29 



Hanson, it has been proven that bees are of no slight im- 

 portance in the setting of a satisfactory cranberry crop. 

 At least, they apply this fundamental principle of holding 

 insect life up to its highest efficiency as a pollinizing agent. 

 Another phase of the utilizing of bees in plant life 

 which doesn't apply particularly to Massachusetts, but is 

 especially so in Ontario and perhaps some other localities, 

 is that it has been found that in oi'der to secure a satisfac- 

 tory crop of clover seed, bees must be maintained. The 

 seed growers have found it necessary to have apiaries of at 

 least 100 colonies of bees about every mile or mile and a 

 half throughout the territory where alsike clover seed is 

 grown. A very significant fact comes out in that connec- 

 tion, namely, that if there are 100 colonies as a centre at 

 some point, on the first mile radius the clover seed crop is- 

 the heaviest. After you pass that first mile and come to a 

 distance of a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half, there 

 is a lessening of the clover seed crop, and when you reach a 

 point two or two and a half miles away from the nucleus' 

 of the apiary, the crop is considerably smaller. So, on that 

 basis, I was told last winter by a practical grower, the tend- 

 ency is to place about 100 colonies every mile or mile and a 

 half, in order to secure the maximum crop of seed ; it is a 

 great protection. 



With these few suggestions, then, concerning the adap- 

 tation of bees in the growing of plants, I want to turn more 

 particularly towards the way in which we keep bees ; and 

 show you, especially those who have not yet commenced to 

 keep bees, some of the internal mechanism of the bee hive 

 and demonstrate some of the habits of a colony. We will 

 then turn to the lantern slides, after which, if you wish, I 

 will operative this hive as a beekeeper would. It is sup- 

 posed to contain a colony of bees. I will also show you 

 pictures which concern the construction of a hive, so that 

 if you utilize hives, you may know all the superior features 

 of this hive here. 



(Dr. Gates continued his lecture with accompanying 

 slides) 



MR. STAPLES. Would it be best to have them close to- 

 gether, or scattered. 



