40 ITALIAN BEES. 



1855 and 1859, but, I believe, none were successful until 

 1860, when Mr. Mahan, Mr. S. B. Parsons, and others, 

 first introduced them. They were at once received with 

 very general approbation. In fact, they met with such 

 favor that, until very recently, I have known of but few 

 instances of dissatisfaction. 



Nearly every apiarian of note admitted most of the su- 

 perior qualities claimed for them by German bee-keepers, 

 before their introduction here, and which were afterwards 

 set forth by those who first brought them into notice. 



CHARACTEKISTICS. 



The Italian bees were said to be larger and more beau- 

 tiful, more prolific, to swarm earlier and oftener, to work 

 earlier and later, and to gather more honey, to work on 

 blossoms that the natives do not, to be less inclined to 

 rob, to defend themselves better, and to be less disposed 

 to sting, besides possessing many minor excellencies. 



It speaks well for the Judgment of our German friends 

 that, where they claimed so much for these bees, their 

 representations should be so well sustained. 



There are parties who have recently gone to the other 

 extreme, and aiBrm them to be even inferior to our native 

 bees. While the Italians have been domesticated in nearly 

 every part of this country, and the majority of intelligent 

 bee-keepers have become familiar with their habits and 

 qualities, it is nevertheless true that very many are still 

 unacquainted with them. 



The history of this race of bees for the past 2,000 years 

 gives us an intelligent idea of their general characteris- 

 tics, but the authority from which I shall speak with 

 most assurance, is my own personal experience with them 

 during the past ten years, combined with that of Mr. 

 Quinby, who had cultivated them, with the patience and 

 enthusiasm for which he was noted, for fifteen years. Ha 



