Sept. 7, 1905 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



631 



4^ (£ontrtbutcb ^- 

 Special Ctrticles 



^ 



J 



Importation of Bees by Our Government 



BV FHOK. A. .1. COOK 



I AM sure that all the most enterprising bee-keepers of o\ir 

 country read with a thrill of pleasure that at last our Gov- 

 ernment had decided to send to the Orient in search of nfw 

 races and species of bees, in the hope that we might reap 

 advantage from their introduction. There has been for years 

 a desire amonfj our best bee-keepers that something might be 

 done in this line. Mr. Benton, from his wide and successful 

 experience in the past, is probably the best equipped man for 

 this service in the whole world. We may hope that in the in- 

 troduction of the Macroapis, and very possibly other species or 

 natural races of the genus Apis, we shall gain a substantial 

 advantage. 



There are two ways that we may hope for improvement. We 

 may reasonably expect an additional amount of honey. This 

 is probably what has influenced those who have been urging 

 for years the introduction of Macroapis dorsata. Hut there 

 is another even more important advantage possibly to be 

 gained in the introduction of new races. We l^now that we 

 need the common native bumble-bee to aid us in securing a 

 full seed-crop of red clover. We know that the scarcity of 

 bumble-bees in the early season makes the first crop of red 

 clover worthless in the seed-production. But do we know 

 that we ever get a full crop of this valuable seed ? Is it not 

 more than probable that with more extensive cross-])oIlination 

 the red clover might always seed better and give a fuller yield '? 

 In the introduction of new races and species, we will very 

 likely not only secure nectar that now goes to waste, but we 

 will quite likely introduce bees that will work on flowers now 

 unvisited, and in so doing will greatly appreciate production. 

 The farmers of Illinois and Iowa are jubilant over the fact 

 that through the breeding of a better kind of seed-corn, their 

 crop is materially increased the country over, for this means 

 millions of dollars to the country each year. A very slight 

 increase in seed-production of any of our valuable stable crops 

 would have like influence. It is just here that this matter of 

 cross-pollination should appeal to us all, and should make us 

 the ready advocates of just such enterprises as the Govern- 

 ment has now undertaken in our behalf. 



STINGLE8S BEES. 



It comes to my knowledge that there is some talk of the 

 Introduction into our country of species of Melipona and 

 Trigona — the stingless bees of Mexico, Central and South 

 America. I am greatly In favor of the carrying out of this 

 project. I have very little faith that these bees will ever be- 

 come a matter of commercial importance in the production of 

 honey. I also am absolutely without faith that these bees 

 will cross with our present bees, and so give us an improved 

 hybrid. They are so absolutely different in anatomy and 

 physiology from Aphis that we can hardly hope for a success- 

 ful cross. Indeed, I have no expectation that this can occur. 

 But the point I made above, that a greater variety of bees 

 will cause more visits to more flowers, I think may safely be 

 depended upon. 



There can hardly bo a question but what cross-pollination 

 will be more generally effected with every increase of spciies 

 of bee among us. In our massing of great numbers of plants 

 we have so broken In upon the equilibrium of Nature that we 

 can not be too intent in reaching out to effect In every possible 

 way a greater amount of cross-pollination. 



A tremendous gain has been made in the scattering of 

 apiaries throughout the land ; may we not hope foracluse 

 second in Importance in the introduction of new species a luj 

 varieties of bees now foreign to us? Thus it was that ! was 

 pleased to learn from Dr. E. S. Phillips, of the Agricultural 

 Department, that an effort was being made to Induce the 

 Government to Introduce these stingless bees from the regi'u 

 south of us. 



GOVERNSfENT APIARY AT WASHINGTON. 



I am sure our readers will be glad to learn that one of t) .■ 

 prominent features on the fine, beautiful lawn of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture at Washington, is a handsomely arranei'd 



and quite large apiary. Does it not show great good sense on 

 the part of the Department of Agriculture to recognize the 

 importance of the honey-bee, and the value which comes from 

 very numerous apiaries scattered throughout the country ? 

