July, 191: 



239 



American ^ee Journal 



FIG. 35. -PLUM BLOSSOMS. 



their attractions only, and not because 

 we feel that they are needed. 



The beekeeper who is situated near 

 large orchards is fortunate, indeed, as 

 is the orchardist who is situated near a 

 large apiary, for their interests are 

 mutual. Practical fruit growers no 

 longer question the value of the bees 

 in the poUenation of th • fruit bloom, 

 and beekeepers are frequently offered 

 some inducement to locate near large 

 orchar s. If the weather is favorable 

 during the period of blossoming, the 

 bees will gather considerable honey 

 from the orchard trees. As a single 

 tree will produce thousands of blos- 

 soms, a large apiary would be required 

 to make use of most of the bloom. l"n- 

 fortunately, the period of blooming is 

 very short for any single tree, but if the 

 orchard is composed of several varie- 

 ties the time will be lengthened some- 

 wiiat. 



In some instances, beekeepers feel 

 that they have suffered losses from the 

 poisoning of the bees from spraying 

 while the trees are in full bloom. There 

 is a difference of opinion as to the ex- 

 tent of injury from this cause. The 

 tendency of leading horticulturists is 

 to discourage spraying while the trees 

 are in bloom, not only because of dan- 

 ger to the bees, but also because the 

 pollen grains will be wa-hed away, 

 and the set of fruit reduced as a result. 



Atlantic, Iowa. 

 Copyright: 1«I5. by Frank C. Pellett. 



Use of Honey in War Times 



IT has been our purpose to insert 

 nothing in this Journal that may be 

 construed as casting reflections 

 upon either side, in the conflict which 

 is devastating I-2urope. But the lettei 

 which follows, contains useful hints. 



The writer, being among the combat- 

 ants, will be readily forgiven for using 

 forcible expressions. In all fairness 

 and justice we must say that similar 

 complaints have come from the other 

 side. A letter received, at the same 

 time, from a German correspondent, 

 describes alleged wanton destruction 

 of apiaries and seizure of honey in 

 eastern Prussia by the Russians. How- 

 ever, the wrong committed by one side 

 does not excuse the other's evil doing. 

 Vandalism is never justifiable. 



But in this horrible conflict, where 

 the worst in the meanest men's na- 

 tures is brought to light, can we not 

 find a ray of hope ? In another num- 

 ber we showed what great devotion has 

 been exhibited under the Red Cross 

 flag. Remember — 



"Men's evil manners live in brass; 

 Their virtues we write in water." 



— Shakes t'eare. 



The author of this letter, Lieut. Alin 

 Caillas, is the capable Paris chemist, 

 who, a year ago, on page 93 of 

 the American Bee Journal, began a 

 series of articles on honey and its 

 adulteration. The sudden death of his 

 father, E. P. Caillas, mentioned on 

 page I8i), June, 1914, then the war, 

 caused the interruption of his essays. 

 We hope a speedy termination of the 

 dreadful contest may permit his return 

 to peaceable occupations, and-the con- 

 tinuation of his contributions. — Editor. 



" At the Front, in the French 



Trenches, J.\n. 30, 1915. 

 " Dear Mr. Jhidaitl : — About a year 

 ago, I had begun with great pleasure 



some contributions to the American 

 Bee Journal. From letters received I 

 had cause to believe that my contribu- 

 tions were appreciated by your readers. 

 But, alas! this horrible war which is 

 rending Europe has upset my fine pro- 

 jects. I was compelled, as many 

 others, to drop the pen and the bee 

 smoker for a sacred duty, that of chas- 

 ng the invader from our native land. 

 It is a harsh task, as you have learned 

 by the papers. Yet the worst pictures 

 that you may see can give you only a 

 faint impression of our enemies' ideas 

 of modern war. It is a merciless fight 

 which has devastated Belgium and a 

 part of northeastern France. 



" We wonder what has become of our 

 poor Belgian beekeeping friends, in 

 the frightful devastation of their coun- 

 try. They have our deepest sympathy, 

 for France has not suffered in any 

 manner as did Belgium. Our national 

 life has continued, and the people are 

 patiently waiting the final issue which 

 is looked for without doubt. 



" Beekeeping has not escaped the mis- 

 haps of the conflict. Most valid men 

 have left their homes, without caring 

 for the bees, without harvesting the 

 honey. The bloody conflict through 

 which we look back upon it will cause 

 us to appreciate better the quietude 

 and peaceableness of our industry 

 when we are again able to return to it. 

 It is a great joy when we happen to 

 meet, in camp, another lover of bees. 

 We forget the fatigue of the march, 

 tlie constant worry, the sorry trench 

 life, and even at this moment, while 

 writing to you, I almost fail to hear 

 the roar of the cannon which occa- 

 sionally shakes my table and renders 

 my pen unsteady. 



"Since the beginning of the cam- 

 paign I have traveled over a consider- 

 able scope of the country. I have 

 passed through many devastated re- 



A Sentinel Aloni; the Battle Line 



gions. I have seen many dismantled 

 villages, many smoking ruins. When 

 at leisure to do so. I have enquired of 

 the rare remaining inhabitants about 

 the state of bee culture. Everywhere 

 the reply has been the same: 'Alas! 

 our apiaries are destroyed, either by 

 fire during the burning of the village 



