VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 69 



does in the fertilization of fruits and flowers, the fertilisation 

 of the clover blossoms especially, the white or Dutch clover, 

 which, together with the Kentucky blue grass makes our finest 

 pasture for growing stock. This clover is largely visited by 

 the honey bees, and such visits of the bees in search of 

 honey causes the plants by mixture of pollen to produce an 

 abundance of seed, and in a moist season these seeds germinate, 

 causing a greater amount of clover for our stock to graze upon ; 

 also in the promulgation of fruit many varieties would produce 

 little or no fruit if not for the honej^ bee carrying the pollen 

 dust upon its body and legs from blossom to blossom, from tree 

 to tree. 



It has been clearly proven by many of our leading entom- 

 ologists that bees are a necessity in cross-fertilizing the blos- 

 soms of fruit crops. This is also proven from Press Bulletin 108 

 of the Kansas Experiment Stations, Manhattan, Kansas, 

 which says if bees are kept from fruit blossoms by netting or 

 other artificial means, the amount of fruit set is little or none. 

 An insufficient supply of bees will hinder the setting of fruit. 

 While other insects may take part in the carrying of pollen the 

 fruit-raiser must rely chiefly upon honey bees. 



When bees are very angry and elevate that portion of their 

 bodies containing the sting you will often see a tiny drop of 

 transparent liquid on the point of the sting. This liquid is the 

 poison of the bee sting ; it has a sharp, pungent taste, and one 

 that tastes it or gets it in his eyes will soon conclude it is not so 

 very strange that such a substance introduced into the circula- 

 tion produces so much pain. The poison of the bee sting is 

 claimed to be similar in composition to that of the viper. I 

 think that no chemist has ever given us an analysis that would 

 tell us just what the poison is. A person not used to handling 

 bees and not acquainted with their habits, is liable to get many 

 more stings than a person that is acquainted with the business. 

 The person that has no knowledge of bees but wishes to learn, 

 would do well to give his face at least some protection, and if 

 stings are received never pull them out, thereby pressing the 

 poison into the flesh, but rub them off, and the sooner the sting 

 is rubbed or scraped off the better. Bees are less irritated by 

 a person making quiet, easy motions, while manipulating the 

 hives or handling the frames. While the veteran will get along 

 with little or no protection in the apiary, the novice will find it 

 more to his comfort, and more agreeable at times, to use ample 

 protection. 



Hives for the apiary should be simple, and accurate in con- 

 struction. A plain box with frames, and as few other loose 

 parts as possible, will yield in the hands of the skillful beemas- 

 ter far better results than the most magnificent bee palace man- 