 What could the Government do to show more surely Its hand 

 in these matters than the putting of this apiary where every 

 visitor of the Department must ste It as he approaches the 

 main building ? I acknowledge a little more pride, happi- 

 ness, and patriotism, as I noted this index of broad-minded- 

 ness at our capital. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



I greatly doubt If any department of the Government 

 receives more hearty commendation from other countries than 

 does the Department of Agriculture at Washington. I feel 

 equally sure that there Is nowhere else In the world a more 

 able body of honest, unselfish, efficient investigators than may 

 be found in this Department of our Government. The re- 

 search work being carried on is of the very highest order. 

 The results already gained are of tremendous importance in 

 an economic way to our people. This research work is being 

 carried on in a very broad way. Empirical methods are giv- 

 ing way to scientific processes, and the results that are 

 being obtained are in many cases fairly revolutionary. I have 

 rarely ever enjoyed more satisfaction, or experienced better 

 appreciation of genuine service than I have felt the last few 

 days as I have gone through the various departments and 

 noted the magnificent work that is being turned out here. 



SECRKTAEY JAMES WILSON. 



Not a little of the excellence just referred to comes from 

 the fact that we have a grand type of a man at the head of 

 the Department. Brought up on a farm. Secretary Wilson 

 is thoroughly alive to the obstacles and necessities of the 

 farm. He is thoroughly in sympathy with the man with the 

 plow, and is intensely interested in whatever will make the 

 work of the farm more pleasant and productive. Those who 

 know him best are fully persuaded that his honesty and dis- 

 interestedness fully equal his longing to make the Department 

 in the highest degree efficient. He has worked very success- 

 fully to get the very best men to be found throughout the 

 world to take charge of this valuable research work. As sug- 

 gested above, these men have rare qualifications for the dif- 

 ficult tasks which confront them. 



It is exceedingly unfortunate that the idea of "graft " in 

 the Agricultural Department has so recently come to the 

 front. It is the general belief of those who are best prepared 

 to judge that the men in this work, and some of those who 

 are under censure, are really philanthropists. It is also be- 

 lieved that they are absolutely innocent In the matter charged 

 against them. We have all "been very pleased and grateful 

 for the discovery by Prof. Moore. We have appreciated the 

 fact that the value of this discovery came to us as a free gift. 

 I am glad to report that in my talks with those who know 

 Prof. Moore best, I have found a universal belief that ho is 

 absolutely innocent of any Intention to wrong the Government. 



There is no doubt at all but that these matters will all be 

 probed to the very bottom. Surely, no one In the country can 

 be more interested than Secretary Wilson and the President, 

 that every department of our Government should be absolutely 

 clean. We may rest assured that no guilty man will escape. 

 I feel very certain that the number of such will be found very 

 small. Indeed, the work of the scientist tends to preclude 

 peculation. In the meantime, let us all withhold judgment 

 and do our part to prevent these aspersions which are as mis- 

 chievous as they are uncalled for. 



I 



How Bees Build Cells with Exactness " 



BY ARTHUR C. MILLER 



N the American Bee .fournal for July 6, there appears an 

 article by G. M. Doolittle. which contains the following 

 remarkable statements : 



"The question is asked, 'How 

 once on the edge of combs where it 

 giving them the common curvatun- 

 as is found in the comb of the ho 

 direct malhematical work is done 

 bee has a square or rule to nieasur-_ 

 All who have observed the anteuu i 

 is a joint in each, out toward Its 

 which is 5 cells to the inch, this join 

 when the antenn.ie thus closed arc m 

 bead, the folded joints just touch 

 bee is enabled to work in harmoi 



can so many insects occupied at 

 is dark, as in a bee-hive, concur in 

 from one extremity to the other, 

 ney-bee?' It is supposed that this 



by actual measurement, as each 

 oy, in the shape of the antenns. 

 of the honey-bee know that there 



end. In building worker-comb, 

 t is closed like a jack-knife, so that 

 Lsightened oat on each side of the 

 lie walls of the cell, and tlius each 



vith every other bee io the hive. 



