40 ITALIAN BEES. 
1855 and 1859, but, I believe, none were successful until 
1860, when Mr. Mahan, Mr. 8. 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. 
CHARACTERISTICS. 
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 affirm 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, He 
