394 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



crop, but solely for the work of carrying pollen. Aside from the 

 fact that they sting, bees have no bad habits which make them 

 injurious. It has been claimed that they carry fireblight of the 

 fruit trees, but it has been shown that other insects are the real 

 culprits. They do not puncture ripe fruits but may suck the 

 juices of overripe unmarketable fruit which has been punctured 

 by birds or wasps. Bees are truly helpful insects. 



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