94 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



his neighbors' honey-gatherers had roused themselves. The early bird had 

 caught the worm. The lesson to you, my friends, is that your bedroom 

 windows should always, if possible, face the cast. 



DISCUSSION OF BEES AND FRUIT. 



BY GEORGE E, ROWE^ OF GRAND RAPIDS;, MICH. 



A fruit grower or farmer who has pasture for bees has just as much 

 right to keep bees as a bee specialist. 



In speaking of the benefit of bees to the fruit grower he said : "If I did 

 not get a pound of honey I would not be without twelve or fifteen colonies 

 of bees for their beneficial effect in fertilizing the strawberry and other 

 fruits. 



''I have sprayed mj' orchard when the trees were in bloom and found 

 but few more dead bees than w^hen I did not spray. Apples bloom at 

 about the same time that the old bees die any way, and it is largely these 

 dead old bees that we see at that time. I think the damaging effect on 

 bees of spraying while the trees are in blossom is greatly overdrawn. 



"I would no more be without bees 'than I would neglect to cultivate or 

 fertilize my orchard, because of their beneficial effects, to say nothing of 

 the honey question." 



Further discussion brought out the fact that bees will travel four 

 miles with profit if there is no pasture nearer. 



SMALL FRUITS FOR HOME USE AND MARKET. 



BY AV. W. FARNSWORTH, PRESIDENT OF THE OHIO STATE HORTICULTURAL 



SOCIETY. 



A few years ago a speaker might have felt it advisable and necessary to 

 introdu-ce this topic with a plea for the more general use of small fruits 

 by the farmer and his family. That plea is surely unnecessary here, and 

 most farmers must realize that the free and judicious use of these 

 luscious necessities provides a healthier body, a clearer and more active 

 and efficient brain, hence greater capabilities for success and happiness. 



We are coming to realize that the farmer has to feed and clothe the 

 nation, to preserve the balance of trade in our favor in our commerce 

 with other nations, and to supply most of the great and successful men of 

 our country ; hence we believe the farmer will do well to select a site near 

 his residence, from reason of convenience, and on the small area needed 

 for his purpose can fit it by drainage and the liberal application of well 

 rotted manure, or better yet, by coarse manure applied the year before 

 and rotted in the soil. 



The commercial grower, needing a larger acreage, will select a soil 

 already fitted for the purpose as nearly as possible. 



