132 



stable as the old standard ones of soap and milk, and Mr. Galloway 

 explained that while this was generally true, many of the mixtures 

 were sufficiently stable for practical, immediate use, and that the whole 

 matter had been worked out provisionally by him with the idea of 

 merely bringing it before the Association so that others having more 

 time could take up the matter, make more careful experiments, and 

 devise methods and formulas which Mould bring about the best results. 

 In the absence of the author the following paper by Mr. Webster 

 was read by the Secretary : 



SPRAYING WITH ARSENITES VS. BEES. 



By F. M. Webster, Wooater, Ohio. 



At the Eochester, IST. Y., meeting of this Association, I gave the 

 results of some experiments looking toward a solution of the i^roblem. 

 Will spraying fruit trees while in bloom affect the bees which after- 

 wards visit these trees for the purpose of securing either honey or any 

 other substance carried to the hives, and if such be the case, what is 

 the effect upon the inmates of such hives? The results of my first 

 attempt at settling this question will be found on record in Insect 

 Life, vol. v. pp. 121-123, and it will, therefore, not be necessary for 

 me to repeat them here. On account of the meteorological conditions 

 under which the experiments were carried on they have never been 

 deemed conclusive in point of definite results, even by myself, and I 

 have only been waiting a favorable season in order to finish the work. 

 This year the time appeared to have arrived in which I might hope 

 to solve the i)roblem. 



On May 2 two apple trees in full bloom — and the blossoms were 

 abundant — were thoroughly sprayed with a mixture of 1 ounce of Paris 

 green to each 12 gallons of water. After the water had evaporated 

 the poison could be clearly observed both on bloom and foliage. The 

 application was made during the forenoon, the day being warm and 

 clear, and during the afternoon quite a number of bees were caught 

 while visiting the bloom and marked with carmine ink. The hives 

 were located but a few yards distant from the trees, and both being 

 situated at a considerable distance from any other trees at that time 

 in bloom. Kone of these marked bees were afterwards found dead 

 about the hives. During the night following the application there 

 was a rainfall of 0.20 inch. On the following day bees were caught 

 and killed by being dropped into a cyanide bottle where the cyanide 

 was embedded in plaster of Paris, after the usual custom. As soon as 

 the bees were dead they were dissected as follows : The posterior legs 

 with pollen attached were severed from the bodies and placed in a 

 small glass vial and securely corked. The contents of the abdomens, 

 including the honey sacs, were next dissected out and placed in a 



