TRANSACTIONS OF WARSAW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 253 



Mr. Dennis said that the McCormick (Mam. Cluster or Miami) was 

 more profitable variety than Ohio Everbearing, ripening its fruit more 

 uniformly. He sustained Mr. Gregg's estimate of the yield. 



Mr. Porter said some of his plants, upon gravelly bottom-land, had 

 frozen out, while those on clay soil were in fair condition. He preferred 

 the McCormick. 



Mr. Gregg said different varieties require different treatment ; he 

 also spoke of shortening in the canes when two and a half feet high ; they 

 would then branch out and yield double the quantity of fruit. 



Mr. Hathaway favored a timbered soil, rich in vegetable mold, for 

 raspberries. 



Mr. J. T. Johnson spoke of horticulture in relation to the farm. 

 That too much general farming interfered with success in any of the small 

 fruit productions for profit ; that for profit they must be made more of a 

 speciality. He said peach trees in his locality were worse root-killed 

 than in the prairie. 



Mr. Dadant invited the company down to the City of Bees, where, 

 in a miniature city, its thousands of industrious workers gather the wast- 

 ing sweets from nature's unlimited fields. Box after box was opened, 

 showing the colonies at work, and the movable-comb system. 



Much valuable information was gained by the members from the 

 interesting remarks of the Messrs. Dadant. 



It is inferred from what was learned, that two hundred stands of 

 bees will find subsistence four miles apart. At this rate, eight hundred 

 stands \^ould find subsistence in one township, six miles square, and at a 

 moderate estimate would store twenty-four thousand pounds of honey annu- 

 ally. Nine-tenths of this liberal provision in nature is lost, which the 

 reflective reader will readily perceive might be secured for the comfort 

 and happiness of thfr people ; but some would say good-bye to the small 

 fruits, if so many bees were kept. To the objection that bees injure 

 fruits, it is alleged that they are a positive benefit, and do not puncture 

 fruit, nor use it till punctured by other insects; they only use the wasting 

 exudation, or feed where other causes have ruptured the skin and exposed 

 the pulp. 



Mr. Hathaway inquired what plants and flowers were best for bees? 



Mr. Dadant said buckwheat, alsike and white clover, the linden, 

 mustard and fruit blossoms generally. As to bees puncturing fruit, he 

 said he had tempted them with grapes, which they never used unless first 

 punctured. 



