May 3, 1900. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



277 



and himself alone. A colony of bees in healthy condition 

 and properly managed should fear nothing- from robber- 

 bees, except by some accident beyond the control of the 

 apiarist, such as the breaking down of combs by heat, or 

 the upturning of the hive by wind or mischievous animals 

 or human beings. 



When there is no honey in the field (and this is the only 

 time when robbing is to be feared), if the weather is hot, 

 the bees usually cluster at the entrance in sufficient num- 

 bers to repel all invaders, from an elephant to a mosquito. 

 If the weather is cool, or the colony weak, it is the duty of 

 the bee-keeper to see that the entrance be reduced in propor- 

 tion to the strength of the colony. Then the only time 

 when there will be any danger at all for a weak colony will 

 be in cool mornings when the bees are clustered away from 

 the entrance, and then only if the robbing colonies are early 

 in the field, and excited to action. In such cases, if the 

 apiarist foresees any trouble he can readily avoid it by 

 closing up the hive-entrances of his weak colonies till the 

 weather is warm enough to enable them to make a good 

 stand at the door. 



But why should any one keep weak colonies in this 

 condition? At any time during the season, except in the 

 winter, it is easy enough to strengthen a weak colony by 

 helping it with brood or hatching bees from stronger colo- 

 nies, tho this must be done with discernment, care being 

 taken not to give them more than they can readily keep 

 warm. 



In the case mentioned in the above enquiry, it is evi- 

 dent that some colony of bees in the town found honey in 

 some uncovered situation, either in a hive of which the bees 

 had died, or in a queenless hive (which amounts to exactly 

 the same thing), or in some open shed, etc. The finding of 

 honey in times of scarcity has an effect on the bees well 

 known to the practical bee-keeper, and the colony that has 

 made the " find " is easily recognized, for its bees get into 

 a condition of intense excitement. Those who have dis- 

 covered the spoils evidently have a way of informing the 

 others, but they have no means to tell them the spot, and 

 since it is only by following them, or by hunting on their 

 own account, that their sisters can be informed, the result 

 is that the whole neighborhood is scoured by eager scouts. 

 Every hive is examined, every crack in the bee-house, everj' 

 shingle in its roof is scrutinized, and nothing escapes their 

 vigilant search. Then let the exposed weak colonies be- 

 ware — the robbers flock to them by hundreds, and will force 

 an entrance unless a good defense is at hand. 



There is no need of whiskey to cause this. A few neg- 

 lected combs, a few drops of liquid honey, even a few spoon- 

 fuls of sweet juice of fruits, or of syrup, will do the mis- 

 chief, and the bee-keeper who cares for his own bees, will 

 carefully avoid any such excitement. The man who would 

 cause this robbing with dishonest intent towards his neigh- 

 bors' bees, would run the risk of being the first victim. 



"WEEDS IN CITIES AND TOWNS" — SWEET CLOVER. 



Mr. L,yster H. Dewey, assistant botanist of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, in the last Year Book issued, had 

 something to say on the subject of " Weeds in Cities and 

 Towns." 



Weeds in vacant lots and waste-places may be of some 

 use, or may be very noxious according to their kind. Mr. 

 Dewey mentions a number of weeds as dangerous, owing to 

 their poisonous qualities ; others as disagreeable, owing to 

 their bad odor. He overlooks the bad effect of the ragweed, 

 in its deleterious influence on the lungs of persons subject 

 to what is known as hay-fever, which has often been as- 

 cribed to the action of the pollen of this plant. But among 

 the pleasanter weeds he classes clovers, asters, and the 

 much-abused sweet clover. Altho the essay does not con- 

 sider weeds in their capacity as honey-producing plants, 

 yet in its conclusions it rather favors the very plants that 

 are most useful to the bee-keeper. 



If an outyard or a waste corner is to be left growing in 

 weeds, it is much better for it to produce such a plant as 

 sweet clover, which spreads a pleasant smell in the air, in- 

 jures no one, and enriches the soil, while, on the other 

 hand, it may be very readily destroyed if need be, than to 

 have a overgrown with the stinking ragweed, the poisonous 

 jirason weed, or datura stramonium, or thistles. The oppo- 

 sition to sweet clover as a weed where weeds must grow, is 

 beyond my understanding, for I have never known this 

 " weed " to do any harm to any one, as it is most readily 

 exterminated when the soil it occupies is put under cultiva- 

 tion. Hancock Co., 111. 



