256 



be due to imperfect distribution of the pollen of the blossoms. To test 

 the matter they placed therefore several hives of bees in their orchard 

 in 1890. The result was striiiing, for the Bassford orchard bore a good 

 crop of cherries, while other growers in the valley who had no bees 

 found their crops entire or partial failures. This year (1891) Messrs. 

 Bassford had some sixty-five hives of bees in their orchard, and Mr. H. 

 A. Bassford writes to the Entomologist: " Our crop was good this sea- 

 son, and we attribute it to the bees." And he adds further: 



Since we have been keeping bees our cherry crop has been much hirger than for- 

 merly, -while those orchards nearest us, five miles from here, where no bees are kept, 

 have produced but light crops. 



The Vacaville Enterprise said last spring, when referring to the result 

 of the experiment for 1890 : 



Other orchardists are watching this enterprise with great interest, and may con- 

 clude that to succeed in cherry culture a bee-hive and a cherry orchard must be 

 planted side by side. 



And now that the result for 1891 is known, "others," so Mr. Bass- 

 ford Avi'ites, "who have cherry orchards in the valley are i)rocuring bees, 

 to effect the fertilization of the blossoms." 



SOME BRED WEST VIRGINIA BRACONID^. 



By A. I). Hopkins, Moiijaniown, W. J'a. 



{West Firyiiiia A(p-icultnral Expir'Diunt Station.) 



Subfamily BRACONINiE . 

 Parasites. Host. 



Bracon belfragei Cress Liu us scruhicoUis. Cocoons found in larval 



mine of host in pith of Aml)rosia arte- 

 vtisiwfolia (Ragweed), April 9. Imago 

 emerged May 12. 



Bracon mavoritus Cress Lixiis scrohivoUis. Cocoons found in pith 



of Amhrosia trifida in larval mines of host, 

 Dec. 24. Imago found emerged Feb. 24. 

 Same in Amhrosia artemisia'foVia, Apr. 

 20. Larva ( ?) taken feeding on pupa of 

 host, Dec. 24. 

 Tttropium cinnamopierum. Imago taken in 

 sapwood of Abies nigra in pupal chamber 

 of host, July 8. 



Bracon simplex Cress Buprestid and Longicorn larvae. Taken 



with ovipositor inserted in bark of Fa- 

 gns ferruginea (Beech) infested by host. 

 Neochjtus larva. Taken with ovipositor 

 inserted under bark of Abies nigra, Aiig. 

 29. Observed frequent at same time on 

 Spruce logs, and flying in Spruce for- 

 ests.* 

 * Lumbermen supposed this to be the insect which kiUed the trees. 



