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, | cannot recommend them for general 
introduction.” He concludes that for the experienced—above 
ail, for the professional—beekeeper either of the two sorts, 
Cyprians or Syrians, is rost 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 
