BEE CULTURE. 131 
IMPROVEMENT IN BEES, 
To obtain the best results we must possess the highest 
grade of bees that it is possible to obtain. Our object being 
to elevate the race, no deterioration should be countenaneed, , 
and the most thorough and rigid treatment must be employed, 
all looking to the building up of a strain of bees that will 
give the best of results. 
The queen must be prolific to be able to keep the hive full 
of bees, to gather the honey harvest when it comes ; the bees 
must be industrious to let nothing escape their vigorous 
search while gathering the sweet nectar ; they must be docile 
to allow the apiarist to manipulate them with ease and 
pleasure ; they must be strong and hardy, to withstand the 
rapid changes in climate ; and must be of singular beauty, to 
attract the admiration of the fancier of fine stock. 
“The bee of the future” will be present at the very 
moment when the slumbering flower, under the penetrating 
dew, awakes to consciousness, and unfolds its buds to take 
in the first rays of the morning sun. The ideal bee will dip 
into that tiny fountain, which distills the honey drop by drop, 
and bear off its honeyed treasure to its cells of virgin comb. 
In developing the highest strain of horses, not all their 
offspring are equal to the best; careful selection of those 
coming the nearest to the ideal animal must always be chosen, 
from which to breed, and the closest scrutiny is necessary 
while making that selection. The same is true of' cattle, 
sheep, hogs, poultry and bees. “Sports” and “ variations” 
continually occur, producing inferior progeny ; but all care- 
ful breeders who have an eye to the improvement of the race, 
will reject those that do not come up to the “standard of 
excellence,” sending such animals and poultry to the 
shambles—so Ict us carefully select the best queens and 
drones to breed from, and remorselessly sacrifice all others. 
