks and Italians side by side, and carefully observed 

 and noted results during eight years of my experience. I have 

 carefully collected data as to increase of brood, rapidity of 

 storing, early and late habits in the day and season, kinds of 

 flowers visited, amiability, etc., and I am more than persuaded 

 that the general verdict, that they are superior to the German 

 race, is entirely correct. The Italians are far superior to the 

 German bees in many respects, and, though I am acquainted 

 with all the works on apiculture printed in our language, and 

 have an extensive acquaintance with the leading apiarists of 

 our country from Maine to California, yet I know hardly a man 

 that has opportunity to form a correct judgment, does not 

 give strong preference to the Italians. The black bees are in 

 some respects superior to the Italians, and if a bee-keeper's 

 methods cause him to give these points undue importance, in 

 forming his judgments, then his conclusions may be wrong. 

 Faulty management, too, may lead to wrong conclusions. 



