FubUsbed VTeekly, at $I.OO per annum. 



Sample Copy sent on ^pplioation. 



36th Year. 



CHICAGO, ILL., OCTOBER 1, 1896. 



No. 40. 





Bees and Grapes — Some Expert Testimony. 



BY C. P. DADANT. 



In the last number of Gleanings in Bee-Culture, I notice 

 an article by the editor in which he inquires into the damage 

 done by bees to grapes, and asks whetVier we should lay all or 

 part of the blame upon the bees. As this is one of the rare 

 seasons during which bees are seen upon grapes in large num- 

 bers, I wish to make some remarks upon the subject. 



We have a large apiary on our home farm, but we have 

 also a still larger vineyard, covering in all, now, 18 acres. 

 The season of 1879 was the first in which we noticed bees 

 working on the grapes to any extent, and in that season con- 

 siderable complaint came to our ears from neighbors who im- 

 agined that we were getting rich at their expense. The fact 

 is, that the bees were then starving, the drouth having de- 

 stroyed all hopes of a honey crop. But the latter part of the 

 summer was wet, when it was too late for the blossoms to 

 come out. This wet weather caused fresh sap to flow in the 

 stems of the vines, and the grapes became so full of juice that 

 many of them burst. As a matter of course, the tenderest 

 berries, those that had the thinnest skin, split the worst. In 

 addition to this, as there were no other fruits, the birds 

 pounced upon the grapes with great greed. A near neighbor 

 of ours who had a small vineyard near a large timber said to 

 us with great wrath : 



" I know how it is about our grapes ; I have examined the 

 matter carefully ; it is the bees that do the damage, and they 

 always make two holes in each berry, one just above the 

 other." 



We tried to explain to him that the two holes were made 

 by the beak of the bird when he was tired of eating, and still 

 took pleasure in puncturing the juicy fruit. This was plain 

 and evident, especially as the berries were all punctured on 

 the same side of the bunch. But nothing would do. He 

 could not see the birds at work, for they always come at day 

 break, and are usually off before the vineyardist comes. But 

 the poor bees, unaware of the harsh reputation that they are 

 making for themselves, visit the punctured berries from morn- 

 ing till night and the entire damage is charged to them ! 



Well, it was of no use to try to explain ; our man got 

 angry, and would not speak to us any more, and we believe 



that to this day he is of the opinion that the bees always make 

 two holes in each berry. 



But can bees puncture grapes ? We have made repeated 

 experiments, placing bunches of grapes inside of the hive, or 

 attracting the bees to bunches so placed that we could keep 

 them under our eyes and make sure that no other insects and 

 no birds could approach, and we have invariably proven the 

 assertion of Aristotle, made 2,000 years ago, and quoted by 

 Mr. Langstroth, as correct, viz.: that " bees hurt no kinds of 

 sound fruits, but that wasps and hornets are very destructive 

 to them." 



This is plain and easy to understand, most especially if 

 one is acquainted with the shape of the mandibles or jaws of 

 the bee. "These jaws are short, thick, without teeth, and 

 beveled inside so as to form a hollow when joined together, as 

 two spoons would do.... Wasps and hornets are furnished 

 with strong, saw-like jaws, for cutting the woody fibre with 

 which they build their combs, and can easily penetrate the 

 skin of the toughest fruits." 



Some four or five years ago the principal of our high 

 school, in a lesson in entomology, requested her pupils to give 

 her a list of the insects injurious to fruits. The bees were 

 placed upon this list, and a discussion ensued. The attention 

 of the president of the school board was called to the matter, 

 and inasmuch as the principal had herself positively declared 

 against the bee, he came to me and requested me to come be- 

 fore the class and give them my experience. I did so, but 

 although no one tried to contradict my remarks on the natural 

 history of the bee, it was evident to me that a little actual 

 practical experience would go much farther towards convinc- 

 ing my hearers than all the theories in the world. So I asked 

 the principal whether she would have any objection to a prac- 

 tical test. I agreed to furnish the bees, to attract them to 

 the school-house, if the scholars would furnish the fruit. 



A day was set, grapes, pears and peaches were brought, 

 and a little honey served to attract the bees. They came in 

 numbers. Then the honey was removed, and some damaged 

 fruit given them. On this they worked, though not so readily 

 as on the honey. After they got fairly to work, the damaged 

 fruits were removed and sound fruits brought forward. With- 

 in 20 minutes the bees had left in disgust. This test effec- 

 tually put a stop to all further complaints of bees damaging 

 sound fruit, in this vicinity, and if there are any who still be- 

 lieve that they do puncture grapes, they do not feel inclined 

 to come forward and assert it openly. 



But is there not a real damage done by the bees on grapes 

 that have cracked owing to rains, by an excess of flow of juice 

 within the tender skin ? Could not these berries be saved by 

 the grape-grower? Yes, they may be saved, if you pick them 

 the same day. Otherwise they are worse than useless. Most 

 of my readers have probably noticed, in the fall, around the 



