69 



come before the Association? 



MR. DAVENPORT : There is one other matter, I think, 

 w ought to consider as fruit growers. It appears to me 

 every fruit grower ought to keep at least one hive of bees. 



There are three reasons why we ought to keep bees. 

 Last year, you remember, a great many fruit trees blos- 

 somed fully and apparently a lot of the fruit set. A little 

 later we noticed a large percentage dropped off and most 

 people said we had a very heavy June drop, when, in real- 

 ity, if we investigated very much we would have found that 

 comparatively few of those apples that dropped had any 

 seed formation showing that the fruit was not properly 

 formed. Therefore, for that one reason, if for no other, 

 we ought to keep bees on our fruit farm for the work of 

 polinating the blossom, so we might get a better set. 



In the second place, last year there was a shortage of 

 sugar. A hive of bees well taken care of ought to supply 

 from 30 to 100 pounds of honey, which would help a great 

 deal with the supply of sugar for the family. 



In the third case I wonder how many of us realize the' 

 value of honey as a substitute for sugar. I think to-day if 

 you go lo the bakers or to the candy makers you will realize 

 how much they appreciate honey and how many tons and 

 tons they have used of it in the last year making cake, 

 doughnuts, cookies and all kinds of chocolates, and they 

 claim that the use of honey makes a far better doughnut or 

 cake. 



Now, there are other ways of using honey. If you in- 

 vestigate or have seen the canneries you will find you can 

 put up berries in honey that will give a better product than 

 putting them up with sugar. So, it appears to me, since 

 there are tons and tons of honey, or nectar that really goes 

 to waste in Massachusetts every year, that every fruit grow- 

 er at least ought to have one or more hives of bees this 

 coming ;vear. 



MR. PARKER: I would like to ask the speaker how 

 old the trees are that he cultivates. 



