20 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



CHAPTEE IV. 



LIGUEIAN OE ITALIAN BEES. 



As OUT object in writing this book is to guide inex- 

 perienced bee-keepers in a safe and profitable course, we 

 may be expected to say a few words about Ligurian bees, 

 which were introduced into this country some few 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 up and advertised, will com- 

 mand lots of customers. People are bewitched by 

 novelties. 



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

 which is so much praised, and sold at such high prices, 

 is not better than the common English soii 1 Better for 

 what 1 Do they fly faster ? Ko. Do they carry heavier 

 loads ? No. Do they lay more eggs t It has not been 

 proven or tested to our knowledge. Do their eggs become 

 perfect bees sooner 1 No. Are they not earlier astir in 

 the morning ? No. Do they work later at night 1 No. 

 Do they gather more honey 1 No. Are they not better in 

 any sense t No ; neither in Great Britain nor America has 

 their boasted superiority been established. StiU, amongst 

 bee-fanciers they are fashionable. There is a gratification 

 arising from the possession of what we like, and to many 

 the cost of the gratification is of no importance. The 

 satisfaction derived from the possession of a swarm of 

 Ligurian bees to many gentlemen is an ample return for 

 the money paid for them. But to those who are more 



