BEE MANUAL. 33 
visible, are apt to think their bees are not pure unless they 
answer that description. The bees from the queens I imported 
from America were, as arule, much lighter and handsomer 
than those that came direct from Italy, and I account for this 
by their having been bred for lightness of colour rather than 
for honey-gathering qualities, though I have no doubt the two 
objects may be attained in the same bee. It is worthy of note 
that some of the most experienced bee keepers of America 
prefer a strain of dark leather-coloured bees to the lighter ones. 
My own opinion is that the test of purity is uniformity of the 
markings on the whole of the worker-bees of a colony, whether 
the three bands be plainly visible or not. The lightest coloured 
and most handsome variety of the Italian bee is to be found 
in the Swiss-Alpine districts, from which place the most of the 
English importers now obtain their supplies. 
HYBRIDS—GERMAN-ITALIAN. 
Much has been said for and against the cultivation of 
hybrids. My own experience leads me to believe that, as 
honey-gatherers and for hardiness, they are far superior to 
either the German or Italian race pure, but as regards docility 
they would be nowhere in a comparison. The first cross 
between an Italian queen and a black drone produces, I believe, 
the best workers. Should, however, any person prefer a greater 
degree of gentleness in his bees to a larger production of honey, 
TI would advise him not to keep hybrids longer than he can 
possibly help. 
In briefly stating what I consider to be the superior qualities 
of each sort, Germans, Italians, and hybrids, as compared with 
each other, I shall first take the Germans, or black bees. 
Without a doubt, for raising comb-honey they beat both 
Italians and hybrids. First, they will take to the section 
boxes sooner than the others; second, they leave a slight 
air space between the honey and the capping of the cells, 
which preserves the brightness of the cappings and gives to 
comb-honey that nice white appearance which is so much 
admired. On the contrary, the Italians, and in a less degree 
the hybrids, allow little or no air space, consequently the comb 
has a dark, damp look, on account of the proximity of the 
honey to the cappings. Italians are superior to the Germans— 
D 
