St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-07-14
FACTS FOR APIARlSTE.
How Bcos Can Without Trouble bu Br'
fur Impl OvOmcnt.


fur Improvement.
This is a subject that is demanding
much attention from the specialist.
and grand results are browning every
effort in this direction. To say that
bees can not bc brought up 10 high
state Of perfection by careful breeding
as well rs any other stock can. is a
mistake. The advancement in this
line can be made very rapidly. by TAX
ing advantage Of opportunities tina,
present themselves although it would
appear slow work when VIC take into
consideration that we have no control
of the matings of our queens There
is no doubt that careful breeders have
improved tho Italian bees in this coun-
try until they excel any thing in their
native home. by breeding for improve
mcnt. or breeding from the best
socks. Almost any point can be
CAMEL readily by such breeding
Some specialists brood tor color. and
the beautiful golden band character
istic Of the Italian bees are brought
out more perfectly at every step. Some
breed for business. or for the best
honcy-gatherers. and in consequences
thousands ofpounds Of honey are add
ed to their yearly crops. Some breed
for anon-swarming strain OF bees and
their efforts IN this direction have cur
tailed the increasing habit OF the
Italian bee to great extern. Others
breed from the best laying queens and
those who are the most productive Of
stock. and strong powerful colonies
arc tho result. Some breed exclusive
ly for gcn,lcness. Feasibility can be
bred out just rs fast IS any other point
can be bred in.
Every apiarist is aware Of the above
facts; then why not give this impor-
tant part of our industry moro atten.
ton than ever? The most important
points in breeding are business. color
and gcntlencss. While wo wish to Sc
cure the best honey gatherers VIC at
the same ,ime should preserve color.
as the three golden bands on the body
of the Italian bee should never be
lost. This is the only mark that we
have 10 distinguish them from the nat
i've bees 1t is the test mark and we
can not afford to lctjt 60 Gentlcncss
is also Of some Importance. but with
the puro Italian bee it is \ less
prominent point than tho others
As said above. advantages or
'near cuts" may be taken in thus
breeding. II we select queens only.
and pay no attention 10 tho malc bees.
we shall he much longer in reaching
the points desired We should be as
careful IN selecting colonies for rear
ing droncs as VIC are 10 rear queens.
and by thus selecting both We can adj
vance moro rapidly. But BY taking
the NEAR CUT we can secure the best
queens every time without m ex-
ccption.
This is simply selecting our colo
MES. both for queens and droneS
and rushing them early in the
season by early feeding. and securing
plenty Of drones and queens at time
when no other drones are in existence.
thereby securing the matings we de-
sire. BY such early breeding We not
only secure the very best queens but
have queens ON III, market ut time
when they are the most valuao Die. and
will bring three times the price that
they will at any other season OF the
year. Hence the importance OF TAX
ing :his short cut'' and '.killing two
birds with one stoac." ~ u Duff in
Ohio Farmer: