LiaUElAN OR ITALIAN BEES. 37 



CHAPTER IV. 



LIGUEIAN OE ITALIAN BEES. 



As our object in writing tins TdooIi is to guide inexperi- 

 enced bee-keepers in a safe and profitable course, we may 

 be expected to say a few words about Ligurian bees, 

 wbicli were introduced into this country some years ago. 



The principle of novelty is implanted in the human 

 mind, and the weakest part of an Englishman is his gulli- 

 bility. A new style of dress, a Cochin-China fowl, a 

 Ligurian bee, if well puffed and advertised, will command 

 lots of customers. People go mad for novelties. If any- 

 body were bold enough to advertise that he would swallow 

 his own foot at the Free-Trade Hall, the half of Manches- 

 ter would go to see him ; and the house would be :filled 

 two hours before the time. 



But do you mean to say that the Ligurian sort of bees, 

 which is so much praised and talked about, and sold at 

 such high prices, is not better than the common English 

 sort? Better for what? Do they fly faster ? Ito. Do 

 they carry heavier loads ? JNo. Do they lay more eggs ? 

 No. Do their eggs become perfect bees sooner? No. 

 Are they not earlier astir in the morning? No. Do 

 they work later at night 1 No. Don't they gather more 

 honey ? No. Nor breed faster ? No. Nor swarm more ? 

 No. But are they not better in any sense ? No. But 

 are they not prettier then? I think they are, rather; 



