118 STATE nORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



luesday Mornijig. 



The exercises were opened promptly at the morning session by music fur- 

 nished by the high school, conducted by Prof. Gass, Prayer was offered by 

 the Kev. A. W. Seabrease. The first paper of the morning was by W. Z. 

 Hutcliinson of Rogersville, on 



* 



BEES IN THEIR RELATION TO HORTICULTURE, 



in which he took very radical ground that bees were tiie friends of the horti- 

 culturist, especially dwelling upon the idea that the fertilization of the ilowers 

 of many fruits was very largely due to the bees' exertions in collecting honey 

 therefrom, lie gave instances within his own observatiou of the influence of 

 bees in fertilizing fruit blossoms, spealdng especially of the cherry. He refuted 

 the notion that bees attack grapes and destroy the symmetry of the branches, 

 or in any way act against tlie vine grower, saying tliat wlien once a puncture 

 has been made the bees clean out the grape, preventing decay, and are thus a 

 real help to the grape grower. [See Secretary's portfolio for full text of tliis 

 paper.] 



After the reading of the paper, the chair announced the following commit- 

 tees : 



Fruits— V. C. Dempse3% Trenton, Ontario; J. J. Parsliall, Ann Arbor; J. J. Atherly, 

 South Haven. 



Vegf-tables — C. B. Stowell. nn(]=on; R.Graham, Grand Rapids; II. W. Davis, Lapeer. 



Plants —\W . J. Real, Lansino;; E. Le Valley, Ionia; J. J. Atlierly, South Haven. 



Besolutions—W. W. Hilburn, Arkona, Ontario; O. R. L. Crozier, Ann ArUor; C 

 L. Hoag. Lotkport. N. Y. 



Jellies, Dried Fruits, Etc. — B. Gott, Arkona, Ontario; Mrs. A. L. Aldrich, Flint; 

 Mrs. Tassmore, Flushing. 



FERTILIZATION BY INSECTS, ETC. 



Mr. llutchinsou's paper was taken up, and the following discussion, some- 

 what irrelevant to his subject, ensued: 



Prof. Beal : Mr. Hutcliinson's subject was a very proper one to be brought 

 up at tiiis meeting, and was well treated. In many instances the work of bees 

 in fertilization is very plain. In some plants we can supplement their work 

 with excellent practical results. Prof. Tracy and others have increased the 

 crop of squashes and melons by carrying the pollen artificially from the male 

 to the female blossoms. I am somewhat yet of the opinion, however, that the 

 case of the lack of fertilization of cherries, spoken of by the essayist, can be 

 accounted for in other ways; because cherries, in truth most members of that 

 family of plants, are naturally fertilized qaite completely without the aid of 

 insects. Some years the flowers fail to produce good styles or stigmas; and 

 again the anthers are defective. Impotency is quite common in the vegetable 

 world. Tliere is no doubt in my mind however, that cros.--fertilization is a 

 step toward fruitfnlness. I at one time crossed twenty-four apples upon a tree 

 with great care ; it proved to bean unfruitful year with that particular tree, 

 only twtdve appK-s maturing; but nearly eveiy apple that perfected itself was 

 of the number cross-fertilized. 



The question of bees injuring grapes is yet a debatable one; still it seems to 

 me from scjine very careful experiments performed by competent men that the 

 bees have been somewhat maligned. 



C. L. Hoag, Lockport : The artificial crossing of flowers is v6ry easily per- 



