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The second experiment was on the Apple, the eok)nies of bees, two 

 in number, having beeu phieed under separate trees several Weeks 

 earlier. Six trees were sprayed wliile in full bloom, four of these stand- 

 ing in a row, sheets 24 feet square being placed underneath each, 

 and, in case of the two under which bees had been placed, the sheets 

 were drawn under the hives. Two other trees a short distance away 

 were treated the same, except that sheets were placed underneath but 

 one. All trees were sprayed May 4 with solution, as in case of first ex- 

 periment. For one week search was made each morning for dead bees, 

 both under the trees and about the hives. At the end of this time fifty- 

 six bees had been picked up, one of them belonging to a wild variety, 

 and one young one had been carried out from one of the hives. Analy- 

 ses of some of these showed traces of arseidc. Although bees were, on 

 several occasions during the time given, observed frequenting the bloom 

 in great numbers, nevertheless the weather conditions were, as a rule, 

 unfavorable to the full activity of bees. At times there was a sharp, 

 damp wind blowing, and at others it was cloudy with light rains. 

 Therefore I do not consider the results gained as being satisfactory, 

 though I believe I have shown the fallacy of attempting to get results 

 of any value to bee-keepers by experimenting with bees in confined 

 quarters. Also, I believe I have shown that during seasons of bad 

 weather — that is, cold and cloudy with light rai)is, but insufficient to 

 wash the poison from the trees — little or no fatal results to bees will 

 follow spraying apple trees while in bloom. I do feel, however, that 

 the all-important question of what the result would be if the weather 

 conditions were every way favorable to the full activity of the bees 

 still remains unsettled. 



A third experiment was attempted on the bloom of the Raspberry, 

 but frequent drenching rains which occurred almost daily, and often 

 several times in a day, forced us to abandon it. I hope, however, an- 

 other year to be able to present more decided and satisfactory results. 



Mr. Smith said that he felt confident the bees confined on the plum tree 

 killed themselves in their attempts to escape. He could, however, see 

 no use in spraying while fruit was in bloom. Mr. Howard, from experi- 

 ments which he had made with bees inclosed upon plants surrounded with 

 gauze, was confident that mortality among the bees was rather the result 

 of confinement than of the arsenical poison. Mr. Osborn thought it 

 important to settle the question in regard to the eftect of spraying on 

 bees. Mr. Slingerland said it might be necessary to spray about the 

 blooming season in order to destroy the Bud- worm on Apple. Mr. Lint- 

 ner hoped to see the matter settled, so that people might know if it 

 were possible to spray during the blooming season if they saw fit and 

 without fear of injury to bees. 

 6757— ]S^o. 2 5 



