32 Texas Department of Agriculture. 



when handled, remain on the combs so quietly and unconcernedly in 

 their activities that the queens may be seen in many instances contin- 

 uing laying on the combs as they are held up out of the hives. The 

 queens are very prolific and the colonies build up rapidly in the 

 early spring to strong colonies, and, on this account, larger hives than 

 customarily used are necessary. The average hives employed are too 

 small for them and this is, perhaps, the reason why the almost general 

 objection to them as excessive swarmers obtains. With larger hives 

 this may be overcome to a great extent. The Carniolans are excellent 

 honey-gatherers and cap their combs with a most beautiful pearly 

 whiteness. 



They are a very dark race of bees, with a nearly black body cov- 

 ered with gray hairs and in well defined rings on the abdomen, which 

 gives them a pretty ashy-gray color. The large queens vary from a 

 dark brownish color to a bronze black, and the drones, which are 

 larger than those of the other races, are of a grayish-black color. 



BANAT BEES. 



This is a comparatively new race in this country. They are closely 

 related and very similar to the Carniolan bees, and, like them, are pro- 

 lific and breed early, which is an advantage where early honey flows 

 prevail. Unlike the Carniolans, who begin tn get the swarming fever 

 about the time the best super work is expected, the Banats, according 

 to reliable authority, are not excessive swarmers and can be eon- 

 trolled more easily, while they bear being crowded ronsiderablj'. 



The bees are gray, with a tendency toward a yellowish brown in 

 color and, while most of the queens are dark, they vary from an al- 

 most black to an orange yellow. In temperament they are very quiet 

 and so easily handled that protection to the face while handling them, 

 in their purity, is hardly necessary. They are fine comb builders, 

 capping the combs very white like the Germans and the Carniolans, 

 hence excellent comb-honey builders. 



CAUCASIANS. 



This race is of more recent importation and comes from the southern 

 part of Russia. They are perhaps the gentlest bees of all the races 

 brought to Texas and, on that account, promised to become the most 

 popular; but, after being tested extensively hy a large number of 

 beekeepers ovei' the State, did not find much 'favor, except with a 

 very few. In size and color they resemble the common black bees so 

 much that often even an expert can not distinguish them, but the 

 marked difference in their temperament is a distinguishing' point in 

 such eases. While the Caucasians are prolific and early" breeders 

 good honey-gatherers, and do not swarm very much, they, on the other 

 hand, have a tendency toward rearing too manv drones, to building 

 bur and brace combs in excess and to plastering the interior of their 

 hives considerably with bee-glue, or propolis. On the whole they are 

 not as good as the Italians. Careful breeding for a number of years 

 by able, experienced apiarists may develop an improvement. 



