STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 47 



important factor in distributing pollen, and in some cases may 

 be sufficient, while with flowers having a very deep calyx, as the 

 squash, pumpkin or melon and cucumber, the need of some other 

 agency is apparent. 



When the growing of cucumbers was undertaken under glass, 

 it was necessary for some one to take a fine brush and go among 

 the vines, touching first one and then another of the flowers, 

 until the vines had all been gone over. This had to be repeated 

 every few days through the blossoming season to insure a profit- 

 able crop. Eventually some enterprising fellow, who may have 

 been a trifle lazy, or did not like his work, conceived the idea of 

 putting in a colony of bees and lo ! this thing was accomplished 

 much better and far cheaper than could be done by human hands. 



There are in nearly all countries some wild bees that to a 

 greater or less extent, perform the office of carrying pollen. 

 Even in our own state where there are many hindrances to the 

 wild bees, in our unfavorable w^eather conditions, in some years 

 we receive nearly full crops without the aid of the honey bee in 

 large numbers. 



The honey bee is the natural accompaniment of civilization. 

 With the increase of population came the naturally increased 

 demand for fruits and the destruction of the forest, the natural 

 protection of wild bees and pollen carrying insects. 



Thirty to fifty years ago, the bumble or humble bee was found 

 in large numbers in most parts of the state. Today there are 

 but few, except in some favored localities. In the early days of 

 Aroostook county the growing of red clover seed was quite an 

 important industry and quite a profitable one. For several 

 years past this has not been a profitable crop, as the heads 

 do not mature enough seed for a paying crop. And it is the lack 

 of these humble insects, the humble bee, which is very largely 

 if not entirely responsible for the difference of three and four 

 hundred pounds of seed per acre thirty-five years ago and one 

 hundred pounds or less, which may be secured today. 



Several decades ago the growing of red clover was tried in 

 New Zealand and the plant was found to thrive splendidly, but 

 it produced almost no seed. Scientists took up the matter and 

 bumble bees were imported from the United States, through our 

 Department of Agriculture. As soon as they had time to mul- 

 tiply, which they did quite rapidly under their favorable climatic 

 conditions, good crops of seed were secured. 



