224 Journal oj Agriculture, Victoria. [lo April, 191 1. 



BEES AND THE FERTILIZATION OF FRUIT BLOSSOMS. 



F . R. Beuhne, Bee Expert. 



To the apiarist who follows bee-keeping as an independent business, 

 the gradual recognition of the bee as an important factor in fruit-growing 

 is very gratifying ; because, as fruit-growers become bee-keepers to the 

 extent necessary to success in tlieir occupation, they acquire a knowledge 

 of the habits of the bee which will do much to remove the antagonism 

 between fruit-growers and bee-keepers, which has, from time to time, been 

 noticeable. Without going into the subject of bees and ripe fruit I 

 merely repeat that bees do not injure sound fruit, but will, under stress 

 of a dearth of nectar, collect the juices of fruit damaged by rain, birds, 

 and insects other than bees. 



On reading the articles in the January issue of the Journal on the 

 "Pollination of Pear Blossoms" and "Sterility in Fruit Trees," and 

 noting the variation in the time of blooming of the different varieties, it 

 occurred to the writer that some further information on the subject of 

 pollination, from the bee-keepers' side, might be useful. Having kept 

 bees as a business for over 20 years and grown fruit in a small way for 

 the same period, my observations lead me to say that the effective fertiliza- 

 tion of fruit or any other blossoms, by bees in spring, depends upon the 

 race of bees, the condition of the colonies at the time, and the distance 

 of the hives from the fruit trees. 



Races of Bees. 



The races of bees introduced to Victoria are four in number, viz., 

 Black, Italian, Cyprian, and Carniolan. The first and last named are 

 black or brown, the other two yellow-banded. All of them were brought 

 to Australia from the northern hemisphere; Black and Carniolan coming 

 from the higher and cooler latitudes, the yellow races from the south of 

 Europe or Africa. As the climate of Australia resembles more that of 

 southern Europe than the northern latitudes of that continent, the yellow- 

 banded races of bees have been found more profitable than the dark races 

 by the honey producers of Victoria. 



Briefly, the distinguishing characteristics of the Italian and Cyprian 

 races are greater prolificacy of queens (consequently, a larger worker 

 force) and a longer period of a high rate of reproduction during each 

 season. Italians, when pure, are gentle and easy to handle, while 

 Cyprians much less so, and, under certain conditions — a dearth of nectar 

 or queenlessness — actually vicious. Both these races, however, start 

 breeding rather late in spring but, when once started, rapidly overtake 

 black bees and maintain a higher rate throughout the season. 



Black bees are not so quiet as Italian, are less immune from Foul 

 Brood and Bee Moths, and swarm more than the yellow races. They 

 possess, however, two characteristics which are very important to the fruit- 

 grower, namely, they commence brood-rearing earlier in spring than 

 Italians or Cyprians and forage for pollen and nectar on cold, dull and 

 even rainy days, when Italians and, more so still, Cyprians hardly leave 

 the hive. 



The failure of fruit blossoms to become pollinated occurs chiefly in 

 early spring and during bad weather. Although, as a honey -producer. I 

 prefer Italians because the colonies are stronger in summer, when the 

 principal honey f^ows occur, I have no hesitation in saying that, for 

 the fruit-grower, black bees are the best, on account of their earlier breed- 

 ing and their greater indifference to cold and wet. 



