80 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REE-KEEPING AND HORTICULTURE. 



(GEORGE E. HILTON, FREMONT.) 



I think I have before written something upon this subject, but the 

 interests of the bee-keeper and the horticulturist are so mutual "that 

 I feel a few more thoughts from myself and others will not be burden- 

 some. 



If we are both successful, we are both enthusiastic. I need not re- 

 mind any one who plants trees and grows fruits, of the genuine pleas 

 ure that thrills the soul when nature responds to his intelligence, 

 thought, and careful direction. He builds a world in which he him- 

 self lives. He desires no other intoxicant to insure his happiness. 



Horticulture is one of the fine arts, and requires the skill of a mas- 

 ter. It is just as impossible for the thoughtless, brainless man or 

 woman to reach the highest round in the ladder in propagating fruit 

 or cari-ying on a successful apiary, as it is to appreciate success if 

 achieved. But, after all man's skill in planting, after searching the 

 world over for improved varieties, after propagating, grafting and 

 hybridizing, he must rely mainly upon nature's methods of fructifica- 

 tion. The balmy winds of spring and industrious bees are needed to 

 fertilize the bloom to insure a harvest of fruit. 



For this purpose, there is no question btit that the bee is of great 

 service to the grower of fruits. No' other insect appears in such v i t 

 numbers at this very important time in the spring when their agency 

 is so much needed to fertilize the orchard and small fruits. If Ihe 

 winds and other insects aside from the bee, were the only means of 

 carrying the pollen from fiower to flower, how often would perfect fer- 

 tilization fail from too much or too little wind during the brief oppor- 

 tunity when the bursting buds are sighing for the life giving dust from 

 the neighboring flowers. Not only has nature provided the honey to 

 entice the bee, but the pollen, so essential to the plant (and just as 

 essential to the bee in furnishing the proper food for its young) , is 

 -placed in close proximity to the nectar, so that in getting either, the 

 bee is unwittingly carrying the dust from flower to flower, or working 

 out the wise plans of providence as relates to plants, and catering to 

 man's taste at the same time. 



The Creator did not place the drop of nectar in the flower because it 

 is needed to perfect either the flower or fruit, but for no other purpose 

 than to tempt the bee to brusk its hairy legs against the anthers, and 

 carry the golden dust from one flower to another. So the horticulturist 

 cannot but look upon the bee-keeper as his friend, and certainly the 

 horticulturist is a friend to the bee and the bee-keeper, and their in- 

 terests should be mutual. 



What then is there to hinder these two vocations from going hand 

 in hand, since each is helpful to the other? They should at least be en 

 the very best of temis, as each furnishes inducements for the other .to 

 live and profit thereby. In the past much has been said about bees in- 

 juring fruit, some fruit growers claiming that bees punctured the ripe 



