46 ITALIAN BEES. 
it increases the labor of the operation. While the black 
bees may be nearly all dislodged from the comb by a sud- 
den movement, many of the Italians must be brushed off 
with a wing. 
Moth-Larve.—We find Italians much less liable to 
be injured by the larvee of the bee-moth, when, from any 
cause, they become reduced in number. Their superiority 
to the natives in this respect is well marked, as might be 
inferred from their energetic nature. 
Late Breeding.—It is affirmed that the natives breed 
later in the fall, and consequently go into winter quarters 
with more young bees. Let us illustrate with a colony of 
each variety. Let boxes be placed upon both hives, and 
furnished so long as the yield of honey continues. As 
the yield diminishes, it will be found that breeding con- 
tinues more largely with the natives, and the honey will 
be stored in the boxes; while the Italians will fill the 
space in the brood-chamber, with stores, earlier in the 
season, and be found much heavier in the fall than the 
natives. 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 emp- 
tied in extracting, and invariably found them to breed as 
late and as freely as the natives. A little forethought 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. 
* JT have found it very desirable to take heavy combs from the Italians at such 
times, and give them to the natives, 
