FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 81 



grapes, suck the Juice and destroy the crop. But from the physical 

 structure of the bee this is said to be impossible by the scientific ento- 

 mologists. It has no jaws like the hornet; it is made to suck, not to 

 bite, and on close obsei-vation and after repeated experiments, it has 

 been found that where bees were found helping themselves to the ripe 

 fruits, the skin had been ruptured by the weather or over ripeness, or 

 that hornets, wasps or birds, had been the first infringers. 



But after the skin had been broken from any cause, if tliere is a, scar- 

 city of honey, the bees, always anxious to be doing something, 

 will endeavor to get their share of the plunder. Therefore, as regards 

 bees injuring fruit, I, as their attorney, shall claim to the jury that 

 the charge is not proven, and I believe tliat today, the more intelligent 

 class of horticulturists agree with me. 



T feel I cannot dismiss this subject, wliich to the lover of fruits, flow- 

 ers and bees, is a genuine source of delight, without quoting a few 

 lines from "The Planting of the Apple Tree" by that venerable sylvan 

 poet, our own Bryant, who saw so much of future hope and promise 

 as he sifted the soft mould about its tiny rootlets : 



What plant we in this apple tree? 

 Sweets for a hundred flowery springs 

 To load the May Avind's restless wings. 

 When from, the orchard row he pours 

 Its fragrance at our open doors, 

 A world of blossoms for the bee. 



GEO. E. HILTON, 

 Pres. National Bee-Keeper's Ass'n. 



THE BEAUTY CROP. 



(CHARLES W. WILDE., GRAND RAPIDS.) 



There is one crop that the majority "of farmers and fruit-growers 

 have sadly neglected. It is a crop that can be grown with equal proht 

 on every farm in this State. It will increase the market value of au}^ 

 farm ; and often gives more real satisfaction and contentment to the 

 farmer and liis family tlian any other crop. It is a crop that needs 

 but little room. Oh! 'tis a wonderful crop; for the farmer and his 

 family can feast upon it every day of the year, and liis neighbors and 

 friends can partake of it as much as they please and the crop will re 

 main undiminished. I refer to the Beauty crop or the crop for beauty. 

 When we bought our farm 23 years ago it was like the majority of tlie 

 farms in this section. Although we were heavily in debt we managed 

 to get some evergreen seedlings and other trees and shrubs, with which 

 to start our beauty crop. In this climiate where the deciduous trees 

 are bare about six months in the year, I believe it is wise to plant plenty 

 of evergreens. They are not only beautiful during the winter and early 

 spring; but some of the varieties are very beautiful in the summer af- 

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