398 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 July, 1917. 



anthers to the stigmas by wind or by the various insects which inhabit 

 the flowers during the blossoming period. 



When shy-bearing varieties are inter-planted with others whose 

 pollen is known to fertilize the flowers of the former, bees are the best 

 agency by which to secure inter-pollination. For this purpose the 

 orchardist should keep a few hives of bees in a sheltered, warm corner 

 of the orchard, preferably, facing the north or north-east, so that, dur- 

 ing early spring, the morning sun may shine on the hives. The 

 orchardist soon learns the economic management the bees require, and 

 when he realizes what incalculable assistance they render him in the 

 orchard, as well as the honey they return, he soon commences to 



Plate 111. — The Bee in the Blossom. 



beautify the surroundings of the little apiary, and thus provides con- 

 genial environments under which the bees work to greater advantage. 



The bees should be given every facility to operate freely and under 

 healthy conditions, therefore, the trees should never be sprayed while 

 in bloom. Nor is there any occasion to use spray mixture during this 



