576 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The fact that there are so many wild bees raises some interesting 

 problems for the beekeeper and the horticulturist. Two shall be men- 

 tioned. 



Do wild bees compete with honey bees and limit their honey supply? 

 The fact of different flower levels adapted to bees of different tongue 

 lengths make this competition less keen than, it might otherwise be. 

 Many of the wild bees seem to care much more for pollen than for nectar, 

 and this may be a fortunate circumstance. Still it is probable that the 

 numerous bees and other insects which work on the same level as the 

 honey bee must take enough of the nectar to make some difference in 

 the supply for our hives, and that they would cut some figure in the 

 problem of overstocking. 



Are the wild bees alone able to pollinate our farm and garden plants, 

 making the honey bee an unnecessary acquisition from this standpoint? 

 Nobody can see one of the former almost staggering along with its load 

 of pollen without having a profound respect for its ability as an agent 

 of pollination. The experiment station proposes to do further work on 

 the pollination problem. So far, the best expression I have heard on the 

 subject is that of Dr. Gates of Amherst— that while the wild bees might 

 do the work, they cannot safely be depended upon because they are not 

 under our control. Some fluctuation of weather or other conditions might 

 occur as to diminish their numbers to such an extent that our fruit 

 crop would be left sadly in arrears were we to leave the entire task to 

 these creatures of the wild. 



A NEW METHOD OP USING SPLIT SECTIONS. 



DR. L. D. LEOiSTARD, MINNEAPOLIS. MINN. 



Last year at the Minnesota Beekeepers' Association meeting I pre- 

 sented to our beekeepers a new bottom board feeder. This feeder we 

 named the Minnesota Bottom Feeder. 



This year I shall present another appliance which we are going to call 

 the Minnesota Foundation Fastener. Your committee has been kind 

 enough to ask me to demonstrate the usefulness of this appliance at 

 this meeting, an honor which I surely appreciate. 



This appliance consists of a platform 10x20, a back 6 inches high 

 set at an angle of 120 degrees. On the front side of this back is placed 

 a form which fits the inside of a section holder and allows it to slip on 

 a little more than half its width. The angles and bevels must be made 

 in such a manner that when the sections are in place in the holder their 

 outer edge rests on the platform, thus making them more firm while 

 spreading the kerf. 



The speading is done by a tin or iron plate, the length of the section 

 holder with an edge turned at right angle which slips into the kerf. 



Unlike the British beekeeper, the American beekeeper has not as a 

 general rule taken to the split section. I cannot account for this except 

 that it takes too much mental effort to make the change. The habit of 



