ITALIAN BEES. gl 
not been overrated. The queens are larger and more 
prolific. The workers, when bred in comb of their own 
building, are longer and their honey sacs larger. They 
are Jess sensitive to cold, and more industrious. 
“Tn all my handling of them—and I have done so pretty 
freely, lifting the combs, and examining them almost daily 
—TI have never known one to offer to sting. A queen 
that I received in June, and introduced to a strong stock 
of bees, in eleven days filled thirteen sheets of comb with 
brood and eggs. There is at present scarcely a black bee 
in the hive, so rapid has been the change. Although I 
have taken from it large quantities of worker brood and 
sealed drones, the hive is still overflowing’ ” 
From the California Culturist : 
““We believe, however, that the superiority of the Ital- 
ian bee is no longer questionable, even among apiarians 
who have large stocks of the common bee for sale. We 
take pleasure in introducing proof of this, that those who 
may have been in doubt may have their doubts removed, 
and at once obtain this superior breed ; just as the stock- 
grower would a superior breed of horses, cattle, or sheep.” 
From Mr. L. L. Langstroth : 
“Tt is hardly necessary to say, that a species of the 
honey-bee so much more productive than the common 
kind, and so much less sensitive to cold, will be of very 
great value to all sections of our country. Its superior 
docility would make it worthy of high regard, even if in 
other respects it had no peculiar merits. Its introduction 
into this country will, it is confidently believed, consti- 
tute a new era in bee-keeping, and impart an interest to 
its pursuit which will enable us, ere long, to vie with any 
part of the world in the production of honey.” 
