DECEMBER 1, 1912 



Most of the grasses and sedges, which in 

 myriads so beautifully clothe the earth, are 

 cross-pollinated. Many of our deciduous 

 trees, like the birch, the poplar, and the 

 willow, depend wholly upon inter-crossing. 

 A multitude of herbaceous plants secure 

 cross-fertilization by the most ingenious 

 contrivances, and there are very few which 

 do not secure an occasional cross. 



But if cross-fertilization is so valuable, 

 it may be asked, "Why do so many plants 

 retain the power of self-fertilization?" 

 The reason, it seems to me, is obvious. If 

 a species becomes rare, it is likely to dis- 

 appear unless it can fertilize itself. Spe- 

 cies represented by only a few individual 

 plants, widel}' scattered, may linger along 

 in favorable locations indetinitely, if they 

 can fertilize themselves and thus produce 

 seed. It is better for a species to be self- 

 fertilized than to perish. There are hun- 

 dreds of rare species which do thus prolong 

 their existence. It is clear that, if a plant 

 which has lost the power of self-fertiliza- 

 tion, becomes isolated, it will be unable to 

 produce seed, and, consequently, will leave 

 no offspring. It is desirable, therefore, for 

 plants to retain the jjower of self-fertiliza- 

 tion against an emergency. 



Plants that are regularly self-fertilized 

 have usually small flowers, and are adapted 

 to special conditions. They are stationary 

 or retrogressive forms which are no longer 

 advancing in development. For species 

 which are evolving rapidly, inter-crossing 

 is a necessity. Nature may not abhor self- 

 fertilization, but she does abhor perpetual 

 self-fertilization. 



There are some exceptional cases where 

 plants rely on vegetative multiplication; 

 and there are flowers, as some species of 

 Taraxicum and Hieracium, which produce 

 seed without pollination or fertilization; 

 but it would be folly to argue that, there- 

 fore, sexual reproduction is of no value. 

 It would be equally a mistake to condemn 

 cross-fertilization because there are some 

 si^ecies which are self-fertilized. In decid- 

 ing as to the application of a great natural 

 law we must take a broad view. I was once 

 present in the United States Supreme 

 Court when one of the justices, in speaking 

 of the application of certain law relating 

 to shipjr.ing, said in effect : ''We must look, 

 not at 'one point, but all along the shore, 

 including the Atlantic, the Gulf, and Pa- 

 cific seaboards, and the shores of the Great 

 Lakes." So should we study a great natural 

 law. 



From the list of jirisraatic colors, indigo 

 was intentionally omitted. The term is 

 omitted from many modern text-books on 



color. Prang in his "Standard of Color" 

 does not even mention it. Rood in his 

 "Text-book of Color," says, "The term in- 

 digo, originally introduced by Newton, 

 has been entirely rejected in this work." 

 There are objections to the term, and 

 Prang covers the ground by using combin- 

 ations of the terms blue and violet. 



It has been necessary to reply to Mr. 

 Ryan very briefly; but the above statements 

 can be substantiated by a great amount of 

 additional data. We hope other beekeepers 

 will express an opinion. The question 

 really resolves itself into this : Are the eyes 

 of bees good organs of vision? It seems 

 impossible that any man can be a beekeeper 

 for half a lifetime, or for even half a dozen 

 j'ears, without forming an opinion on this 

 matter and being able to give a reason for 

 his belief. There are s'ome phases of bee- 

 keeping on which it is difficult to say any 

 thing new; but, so far as we can recall, 

 very few have given their views on the vi- 

 sion of bees. The editor of Gleanings be- 

 lieves that they have well-developed sense 

 of sight. So does Buttel-Reepen, who sug- 

 gests that, if you doubt it, you stand about 

 ten steps from the entrance to the hive on 

 a morning during buckwheat harvest, when 

 you will have painful proof of their ability 

 to see. Mr. Dadant thinks that bees "can 

 see very far." Notthaft and Plateau, on 

 the contrary, believe that bees are exceed- 

 ingly short-sighted. What do you think T 

 There must be scores of apiarists who can 

 give some facts bearing on this question. 

 The department editors of Gleanings, with 

 their vast experience, must have very def- 

 inite ideas on bee vision. The question is 

 surely of great importance to all, and 

 especially to queen-breeders. Will you not 

 let us hear from you? We are after the 

 facts — the truth. Veritas vos liberabit. 



Waldoboro, Maine. 



FENCES FOR WINTER PROTECTION 



BY R. F. HOLTERMANN 



It Avas with a good deal of interest that 

 I made a study of the special number on 

 wintering, Sept. 1. Such numbers concen- 

 trate ideas and writings upon a specified 

 subject, and are convenient for reference. 



The wintering of bees is a subject which 

 has received a good deal of attention, and 

 upon Avhich, through pen and tongue, and 

 (may I add?) practical demonstrations, 

 many ideas have been advanced. In this 

 way decided progress has been made; and 

 if we were always able to do what should 

 be done, beekeeping would be on a different 



