Peter L. Borst <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >My chief point is that *I doubt that* the Americans would have mounted a >huge effort to replace the entire population of honey bees in the New World >were it not for their perception that the Italian was a *much better bee*. >That's all. I wasn't there, so I don't know. Hello Peter, Here’s an article concerning the great Italian bee / Black bee debate from some who were there: The Cedar Valley Times February 16, 1865 Cedar Rapids, Iowa ====Start==== Agriculture Department Italian Bee “We would like to hear from the experience of our subscribes with the Italian bees; who have none for sale, as we find that these who make a business of rearing and selling these bees, are not as reliable as they might be under other circumstances. We have seen no evidence yet that satisfies us that apiarians would increase their profits by introducing Italian bees into their apiaries. It appears from general statements that these bees are stronger than our native bees, and can work in cold weather, also that they are great robbers of the hives of our native or black bees. To breed the Italian bees pure is scarcely possible, unless one takes them where no black bees exist within three miles of them. It is, therefore, a settled fact, that a single family, of Italian bees will soon destroy the purity of a whole apiary of native bees; and it is a question of importance, is such hybridizing beneficial of otherwise?” We cut the above paragraphs from an article on Italian bees in the Rural American. We are somewhat surprised to see such a query from the source from which it comes. We believe Mr. Miner, the editor of the American professes to have done more or less with bees for some twenty years past. We have done everything with the Italian bees, and, as we have none for sale, (not so much as one queen,) perhaps a brief statement of fact concerning our observations and experience may be deemed "reliable." In March last, we purchased of Mr. O. D. Bent of Iowa City, one stand of the Italians. They were received in good condition, though brought through by railroad and team fifty five miles by the latter conveyance in a common lumber wagon and over a rough road. The swarm was a light one, as we found on examination, both in numbers and stores, a condition which promised no very flattering success, on the start at least. We determined to give them a fair trial with our native bees, and among other things to test their honesty. The hive was placed upon a stand between two native swarms and distant from each about twenty feet—one a very strong colony, and the other a very weak one. Early in June, the Italians gave out a very heavy swarm in the natural way, which was immediately transferred from the bush to a Langstroth hive. Inside of twenty days subsequent, a second swarm came out, and which was placed in a box hive fourteen inches square in the clear, filled with movable comb frames. Early in August four full frames of honey were removed from the first new swarm, and their places supplied with empty ones, and at the same time, the six supers (extra boxes) put in place. At the close of the season the main body of the hive and three of the extra boxes were full, and considerable progress made in the other three. The swarm which came out last, filled every frame in the hive plump full—leaving between some of the combs scarcely space enough for a single bee to pass. We have never before seen combs packed so close. So much for the Italians, while we have no increase to report from either of the two swarms of native bees. Nor do we think that the stronger swarm of the two, stored so much honey, or were so strong in numbers at the time we housed them for the winter, as were either of the two Italian colonies. After what appears to us to be a fair trial of the two kinds of bees, side by side, we are forced to the conclusion that of two colonies of equal size, the Italians will accomplish a vest deal more than the natives. We find the former much more active and hardy than the latter. They are out at an earlier hour in the morning and work later night. We hare repeatedly visited the hives before sunrise and found the Italians moving in large force, while nary native was to be seen about. The Italians are charged with possessing an insatiable appetite for marauding, but so far as our observation goes, their propensities for robbing are not more manifest than those of the black bee. We watched them very closely, and the condition of ether swarms, from the time of their introduction to the close of the season, without discovering any molestation of neighbors. So far, we do not think the Italian bee has been over rated. However, we will see whether another season's experience will present a different phase. We would advise no one to dabble with queens alone for the purpose of improving their native swarms, because we do not believe that one person out of fifty would meet with success. Have a full swarm or none.—Iowa Homestead. =====End===== Best Wishes, Joe Waggle ~ Derry, PA ‘Bees Gone Wild Apiaries' http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************