The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-30

| moved the bees are very quiet u1lQeI
manipulation, and remain on the combs
going on with their work unless un-
duly disturbed. It is a characteristic
that when a bee of any Of the races
of this type is going to sting she does
not sound a warning note for tive min
utes, in an annoying manner, directly
before your nose, but darts directly to
her work.
The Cyperian, Syrian and Holy
Land, or Palestine, all belong to this
type, and are not only very much alike
in general characteristics, but also in
the more minute points, and can be
classed as one race for the purpose OF
description. They are a three-band
bee, and present a very yellow ap-
pearance-more so, even, than the
Italian. This is due much to the
sharp contrast between the different
colors of their makeup. The abdo-
men is decidedly pointed, and with the
contrast of color, gives the bees an ait
of quickness and nervous action which
is borne out by their actual move
ments, as all know who have handled
them. The queens are mostly yellow,
and the drones a varied yellow. These
bees have "black eye' in this coun-
tent undeserved 1t is a type some
what different from the ordinary Black,
or Italian, and requires a different man
agement to obtain the best results.
They are quiet under proper manipu-
lation. but quick, jerky movements
should not be made, and no amount Of
smoke or rough treatment will sub
due them, as it does the two races
just mentioned. Smoke, when used to
excess, irritates them. 1t is a race
not adapted to comb honey production,
as their comb has a Gaping resting
upon the surface Of the honey itself,
which gives a Watery appearance to
the finished product For extracted
honey they are excellent, and bring
in large quantities Of honey when one
They are with no difficulty dis1odged
from the combs with one, Or at most,
two, shakes, but cannot be brushed,
AS can most other races [ do not con-
slider them very good winterers. The
queens being very prolific, will begin
to lay with the first warm snap in the
spring. A cold time soon comes and
much brood is wasted, which strength
and stores have been expended to rear.
Repeated operations similar to this put
the colony in very weak condition,
and often strong colonies at the begin
ming Of winter will come out in the
spring very much weakened, so much
so that the colony is not able to take
the best advantage Of the early flow.
for this reason I think they are better
suited to the warmer portions of our
country. Of these races described, the
Cynerian is probably the superior.
This type may be used to advantage
in crossing the gentler races, thus OBJ
tanning the great prolihcness and hon
ey gathering qualities of the Cyperian
with more gentleness and better win
tering qualities. Cyperian queens
mated to Carniolan or Caucasian
drones, are often as gentle as the pure
Carniolan or Caucasian stock But
am not much in favor of a cross for a
commercial bee Too much extra la
Dor is entai1ed for the ordinary honey
producer, and if any improvement is
needed in present races, cross should
be fixed before it is of much general
value
Caucasian.-It may seem strange to
some Of you that I class this race,
which is often called "the sting1ess," !"
along with the Cyperians, Syrians, ETC.,
which have such reputation as sting
ers, but any one familiar with the