The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-06-24

to make it at once pra cticai and interesting,
its contents will be confined principally to the
answering of questions and the discussion Of
subjects suggested thereby. It will be contin-
ued only so long as our subscribers take an in
terest in it. We have secured the services of
Mr.. WILLARD BERRY, of Duck Creek, Dallas
county, Texas, who will conduct this depart
ment until further notice.
Are the Italians Better than our
Common Blacks?
In general terms this question
can be answered only in the affirm
alive. AS different horses or cattle
of the same stock differ very mate
rally in many points of excellence,
so will we find different colonies of
the same race of bees differing so
greatly as to make one colony worth
several dollars more than another
of an equal number of bees. There
fore to answer this question | must
speak of the two races of bees and
not of isolated colonies.
The existence of the Italian bee
as distinct race can be traced back
for more than score of centuries,
and strange as it may appear, they
yet exist in their native country,
pure and unmixed with other races.
The honey bee is not native of
America and the presumption now
is that the common bee fount its
way to this country from England
among the effects of some of the
earlier settlers. Possibly a colony
of bees formed part of the cargo
of the Mayflower. Nothing could
have been more appropriately en-
blematic. They are the personifi-
cation of thrift, industry and enter
prise, and as the new colony leaves
the crowed hive and seeks a new
location, so the Pilgrim Fathers are
leaving the expressions of their
crowded, native hive of Britain to
seek new home and establish a
new colony in the land across the
ocean. The Italian bee can not
claim so long residence in this
country, as the first were imported
in the fall of 1889 from the apiary
of the celebrated Dzierzon of Ger
many. This gentleman imported
his first colony from Italy, near
Venice, in February 1858. Since
the first were brought to this coun-
try the importations have increased,
until now several thousand queens
are brought over every year.
While prefer the Italians l do
not pretend to say that there are no
points of difference in favor of our
common blacks. Space will not
allow me to discuss the matter in
full, but as I have experimental on
most of the alleged points, I will
state briefly the principal ones as
follows: e#
Ist. The Italians are more vigor-
Gus, active and powerful, and will
fly farther and faster than the
blacks.
I'd. When forage is cut short by
drought or other causes the Italians
often continue to work while the
others remain comparatively idle.
Consequently fair yield may often
be obtained from the one, and but
little from the other. This is the
result of the greater perseverance
of the Italians and the length of
the proboscis, which enables them
to reach deeper into many flowers.
3D. The Italians defend their
hive against robbers most admira-
bly,, and never give up until COM
pletely overpowered, while hun
dred or so of invading bees will so
completely terrify colony of black
bees that they can onl y run about
excitedly, and assist the robbers in
making a great noise. The blacks
may kill a few of the invaders at
the beginning of the strife, while
the Italians continue to KNOCK
down and drag OUT until the
ground in front of their hive is
covered with the bodies of the
slain and wounded.
4th. While the blacks, if unas-
sisted, often become the victims of
the moth, the Italians are more
able, or more disposed, to defend
themselves against this pest. The
weak colonies, if left without any
attention, are liable to injury by the
moth; but with movable comb
hive. man ought to be ashamed to
tell that he had received such an
injury.
| 9Th. The Italians are more peace
able and less disposed to sting, un-
der most circumstances, than the
blacks.
This point / came near emitting,
as | regard it of little Importance.
Some persons find it difficult to
work with bees, because of the at
traction they seem to have for
stings. Whether they are naturally
afraid, and bees delight to scourge
them as towards, or whether the
natural secretions of some persons
are more offensive than those of
others / do not pretend to know.
I do know however that much de-
ponds on the manner and the actions
of the apiarian while working with
his bees.
| IF you are very particular about
the occasional stings a bee keeper
must receive, you need not expect
complete relief by exchanging your
blacks for Italians. At times l
work with my bees without any
protection, but generally cover my
| face and head with veil of mos
quito bar and use smoker to keep
| irascible bees under control. IF you
will always take the precaution to
blow little smoke into the hive
and rap gently on the sides to notify
the bees of your presence before
opening the hive less trouble will
| be exnerienced with either race