Spraying Fruit-Trees— The Ontario Law. 



nv K. F. HOI.TERMAN.N, 

 Ex- Editor of tlie Catmdian See Journal. 



THERE is no doubt that the Canadian readers, and prob- 

 ably others, of the American Bee Journal, would be in- 

 terested at this season in having a word upon the sub- 

 ject of spraying fruit-trees. Having been interested in bees 

 and fruit, and having come in contact with many of our 

 best authorities in both of these branches of agriculture, it 

 may be of advantage to both classes to set forth their views. 

 Ontario bee-keepers also welcome any copy they can secure 

 of the " Act for the Protection of Bees." More than that, 

 I have every confidence that were some one to print private 

 postal cards or circulars, and supply them at a reasonable 

 rate, many would order them by post, and send them to 

 those likely to spray in their vicinity ; or at a certain rate 

 they could be mailed and addrest at the office where printed. 

 Such a direct and unexpected notice would no doubt have a 

 very wholesome effect as an educator. The card might be 

 headed, "Please Take Notice." 



The best-informed fruit-men are fully aware that bees 

 are of very great value to them in assisting in the fertiliza- 

 tion of blossoms. True, their value varies, but the more 

 uncertain the weather, the fewer the bright and sunny 

 days in which the pollen is dry enough to be distributed by 

 currents of air, the greater the value of the bees ; they can 

 do much valuable service in a very short time. 



That it is becoming more and more necessary to spray 

 to secure perfect fruit, there is no doubt. Insect pests are 

 on the increase ; and while rapid transit and the inter- 

 change of products between different countries has its ad- 

 vantage, there is no doubt that insect pests, disease, etc., 

 have also thru it been spread. 



No one in Ontario can get profitable returns from or- 

 chards without care and attention. "In the sweat of thy 

 face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground," 

 is true of every one that depends upon the soil for a living. 

 These pests can only be kept down with toil. So that we 

 might as well make up our minds that spraying will con- 

 tinue until the curse is removed. 



But do bee-keeping and fruit-growing interests clash 

 upon this important question ? Not at all. The best horti- 

 culturists tell me that the mixture used for spraying is 

 strong ; that it must be used with care and caution, and by 

 deviations in the quantity used in the compound, even the 

 foliage of trees has been injured. They also say that if 

 this mixture comes in contact with the delicate part of the 

 flowers when in blossom, it is likely to injure them to such 

 an extent that they will not set fruit at all. I know of an 

 instance where such a result was clearly indicated. More 

 than that, to spray during that time is a waste of time and 

 material. Spraying should be done after the fruit has set 

 and before the fruit set turns down ; there is no necessity 

 for spraying so close together. If these rules are observed 

 the fruit-grower will profit, and the bee-keeper will not 

 have bees destroyed. 



Now some bee-keepers feel that they should make an 

 example of some one in each neighborhood — not with the 

 object of punishing the offender, but to draw attention to 

 the law — to educate. It would be well if such could be 

 avoided ; law does not promote harmony among neighbors, 

 and certainly does not advance the cause of Christ. 



Many have a book professing to give information upon 

 many subjects, and the directions in this book are to spray 

 when the trees are in blossom. I found several spraying in 

 my vicinity upon the strength of this authority. I do not 

 think any one should be prosecuted until they have had the 

 law shown to them, and it is as tollows : 



1. No person in sprayitigr or sprinkling- fruit-trees during the period 

 within which such trees are in full bloom shall use, or cause to be used, 

 any tnixture containing Paris green or any other poisonous substance iu- 

 iurious to bees. 



2. Anv person contravening the provisions of this Act, shall on sum- 

 mary conviction thereof before a Justice of the Peace, be subject to a 

 penalty of not less than $1.00, and not more than $S.W, with or without 

 cost of prosecution; and in case of a fine, or a fine and cost being 

 awarded, and of the same not being upon conviction forthwith paid, the 

 Justice may commit the offender to a common goal, there to be impris- 

 oned for any term not exceeding 30 days, unless the fine and costs are 

 sooner paid. 



Where bees were supplied with sufficient stores last 

 fall they have wintered well. Clover is also in good shape. 

 Spring has opened up late, and it appears to be making up 

 for lost time now. Ontario, Canada, April 24. 



The Premiums offered on page 288 are well worth work- 

 ing for. Look at them. 



