11 Aug., 191!». | Apple Culture in- Victoria. 4(5a 



an opportunity to diffuse much information by lectures and demonstra- 

 tions at farmers' classes. Another factor which has helped our fruit- 

 i^rowing industry is the complete information on all its phasas 

 disseminated by the press. 



Fruit-growing constitutes the principal feature in the curriculum 

 at the Burnley School of Horticulture, where the most scientific methods 

 are introduced into the practical work by experts who have specialized 

 in the cultivation of the different kinds and varieties of fruits. 

 Provision is also made at the Dookie Agricultural College and other 

 .similar institutions for the teaching of this subject. 



Victoria has always maintained a high standard in fruit-growing, 

 and this position should be upheld, so that the friendly rivalry existing 

 between the States may continue and benefit the Commonwealth as 

 n whole. 



BEES AS AGENTS IN PLUM POLUNATION. 



Bulletin JSTo. 274 of the College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, University of California, contains an account of an experi- 

 ment carried out in the Santa Clara Valley, and which forms part of a 

 series undertaken to determine why, under certain conditions, some plums 

 bear abundant crops and under other conditions bear light crops or 

 none at all. 



In a large orchard two pairs of adjacent French and Imperial plum 

 trees, as nearly as possible of the same age and size, were enclosed in a 

 tent of white mosquito net, so as to exclude all insects. In every other 

 way the trees were under the same conditions as the other trees in the 

 orchard. The tents were put up before any of the blossoms opened, and 

 taken down when there was no longer any danger of outside pollination. 

 As soon as 25 per cent, of the blossoms had opened a hive of bees was 

 placed under one tent, and kept there throughout the blossoming period 

 {about five days). The bees seemed to prefer the flowers of the French 

 plum to those of the Imperial plum. The results showed that the 

 French plum under the tent with the bees set a much higher percentage 

 of fruit than the other trees. The crop obtained from the Imperial 

 plum under the tent with the bees was light, and could not be accounted 

 for, and it is intended to carry out further experiments to determine the 

 <5ause. 



The results sho\^ the honey bee to be one of the most important factors 

 in carrying pollen from one tree to another. The most satisfactory 

 method of introducing bees into orchards has not yet been decided, but it 

 seems that the best results are to be obtained by placing about one hive 

 to the acre during the blossoming period, after which the hives could be 

 removed. 



