S44 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 23, 1887. 
tlic queen and bees are induced—when a break in the 
honey flow occurs—to believe that a supply of honey is 
continually coming in to assist in ekeing out the stores 
they have been able to gather in the preceding months. 
After July every stock should be allowed to become 
quieter and quieter, no attempt being made to induce 
bees to rear brood more than in a normal quantity. 
Winter preparations should be made with all speed, yet 
with great care and with the exercise of a wise judgment, 
and then we may rest assured that our stocks are in a 
better condition for wintering, and, consequently, in 
spring will be more healthy and strong than those which 
have been disturbed in season and out of season by the 
supply of a small quantity of syrup.— Felix. 
FOREIGN RACES OF BEES. 
Your correspondent, “ Notts Bee-keeper.” at page 280, still makes 
an attempt to subvert my statement on the merits of the eastern races 
of bees. The Ligurian bee was introduced into this country about fifteen 
years before the Cyprian, and something more before the Syrian, there¬ 
fore the former had the advantage of better seasons than the latter has 
yet had. During these good seasons the Ligurians gave me large 
harvests of honey, while many bee-keepers condemned them as worthless, 
just as “N. B. K.” is doing. 
Taking the seasons into account the Cyprians have surpassed every 
other variety, and, as I stated lately, the Syrians do not appear to lack 
any of their good qualities. They were the first to begin work and 
breeding this year, and do so on days that other varieties are not inclined. 
Yet so sensitive do they appear to approaching storms that they remain 
indoors when others less sensitive venture abroad, but to be lost. As to 
their spitefulness and impulsiveness when handled roughly so as to 
enrage them there can be but one opinion, but they are less vindictive than 
the common black bee. Moreover, they are the mildest tempered bees 
when let alone and treated as they should be that I am acquainted with. 
They never make an unprovoked attack on anyone. The directors of bee 
shows might do worse than to encourage rational, coupled with humane, 
manipulation. 
Your correspondent brings forward Mr. Abbott as a reliable witness. 
I have neither seen that gentleman’s remarks nor yet Mr. Simmins’ 
latest on these foreign bees, but I remember very well Mr. Abbott’s 
earlier disbelief as well as the glowing description in praise of these 
bees. Some time before Messrs. Jones and Benton set out to the East in 
search of varieties of bees Mr. Abbott was so sceptical of their 
existence that he asked if “ anyone had seen them anywhere but on 
paper,” although they had been publicly exhibited by Messrs. Neighbour 
years before that. When the Cyprian and Holy Land bees were, as it 
were, forced upon him through these gentlemen, the glowing descriptions 
he gave of them were so great that it is a wonder any bee-keeper 
refrained from purchasing them. In a letter 1 saw sent to a friend by 
Mr. Abbott they had a similar glowing description of their good qualities, 
and for their colour, why they were so pretty that many of them “ had 
four yellow bands, and the description given in the British Bee 
Journal about their working qualities was just what I have found them 
to be ; but what was my astonishment shortly after to find them 
described by that- gentleman ns “ truculent pests.” This sudden change 
of op ; nion I never heard explained. 
When the motives of a witness is known to a judge it enables him 
to arrive at facts sooner and easier than when they are concealed. 
Your correspondent’s remarks that the black bees “ are keener after 
honey than any other race ” will not meet with approval or support 
from any bee-keeper who has given them a fair trial. They are, in 
plain speaking, the reverse, and if Mr. Abbott’s (“ N. B.-K.’s” own 
witness) evidence is taken will go against him. “ N. B.-K. ” seems to 
admit that li these foreigners ” are more prolific. Not only are they so, 
but they begin earlier and breed longer than the blacks do, so that they 
are at all times, when properly managed, in a fit state to gather honey 
when an opportunity occurs. When honey is to be had they arc the 
first to scent it out, work more eager when at it, and begin earlier and 
work later, and on flowers the blacks do not, working on days too when 
the blacks remained idle. It is problematical whether a large or small 
bee gathers the most honey. It is results at the end of the season we 
judge and know the best by, and not individual bees. I have often 
witnessed the common black bee fill itself so full that they never reached 
the hive, but never have I observed this in the eastern races. Appear¬ 
ance is often deceiving, and when we think the black bee has a heavier 
load we may be mistaken. In regard to the Cyprians sealing their 
honey in a different manner from other bees, 1 have never observed 
any difference, but have observed often one hive store a different honey 
from what the majority were doing. Like " N. B. K.,” I would like 
very much to hear the evidence- of others who have given these foreign 
races a fair trial, but I must confess it is unpleasant to enter into con¬ 
troversy with those who have not. 
