310 THE bbe-kbbpbr's guide ; 



THE NEW RACES OF BEES. 



All of the valuable characteristics of the Italian bees are 

 exaggerated in the Syrian bees, except that of amiability. 

 This feature — irritability — would not be an objection to an 

 experienced bee-keeper. I believe, after several years' experi- 

 ence with the Syrians, that they would soon become as pleas- 

 ant to manage and handle as are the Italians. They are not 

 so readily subdued with smoke as are the Italians, and require 

 careful handling. They are astonishingly prolific, and keep 

 up the brood-rearing whether there are nectar-secreting flowers 

 or not. As the queen fills a comb before leaving it, the brood 

 is kept very compact. They start a large number of queen- 

 cells, and so for queen-rearing they are super-excellent. The 

 comb honey of these bees is said to be quite inferior, because 

 of thin caps — a point I have failed to observe. I think the 

 honey about equal to that of the Italians in appearance. The 

 Cyprian bees are in no way superior to the Syrians, so far as 

 I can learn, though I have had no experience with them, and 

 they are considerably more irritable. The Carniolans (Figs. 

 11, 12, 13) are much praised by European bee-keepers. They 

 are certainly very amiable, and so excellent for the beginner. 

 From seeing Mr. Frank Benton handle his Carniolans the 

 summer of 1899, in Washington City, I am persuaded that their 

 amiability has not been exaggerated. The bees were not 

 gathering, it was about sunset, and yet Mr. Benton handled 

 them with no smoke or protection, and that very roughly, yet 

 we received no stings. Mr. Benton, whose experience surely 

 makes him a competent judge, values the Carniolan bees as of 

 superior excellence. 



WHAT BEES SHAl,!^ WE KEEP ? 



The beginner certainly better keep Italians or Carniolans. 

 The Italians are so excellent that the Syrians, good as they 

 are, did not take root among us. 



HOW TO ITALIANIZE. 



From what has been already explained regarding the natural 

 history of bees, it will be seen that all we have to do to change 

 our bees is to change our queens. Hence, to Italianize a col- 



