The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-09-02
No. 80
Poultry and Bees.
HOW TO MAKE BEES PAY.
Cor. of The Progressive Farmer.
III.

One of the most important steps to
make a success of the honey business
is to have a good strain of bees. While
there are great many different kinds
(among which are the Italian, Albins,
Black, Carnolian, Cyprian, East In
dian, Egyptian, Holy Land, etc. }, none
are equal to the italian in many re-
spects. They are recognized the world
over as superior to all others as honey
gatherers, and for this reason, if none
other, they are used and bred exclu-
sively by those who run large, up-to-
date apiaries.
THE ITALIAN BEES.
Among the different strains of Ital-
ians are those known as fve-banded,
three-banded, golden and leather-col-
ored. I have learned from experience,
however, that the color has little to do
with the qualities of the bee. / have
introduced at different times queens
from all four of the strains just men
toned, and find the leather-colored
queens much superior in every respect
to the others. Some breeders seem to
go in for color more than anything
else. In their ads. they tell you what
beautiful bees they are. That's all
very nice in a way, but what the bust
ness man wants is beautiful honey, not
beautiful bees alone. No, the color,
as a rule, does not govern the working
qualities of the bee.
The Italians came originally from
Italy, as their name implies, and fine
breeders are still imported from that
country. As before stated, the Ital-
ian is superior to our common native
or black bee in many respects.
LENGTH OF TONGUE AND IT'S ADvAN.
TAGEs.
First, their tongue is much longer.
While that of the common bee meas
ures only 16-1OO of an inch, that of
the italian runs from 2O-1OO to 23-1OO,
and some have measured 24-1OO of an
inch. This greater length of tongue
enables the italian to gather honey
from flowers that it is impossible for
the common bee to reach, and for this
reason, in sections where there are
few short-tubed flowers, the Italians
often fill their boxes to overfowing,
while the common bees starve. The
extra tongue-reach enables them to
gather honey plentifully from crimson
clover, while the common bee can do
little Or nothing, owing to the depth
of the tube. It is the same with all
other flowers having deep tubes.
Another thing in favor of the Ital-
ian is that they keep their boxes clear
of the moth and web-worm, that play
such havoc with the common bees.
They are also more gentle and much
easier handled.
It is almost impossible to keep the
italian pure in most sections of the
country. Owing to the great number
of common bees they soon become
mixed; the cross is known as hybrid !;
while not as gentle as either the Ital-
ian or common bee, or rather the
brown variety of the common bee, is
nevertheless, recognized as an equal
| of the italian in every other respect.
TRANSFERRING BEES.
Now, if you have the common black
or brown bees in the ordinary box
hive, and wish to Italianize them, first
it is necessary that you transfer them
to patent box, or one with movable
frames. For the benefit of those who
have had no experience in this respect,
I will tell you how it may be done Cor
rather the way proceed-some have
one way and other another). Take the
box to be transferred to some secluded
spot, so you will not be troubled with
robber bees. Have a small table, OF
smooth board convenient. First smoke
the bees well; after about five minutes
remove the top, then with a chisel pry
off one of the side boards of the box
Keep it in a perpendicular position SO
the combs will not fall to one side
With long knife cut the combs from
the sides of the the box.
Select long smooth one; lay it OF
the table or board mentioned; ther
take frame from your patent box