TIIK ITALIAN BKK. 
323 
and also more frequently. Captain Baldenstein’s want ot succes* 
was most probably the result of a deficiency of drone-comb* in Ins 
Italian hives, as a consequence, of which, only few drones were 
produced.’ 
*• The main thing to be attended to in any localities where 
common bees are found or kept, is to secure the production of 
drones in numbers overwhelmingly large; though Dzierzon is 
under the impression, that where both kinds ot drones exist in 
about equal numbers, the Italian queens will usually encounter 
Italian drones, both queens and drones being more active and 
agile than the common kind. Besides, the wings of both queens 
and drones are finer and more delicate than those of the common 
kind, and the sounds produced in flying are clearer and higher- 
toned. Hence, probably, they are readily able to distinguish each 
other when on the wing t 
‘ The Baron of Berlepsch, one of the most enthusiastic and 
skillful Apiarians, on a large scale, in Germany, says he can. from 
his own experience confirm the statements of Dzierzon, in relation 
to the Italian bee, having found, 
* “Dzierzon guarded ngunst this, by giving to a very large colony, which ordi¬ 
narily produced drones In great numbers, a fertile queen very early in the season. 
Thousands of drones soon mado their appearance, and he immediately formed an 
artificial colony by removing this queen, with a sufficient number of workers, 
adding worker-brood from other colonies. On the twelfth day following, he henrd 
a young queen ‘teeiiny in the parent hive and, to his surprise, a large swarm 
issued from it on the same day, though the weather was then cool and cloudy. This 
swarm came forth suddenly, without any previous Indication of its intention, just 
ns after-swarms usually do. On a similar day, Dzierzon says, he had nevor seen a 
first swarm of common bees leave. So cold was the weather, that some of the bees 
became chilled before the swarm was hived. As the swarm was unusually large, 
he divided it into two, ns ho was able to procure an additional queen from tho 
parent hive. Both throvo well, and ench of tho queens wa 3 Impregnated by an 
Italian drone. From this occurrence, he judged that these bees have nil instinctive 
proclivity to swarm early. Our common kind would liavo lingered long, rather 
I ban 'swarm-in weather so cold and cloudy.”’— S. Wagner. 
t “ If, at the timo when young queens are emerging, the bees and drones be 
tempted to sully out earlier than usual In the day, hours before the common drones 
come forth, by feeding them with diluted honey, the perpetuation of the genuine 
meed will the more probably be secured. But this end will the most certainly bo 
attained, if measures are taken to have Italian queens and drones bred early In tho 
season, before the common drones niako their nppoaranco; and again late, after the 
latter liavo been 1 killed off.' This may readily he done hy the Improved hlvo, and 
the application of certain known principles in bee-culture."—S. Wagner. 
