BEE MANUAL. 35 



The connection between these gentlemen has since been 

 severed, and Mr. Benton has established apiaries at Beyrout, 

 Syria ; Larnaca, Cyprus ; and Munich. Germany, where he at 

 present resides. 



Opinions are still much divided as to the positive and 

 relative value of the different races of Eastern bees. Mr. 

 Benton, in a circular he is now (July, 1885) issuing, says : 

 " After five years' experience I am of opinion that the first 

 rank should be given to Cyprian bees as the best bees, all 

 things considered, yet cultivated." He gives them credit for 

 all the good qualities of the Italian bees, but in a much greater 

 degree, and with regard to their stinging propensities, which 

 has been the principal objection urged against their general 

 cultivation, he says : " The claim that the Cyprian bees are 

 possessed of such great stinging propensities as to make them 

 nearly unmanageable I have not found well based ; indeed, in 

 common with many others who have carefully tested them, I 

 prefer to manipulate Cyprians rather than Italians, and find 

 that, while getting no more stings from them, I can get on 

 much faster with the work." 



Syrian bees Mr. Benton considers nearly equal in every 

 respect to Cyprians. The former vary slightly more in their 

 markings, and are not quite so active as the latter, but in other 

 respects they are about equal. He says, " Syrian bees are 

 never to be confounded with Palestine bees." Of the latter 

 race he does not speak very assuringly, and remarks, " Though 

 Palestine bees possess some valuable qualities common to 

 Cyprians and Syrians, still, on account of their bad temper and 

 poor wintering qualities, I cannot recommend them for general 

 introduction." He concludes that for the experienced — above 

 all, for the professional — beekeeper either of the two sorts, 

 Cyprians or Syrians, is rrost to be recommended. For those 

 who suffer much from bee stings, or who "haven't steady 

 enough nerves to manipulate Cyprians or Syrian bees," the 

 variety most to be recommended is the 



CARNIOLAN. 



These bees take their name from the Austrian province of 

 Carniola, a part of the ancient Illyria, to the east of the 

 Carnic Alps, and on the upper part of the river Save, the great 



