Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-09

Italian in 1860. and later the Eeyp-
tan. he Cyprian. the, Syrian, the
Palestine. the Carniolan and the Tuni-
sian. OF these the brown, the Italian.
and in a few apiaries, the Carniolan
bees are probably the only races ex-
listing pure in the United States, the
others having become more or less
hybridized with the brown race, or
among themselves or their cultivation
having been discontinued. 1t should
also be remarked that so few have
Kept their carniolans pure that pur-
chasers who wish this race should use
caution in their selection. or else i'm
port their w breeding queens.
Ihere are many breeders of Italians
from whom good stock can be OBJ
taired
Cyprians-Bees of the race native
to the Island of Cyprus have produced
the largest yield of honey on record
from a single colony in this country,
1000 pounds in m season.. Every
one who has fairly tested them admits
their wonderful honey-gathering pow
ers and their p~ersevering courage in
their labors. even when the flowers
are secreting honey but scantily.
They winter we'll and defend their
hives against robber GEES and other
enemies with greater energy than any
other known race. When storing
honey Cyprians fill the cells quite full
before sealing. and thus the Gaping
rests against the honey, presenting a
seml-transparent or "watery' appear
ance. which is undesirable. They are
extremely sensitive, hence easily
angered by rough or bungling man
lpulators. and when once thoroughly
aroused are very energetic in the use
of their stings. These faults have
caused a very general rejection of
Cyprians, especially by those who
produce comb honey. Even the pro-
ducers of extracted honey do not seem
to hav learned how to manipulate
Cyprians easily and without the use
OF much smoke. nor how much more
tracing combs from Cyprians than
from Italians. Nor have they seemed
to count as of much importance the
fact that Cyprians. unlike Italians and
common bees, do not volunteer an
attack when un~disturbed; that they
Will. in fact, let one pass and repass
their hives quite unmolested and
even under such circumstances as
would call forth a vigorous and very
disagreeable protest from the other
races just mentioned. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that there has been such a
widespread rejection of a race having
such important and we'll established
excellent qualities. 1t would be
easier by selection in breeding to re-
duce the faults of this race than to.
bring n other cultivated race to
their equal in the desirable points.
Italians-Through the agency of
the United States department of agri-
culture bees of this race were intro
duced direct from Italy in 1860.
There had previously been repeated
individual efforts to secure Italians
bred in Germany, where the race had
beer introduced some years earlier,
and a small number of queens had
beer landed here alive in the autumn
OF 1859. but most of these died the
following winter and the few remain
ing alive seem not to have been null
uplied as rapidly a . those obtained.
IN Italy by a purchasing agent OF the
department Of agriculture and landed
here early in 1860. Their good quail
ties were soon appreciated. and they
had become well established and
Cyprians. imported twenty years
later. For this reason, together with
the fact that they cap their surplus
combs winter than some other races
and because less skill is required in
subduing and handling Italians, they
have retained their popularity over
bees which, though better honey
ni0 AtOIo 1ieFVOu6- OnOor
manipulation. Their golden-yellow
color has also proved SO attractive to
many that the good qualities of more
somber-hued races-gentIer, better
winterers, and better comb builders
have not received due consideration.
Italians, however. are certainly pre-
iferable to the common brown or
black bees for they show greater
erey in sathering honey and in the
aefense OF their hives against moth
larvae and robber bees, while AZ the
same time they are gentler under
manipulation than the blacks, though.
icltmatss.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. the rrav -.