Mr. A. Salisbury, under the above heading, says that “It is no longer
a question: the Italian bee of Italy is not a distinct race.... Later
investigation proves the fact that there are black bees in Italy, as
anywhere else, even in the vicinity of Rome itself.”
Mr. Jones, at the Convention in Cincinnati last fall, asserted that he
had seen black bees at several places in Italy, even in the vicinity
of Rome. All my inquiries, as well as the reports of prominent and
disinterested bee-keepers of Italy, such as Mr. Mona and Dr. Dubini,
prove that there are no hybrid bees in Italy, and, of course, no black
bees.
Will Mr. Jones tell us in which apiaries he saw black bees? Of course,
by black bees we understand entire colonies of black bees. Then, he saw
also colonies of hybrid bees, for the mixing could not be prevented.
But if Mr. Jones saw only a few black, or _seemingly black_ bees, in a
colony, this circumstance, caused either by the dark contents of their
stomachs, or by some other accidental cause, we cannot infer from it
that there are black or impure bees in Italy. I hope that Mr. Jones
will answer this question.
Mr. Jones adds that, in his opinion, the Italian bees were descended
from the bees of Holy Land, or those on the Island of Cyprus. Such an
opinion raises the question: Are the yellow bees from Cyprus, from
Syria, or from Italy, the original bees; or the black bees, of more
northern climates, the original bees, the yellow color being only an
improvement?
According to the law of natural selection, the yellow bees of these
three countries are about similar, because the three countries enjoy a
mild climate. The idea of Mr. Jones’ that the Italian bees descended
from the bees of Cyprus or of Syria, cannot be sustained, for it leads
to the idea of large importations of bees from these countries, into
Italy, at a time when the means of transportation were few, long and
difficult.
The introduction of a few colonies of these bees into Italy would have
been unable to effect the smallest change in the race then existing;
for by our introduction of Italian bees we have experienced how hard
it is to overcome the returning to the type which is prevalent in a
country. Besides, although we have had too little time to study the
habits of the Cyprian bees, having received our queens last summer
only, we have noticed that, while they resemble in color the Italian,
their habits are not the same. For instance, the Cyprian bees do not
cling to the combs as persistently as do the Italians, and resemble
more the blacks in this respect; the Cyprian queens, like the common
queens, are more easily frightened, and more difficult to find, than
the Italian queens.
As to their other qualities we are unable to say anything. It will take
a few seasons to test them thoroughly. It is, therefore, desirable to
see them tested by a great number of bee-keepers in comparison with
Italian bees.
I read in the Italian bee paper, _L’Apicoltore_, for January, just
received, that the Central Society of Italian Bee-Keepers will have an
exhibition on the first of May, to which the bee-keepers are invited
to send bees from every part of the country (probably to answer the
assertion of Mr. Jones, that there are black bees in Italy), in order
to compare the varieties which can exist on the entire peninsula. The
report of the commission of this society will thus put an end to the
discussions between those who contend that there are black bees in
Italy, and those who say that the Italian bees are all pure. Yet, it
is well to remember here, that in Italy, as well as in Germany, they
count but two yellow rings; for they do not count as a ring the first
segment, to which the thorax is attached.
Hamilton, Ill., Feb. 5, 1881.
For the American Bee Journal.
Bees and Grapes.