328 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
made to hold only one comb, which ought to be old and 
very securely fastened. Into such a hive, suitably pro¬ 
visioned, an Italian queen may be introduced, with a few 
hundred bees to keep her company, and, if sufficient ven¬ 
tilation is given, with a little water daily, they will bear a 
journey of many days. If received at a season unsuit¬ 
able for rearing new queens, she may be given to some 
strong colony and reserved for future operations. 
It 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, constitute a 
new era in bee-keeping, and impart an interest to its pur¬ 
suit which will enable us, ere long, to vie with any part 
of the world in the production of honey. 
* An attempt was made in 1856, by Mr. Wagner, to import tho Italian 
bees; but, unfortunately, tho colonies perished on the voyage. The first 
living Italian bees landed on this continent were imported in tho fall 
of 1859 by Mr. Wagner and Mr. Richard Colvin, of Baltimore, from 
Dzierzon’s apiary. Mr. P. G. Mahan, of Philadelphia, brought over at the 
same time a few colonies. In tho spring of I860, Mr. S. B. Parsons, of 
Flushing, L. I., imported a number of colonies from Italy. Mr. William 
G.Rose, of New York, in 1861, imported also from Italy. Mr. Colvin lias 
made a number of importations from Dzierzon’s apiary; and in tho fall 
wi 1863 and 1864 I also imported queens from tho samo apiary. This 
valuable variety of tho honoy-bco is now quite extensively dissominatod 
in North America. 
