46 ITALIAN BEES. 



the space in the brood-chamber, with stores, earlier in 

 the season, and be much heavier in the fall than the na- 

 tives. When the honey season is over, we have known 

 native colonies that had stored a goodly amount of honey 

 in boxes, to be entirely without in the brood-chamber.* 



This shows why the Italians rear less brood late in the 

 season. It is not that they do not prolong breeding as 

 late as the others, but their space is more limited. We 

 have tested them extensively, when the combs were 

 emptied in extracting, and invariably found them to 

 breed as late and as freely as the natives; A little fore- 

 thought will easily supply the required conditions, and 

 obviate this cause of complaint. 



Longer Life. — If one desires to determine the relative 

 length of life of the two varieties, it may be done by 

 taking a comb of brood that is just beginning to mature, 

 from each of two colonies, Italian and native. 



Select such cards as contain nearly equal quantities of 

 brood. Place them in an empty hive with such bees as 

 adhere to them, and leave them to hatch. This should 

 be done when honey is being gathered. If a queen should 

 be reared, she should be removed before depositing any 

 eggs. These bees being so nearly of an age, may be 

 watched as they waste away, and there being no queen to 

 rear more, it may soon be decided which disappear most 

 rapidly. Our experience prove the Italians to be much 

 longer lived. 



Color not an Absolute Test of Purity. — As a rule, all 

 other things being equal, the brightest colored queens 

 and drones are to be preferred. Nevertheless, I have had 

 some very fine Italian queens that were quite dark-colored, 

 and I am confident that the very best workers I ever saw, 

 were pure Italian, and yet of a brownish color, with no 

 very distinct bands. I have also had those that were 



• I Imve found it very des^irable to take heavy combs from the Italians at 

 Buch tlnieB, and £[ive them to the natives. 