The following is perhaps interesting and apropos to the question at 
issue. On the 19th of March three fruit growers and noted bee-keepers 
rom Clydeside visited me. Two of them were thoroigh scept 'cs as to 
bees breeding earlier than April. Reasoning would not convince them ; 
and although I showed them many young bees playing at almost every 
hive (it was the finest day we had had during the month, the thermo¬ 
meter stood at 50° Fahr., and the bees were busy on the peameal) they 
would not be convinced they were young, but made light in appearance 
through it. They said they had examined many of their hives before 
leaving home (black bees they said they had), and there was not so much 
as an egg to be seen, and their place was more cosy for bees than mine. 
Argument had no effect, so I opened a hive (the one referred to before 
in the Journal as having lost many bees) the Carniolian queen regnant 
was put to it in November. When opened half of its bees were Car- 
niolians, and six combs contained sealed brood and many eggs, but 
owing to the extreme cold all the unsealed larvae had been destroyed. 
In the centre of these six combs was one mostly of drone cells, but there 
was not a single egg or brood in it. I removed this comb and substi¬ 
tuted a worker comb, then covered and examined another hive having 
a Syrian queen, but Carniolian bees, the reverse of the first one ; it was 
equally as forward, although the queen is in her second year. A third 
Carniolian, bees and queen, was similar. Surely if these foreigners are 
advanced enough to collect honey when the blacks on their own showing 
had not begun to breed it must be a great advantage to promote the very 
thing “ N. B. K.” wishes. In addition to the destruction of the larva?, 
retarding the hatching through the extreme cold, some young bees have 
defective wings. 
Up to the 9th the weather was very untoward. On two days only had 
the temperature reached 50°, and the night temperature has run between 
28° Fahr., and the highest 27° Fahr. The highest temperature of the 
year occurred end of March, when the temperature reached to 5G° Fahr. 
Doubtless the extreme cold has kept back the bees greatly, but the 
mild weather will soon give them an opportunity to increase and be 
in full strength in time to catch the first glut of honey. Bee-keepers 
will have to act their part, being careful that the stores do not run 
short, contracting the entrances, and keeping the coverings ample and 
close to the hives, so that as little heat as possible shall be lost, and 
where practicable contract the entrances more during night than through 
the day when the bees are at work. 
Notwithstanding the extreme cold a number of my Syrian stocks 
are well advanced, and are likely to swarm early. I hope for a good 
season so that they may be fully tested by those who have an oppor¬ 
tunity for the first time. I will watch their movements and record the 
results at the earliest opportunity. —A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
A. M. C. Jongkmdt Coninck, Tottenham Nurseries, Dedemsvaart, near 
Zwolle, Netherlands.— Wholesale Trade List of Hardy Shrubs and Herba¬ 
ceous Plants for 1887. 
E. C. Walton, Huskham, Newark .—Catalogue of Apiarian Appliances. 
° Q ° All correspondence should be directed either to “ The 
Editor” or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. 
Hogg or members of the staff often remain unopened un¬ 
avoidably. We request that no one will write privately 
to any of our correspondents, as doing so subjects them to 
unjustifiable trouble and expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions 
relating to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should 
never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannot reply to questions through the 
post, and we do not undertake to return rejected communica¬ 
tions. 
LATE INQUIRIES. —It is necessary to again remind correspondents that 
letters arriving on WEDNESDAY MORNING cannot be answered 
in the “ next issue,” which is then far advanced for press. 
Double Primrose (F. A B.). —The sport is very distinct from <he 
original, the flowers being decidedly deeper in colour, abo full and 
symmetrical. It is an attractive variety, resembling Croussei plena, and 
is wc-ll worthy of preservation. 
Cineraria (/?. H. S.).— Occisionally the florets come quilled or fluted, 
and we have seen more than a usual number of such this year. A variety 
of tbe same character as yours was certificate! at a recent meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, but die flowers were much finer and richer in 
colour than are those you have sent. 
Mushrooms in Peach House (IF. F. S. K.). —Valuable crops of Mush¬ 
rooms a v e grown in both vineries and Reich houses, making up beds in 
the autumn, and succe 5 sionally through the winte-—the last about January, 
for b ariog in April and ea-ly May. After (hit the structures are too hot 
