128 ITALIAN BEES. 



I consider the pure Italian bee a valuable and 

 very desirable acquisition. I have furnished several 

 of my lady friends with full colonies of them in 

 Controllable Hives, and they have expressed them- 

 selves as very much pleased with their gentle dispo- 

 sition and great beauty. 



I think the points ot superiority here designated 

 will be found in the pure Italian bee. Very many, 

 who have purchased bees purporting to be Italians, 

 have been grossly deceived, having received simply 

 a native swarm of bees, the queen of which, a pure 

 native, had been impregnated by a drone lia^ing a 

 slight tinge of Italian blood ; such stock was but 

 very little, if any, better than a pure native swarm. 



I find I can make an improvement, even in the 

 pure Italian stock, by selecting queens for rearing to 

 supply my full stocks, and with eggs and drones, 

 from such stocks as show the superior characteristics 

 in the fullest degree. This course persevered in for 

 a term of years will show marked results in the im- 

 provement ot the desirable points of superiority 

 found in the Italian bee. 



I take great pride in my Italian bees. I believe 

 they are as beautiful specimens of this variety as it 

 is possible to produce, and possessing the character- 

 istics of superiority of the Italians in the fullest de- 

 gree. The points which I strive to cultivate and 

 develop fully, are : Industry, mildness of disposi- 

 tion, beauty of color, vigor of constitution, etc. 



I have here given in brief my views of the Italian 

 bee, as I receive many letters of enquiry in regard 

 to them. I base my statements on practical experi- 



