STATE HORTIOULTUBA.L SOCIETY. 143 



Mr. Pearce. I was engaged in bee culture for some fifteen years in 

 Minnesota, and I think they are very nice for those who understand 

 them I think the bumble bee and the hornet are our best Iriends 

 The common bee never works on red clover. We should never destroy 

 hornets, yellow jackets or bumble bees, as they are the agriculturist's 

 best friends. It is the general practice to destroy these insects, but it 

 is an error altogether 



Mr. Wilcox Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: T did not intend to 

 say a word on this honey subject, but you have touched on a tender 

 spot, as I am also from Vermont. I consider that this, in connection 

 with horticulture and fruit culture, is one of the most valuable as well 

 as most pleasant occupations in which we can engage. I brought 

 some twenty-eight swarms of bees to this State with me a short time 

 since, and I expect to make a success in the industry. I believe 

 thorc>ughly in trying the best, as much as I would in any other stock. 

 I believe in artificial swarming. Many authorities have condemned 

 it, but results show that it is the best. There is hardly any subject 

 about which the general public are so ignorant as they are of the good 

 and bad qualities of the honey bee. About eighty per cent of the 

 honey is composed of pure glucose — in its pure state one of the best 

 sweets we have. 



Mr. Dartt. Mr. President, it seems to me Vermont is pretty well 

 represented. [Laughter.] I want to back up the theory of my 

 friends, that the bees are friends to the fruit grower, but I. wish espe- 

 cially to confine it to the hornet. I think the hornet is a decided suc- 

 cess in that direction. Now on one of my apple trees there was a 

 very fine hornet's nest, and it had also about a barrel of very fine ap- 

 ples, of which I dare say I should not have had any left if it had not 

 been for my friends, the hornets. [Laughter.] One of these prowl- 

 ers came around who are accustomed to robbing orchards, and when 

 he saw those fine apples he could not resist the temptation to take one 

 or two. He got the apple and the bees got him, and the way he tum- 

 bled and rolled in the grass was decidedly amusing. I therefore vote 

 in favor of the hornet. [Laughter.] 



Mr Wilcox said he regretted there was not a bee keepers organiza- 

 tion in the State, in order that this subject might be fully discussed, 

 and that it might receive more attention than was being given to it. 

 He was satisfied that the lack of bees had a marked effect ia the 

 amount of agricultural and horticultural products produced from a 

 lack of fertilizing, which was accomplished by the presence of the 

 bees; although he thought perhaps they could not work on red clover. 



