30 AUSTRALIAN 



having been known of this bee, and, as some think, has helped 

 to develop a distinct variety. 



It was introduced into Germany in 1853, by Dr. Dzierzon, 

 who, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of its introduction, pub- 

 lished in a German bee paper a very interesting account of it, 

 speaking in very high terms of its superior quality. 



It was introduced into England in 1859, by Mr. Neighbour, 

 and into America by Messrs. Wagner and Colvin the same 

 year. Wherever it has been introduced, its superiority over 

 the common bee in many respects has been always acknow- 

 ledged. In America it has become so universal, that it is said 

 to be impossible to find a pure black bee in some of the States • 

 and I have no doubt, now it has become established in Austra- 

 lasia, that, notwithstanding the fears of a few individuals, it 

 will be found to deserve all that has been said regarding its 

 superiority over the black bee. 



With regard to the many excellent qualities it is said to 

 possess, I will first quote Cook ; he being a professor of ento- 

 mology, as well as an apiarist, his opinion should be doubly 

 valuable. He says : — 



" The Italians certainly possess the following points of superiority: 



"1. They possess longer tongues, and so can gather from flowers 

 that are useless to the black bee. How much value hangs upon this 

 structural peculiarity I am unable to state. I have frequently Been 

 Italians working on red clover. I never saw a black bee thus employed. 

 It is easy to see that this might be at certain times and seasons a very 

 material aid. How much of the superior storing qualities of the Italians 

 is due to this lengthened ligula, I am unable to say. 



"2. They are more active, and with the same opportunities will 

 collect a good deal more honey. This is a matter of observation, which 

 I have tested over and over again ; yet I will give the figures of another. 

 Mr. Doolittle secured from two colonies 309 lb. and 301 lb. respectively 

 of box honey during one season. These surprising figures, the best he 

 could give, were from his best Italian stocks. Similar testimony comes 

 from Klien and Dzierzon, over the sea, and from most of our apiarists 



"3. They work earlier and later. This is not only true of the 

 day, but of the season. On cool days in spring I have seen the dande- 

 lions swarming with Italians, while not a black bee was to be seen 

 On May 7th, 1877, I walked less than half a mile, and counted sixty- 

 eight bees gathering from dandelions, yet only two were black bees. 

 This might be considered an undesirable feature, as tending to spring 

 dwindling; yet, with proper management, I consider this no objection 

 but a great advantage ' 



"4. They are far better to protect their hives against robbers Rob- 

 bers who attempt to plunder Italians of their hard-earned stores soon 



