ITALIAN BEES. 41 



was among the very first to secure Italian queens; reared 

 from the first imported stock in 1860, and subsequently 

 imported them himself. Probably no other bee-keeper, 

 at that date, took more enthusiastic interest in their 

 cultivation or pursued his experiments with less prejudice 

 for or against them, than Mr. Quinby. 



Being associated in business with him for five years, I 

 received the benefit of his most careful experiments and 

 observations. 



We bred Italians largely for the trade, for which purpose 

 we had stock that equalled any in America. We also 

 operated for honey, each season, from 300 to 400 colonies 

 comprised of both natives and Italians, as well as hybrids 

 of all grades. If there are any tests to which we did not 

 repeatedly subject them, I am unable to imagine what 

 they may be. 



With the benefit of this experience, then, let us con- 

 sider some of the various excellencies claimed for them. 



Larger and More Beautiful. — It is an easily verified 

 fact, first noticed by Dzierzon, that the size of the cells 

 in which Italians and natives are reared, is the same, and 

 it must naturally follow that the bees themselves cannot 

 differ perceptibly in size. 



Our attention has been forcibly called to this point, 

 when we have shipped Italian bees to parties who were 

 disappointed because they were not larger; and I have no 

 doubt that they also failed to meet expectations in regard 

 to their boasted superiority in color and beauty. Yet, 

 I consider this point of beauty one to be appreciated. 

 When the young Italians are fiying thickly in front of 

 their hive on a sunny day, I pronounce them truly beau- 

 tiful. 



More Prolific. — This I have demonstrated to my satis- 

 faction. The Italian queen deposits her eggs more com- 

 pactly in the combs than does the native. This is so 

 evident, that I usually have no trouble, when a card of 



