APICULTURE. 351 



detected. I suggest the proprietj- of bee-keepers forwarding- some 

 specimen of poisoned bees to the chemist of the Agricultural College. 



Prof. Cook of Michigan has proved by experiment that a solution 

 of Paris green in the proportion of 1 pound to 200 gallons (a common 

 mixture used in spraying trees) proved fatal to bees within 24 hours. 



Regarding the effect upon honey there is considerable diversitj' of 

 opinion. The writer is not aware of any experiments having as yet 

 been undertaken to show that the honej^ is affected, though there 

 is in the minds of some verj'^ practical men, such as the inspec- 

 tor, Mr. McEvo}^, who is thoroughlj^ convinced, a great fear that honey 

 produced at the time of spraying is a dangerous article of food. The 

 writer would suggest that some such suspicious honey be sent to 

 the chemist already referred to so that there maj^ be no longer anj' 

 doubt regarding- the subject. 



Experiments in the laboratory and observations bj^ practical men 

 indicate that spraying trees in bloom with Paris green is followed 

 by most disastrous results to bees in the neighborhood and, no 

 doubt, some degree of injury to the trees as far as fruit is concerned. 



The Time to Spray. To spraj- when trees are in bloom is a great 

 mistake, because it is a waste of material, time and fruit. The plum 

 curculio and codling moth are the chief enemies we seek to destroj- 

 with Paris green. The adult of the former lays its eggs in the plum 

 just beneath the skin and is not likely to be present to any great 

 extent till the fruit is set, consequentlj^ applj^ing the poison w^hile 

 the trees are in bloom is commencing the attack too soon. If thought 

 necessarj' to attack insects before the time of bloom, spraying may 

 be done and afterwards, but certainly never while the trees are in 

 flower. 



In the case of the codling moth, which deposits its eggs in the 

 blossom end of the young apple, a mistake is also made by spraying 

 before the frviit is set, which does not take place till the blooin is off. 



The portion of the pistil upon which the pollen falls is exceed- 

 ingly tender and sensitive, so much so that the application of such 

 substances as Paris green injure it to so great an extent that the 

 process of fertilization is affected and the development of fruit 

 checked. 



With these facts before us as revealed by scientific inves- 

 tigation, it does seem strange that anj^ one should attempt to spray 

 at a time not in accord with the teachings of science, and that any 

 one should feel it a harship to conform to the requirements of a law 

 calculated to protect the interests of two so important classes as the 

 producers of fruit and honey. Spraying is only in its infancy, but 

 as time rolls on and this practice becomes more general, the prac- 

 ticability of the law referred to will become more evident and the 

 efforts of those seeking to enforce it thoroughly appreciated. 



