246 MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
Begs. 
Usually the cheapest way for the beginner to acquire bees for the 
apiary, is to purchase a few colonies near home. There are often 
black bees near at hand in box hives, or antiquated frame hives, which 
can usually be purchased at small cost. These can be bought in the 
fall and wintered. It is better however, to purchase in the spring, and 
reduce chances of winter loss. These are to be transferred when 
fruit bloom opens. The race of bees purchased matters little as the 
bee keeper can introduce a queen of whatever race of bees he desires 
in the spring, and soon the whole colony will consist of the offspring 
of the newly introduced queen. 
This is due to the fact that during the height of the honey gather- 
ing season, the tasks of the worker bees are so arduous that their life 
period is quite short, and as they die their place is taken by the progeny 
of the recently introduced queen. If bees cannot be secured near at 
hand then one or more nuclei (small colonies) of two or three frames 
each can be purchased of a dealer. These can sometimes be increased 
to several full sized colonies during the course of the season. 
Of the several races of bees maintained by bee keepers at the present 
time, the beginner will probably find the Italians most satisfactory. 
This race is the equal of any in nectar gathering ability and actively 
resists the ravages of wax moths. Italian bees are gentle and easily 
handled, and they have received far more attention from breeders 
than any other race. This is not saying however, that other races 
are not worthy of equal attention with a view to improvement. There 
are on the market today so called Red Clover queens, whose progeny 
are supposed by some to possess tongues of sufficient length to reach 
the nectar in the blossom of the red clover plant. While these bees 
are usually good honey gatherers, the results secured by their use, 
would scarcely warrant such a descriptive term as “long tongued’’ or 
“Red Clover” bees. The Italian race of bees has also been bred for 
color, so that three, four, and five, yellow-banded strains are now in 
use. It must be borne in mind, however, that color marking is of sec- 
ondary importance, and that honey gathering proclivity is the first con- 
sideration. Utility should not be sacrificed for ornament. 
Caucasians have been used to some extent, perhaps largely because 
of their gentleness and ease of handling. They are good honey gath- 
erers and quite prolific. The queens are however dark and sometimes 
small, and hence difficult to locate on the combs. This race also col- 
lects great quantities of propolis, and builds a large amount of brace 
and burr combs, factors which are not conducive to easy and rapid 
handling of frames. 
The Cyprians have been almost universally ruled out because of their 
fierce stinging proclivities. 
The Carniolians are very gentle, but swarm excessively and are not 
much used. 
Other known but little used races are the Banat, “Holy land,” Egyp- 
‘tian and Punic. Of these four last named, the Banat is most used and 
is looked upon with favor by some breeders and honey producers. 
