80 SUCCESSFULL BEE-KEEPING. 
bee-keeper from Normandy, who informed us that two 
kinds of bees were cultivated in that country—the com- 
mon kind and also a yellowish or orange variety. The 
latter, he stated, were much preferred, as being more 
gentle and more industrious. The common kind, he 
said, were particularly irascible and wild. This ac- 
count likewise corroborates the opinion that the Italian 
bee is not the common insect modified by special cli- 
matic influences, because Normandy differs little in 
that respect from Central Germany. 
“At Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como, we found Ital- 
ian bees exclusively, and of the most perfect type, like 
those of Genoa. These districts, indeed, appear to be 
their chief habotat.” 
From the American Agriculturist : 
“ The fact that so many of our oldest apiarians have con- 
siderable confidence in them, argues well in their favor. 
We have watched their multiplication from a single 
swarm, and if the rate of increase be as great at other 
points to which the queens are being daily dispatched, it 
will not take long to fill the country with them—if such a 
consummation be desirable. Below we give an extract 
from a letter, dated August 10, written by Mr. E. A. Brack. - 
ett, the well known sculptor, who is an enthusiastic ama- 
teur in bees also. His suggestion in regard to improving 
bees, by care in selecting breeding queens, is worthy of 
attention. All kinds of domestic animals have been 
brought to a much higher standard, by special care in 
breeding. Why may not our common bees be in like 
manner improved ? 
““* My experience thus far, satisfies me that they have 
