March IS, 1906 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



231 



Association, who are not exclusively honey-producers, are 

 replaced it may be of more value to bee-keepers, but we 

 doubt it. There has recently been some objection raised 

 against bee-supply dealers, bee-paper editors, etc., occupy- 

 ing elective positions in the National, though these have 

 contributed as much as any to its success. There are 

 mighty few of its members who make their living solely 

 from honey-production — not one in ten. So it would seem 

 that it ill becomes any one to complain because there are a 

 few honest people aside from the specialists who fill official 

 positions in the National. Personally, we are exceedingly 

 well satisfied to be an humble member in the ranks, and 

 there do what we can to help on any good work the National 

 may undertake. We are not seeking official position, and 

 have never done so, either in a bee-keepers' organization or 

 elsewhere. We always find plenty to do no matter where 

 we are. 



+ (£ontributeb -f 

 Special (Irticles 



=s 



Honey-Plants— Fruits in Germany, Etc. 



BY PROF. A. J. COOK. 



IT has been suggested that a very interesting chapter might 

 be written on honey-plants, and that I give the readers 

 of the American Bee Journal a taste of such fare. 



The old philosophy was to the effect that the sweet per- 

 fume and bright, brilliant coloring of flowers was for man's 

 delectation, while to-day we hear the positive affirmation that 

 they are solely to attract bees and other nectar-loving insects, 

 so that the blossoms may be cross-pollinated. I can but be- 

 lieve that there is over and above us a great, loving Father. 

 Who may not say that He had in loving thought both of the 

 above purposes, when he touched the flower with a potency 

 that secreted the nectar drop, and brushed it with pink or 

 gold; and who shall say that both were not master Strokes? 

 and who shall not say that the ministry to man's love of 

 beauty is not the better of the two purposes? 



Without doubt the fragrance of flowers, and the flame 

 of bloom, in window and woodland, are to attract bees, etc., 

 to the nectar drop. Some flowers, like cleome, and willow- 

 herb, are wondrous in their flash of color, while others, like 

 figwort, are very inconspicuous, but very fragrant. The first 

 attract through the color sense; the others through scent. 



There are many plants, often entire families, that have 

 what botanists style irregular flowers. In these the petals or 

 show portions of the flowers are very different in size and 

 form, and may be even in color. The larkspur, and columbine 

 in the butter-cup family, as also the entire families of mints, 

 and the snap-dragons, will call to mind such irregular flow- 

 ers. These flowers are thought to have changed to these 

 curious shapes to effect more surely cross-pollination. A 

 close study of such flowers will soon convince any one that 

 they serve such purpose most surely and admirably. 



The orchids are marvelous for their modifications to this 

 end. Indeed, there are no more attractive or wonderful flow- 

 ers known than these orchids. The Berlin people love flowers, 

 if we may judge by the large and numerous shops where they 

 are kept in abundance. Of these gems of nature none appeals 

 more to the lovers of beauty than these lovely orchids. All 

 of the clover or bean family show conspicuously this feature 

 of irregular flowers. It goes without saying that all such 

 flowers must be cross-pollinated, and for productivity all 

 such flowers must have the kind ministry of sweet-loving in- 

 sects. Bees, of course, are by far the most important insects 

 that engage in this work, and among bees the honey-bees are 

 by far the most numerous, and correspondingly the most im- 

 portant. 



I suggest that the reader select a columbine, a touch-me- 

 not, or a bean-blossom, that he may carefully observe this 

 peculiarity, and note how it works towards cross-pollination. 

 The touch-me-nots or snap-dragons are specially valuable for 

 such study. These plants belong to the great and important 



order Scrophulariaceae. These plants, like the mints are known 

 as bi-labiates, as the flowers are made up of two lips, though 

 the normal' or real number of petals is usually five. These 

 lips surmount a throat which is more or less open. The flow- 

 ers usually nod or incline to om sid*, and the stamens, which 

 bear pollen, as also the pistil, which is to receive the pollen, 

 lie in the throat on the upper side. The nectar drop is deep 

 in the flower-tube. The bee alights on the lower lip and 

 pushes in through the narrow throat to reach the distant nec- 

 tar. Now it happens, or rather is true, that the. stamens and 

 pistil are not ripe at the same time. In other words, when 

 the pollen is ripe for use in a blossom the stigna is not yet 

 ripe to receive it. Thus, as has been aptly said, the bees must 

 act as "marriage-priests" to carry the pollen from one blossom 

 to another. 



In a wild, yellow snap-dragon, of Michigan, the pollen 

 is white. One season, years ago, I discovered one day that 

 all the bees were like Hereford cattle— each as it entered the 

 hive had a conspicuous white line the whole length of its back. 

 I followed them to a place in a wood-lot not far off where 

 they were gathering from the snap-dragons. Thus the white 

 line was explained. There are many of these plants in Cali- 

 fornia. While the white and black or ball sage, of California, 

 like all the mints belong to the labiate family— Labiate— they 

 are much like the snap-dragons. 



The blossoms of the Legumes— beans, peas and clovers- 

 are somewhat similar to the above. Here is one large petal, 

 called the "banner," two narrower ones on the sides — the 

 wings; and two others, narrow and close together, which 

 enclose the stamens and pistil. These are together called the 

 "keel." In effect these are the same as the above. It is well- 

 known that such plants must have insects to visit the bloom 

 or no seeds will be formed. Red clover produces no seed the 

 first crop, because it is often only pollinated by bumble : bees, 

 which are not numerous early in the season. Alfalfa, which is 

 visited freely by the honey-bees, which are always numerous, 

 will seed at any time. While many regular flowers, like the 

 apple, pear, etc", require cross-pollination, this is not always 

 the case; while, with these irregular flowers, we must always 

 have insect visits to secure full seed-production. It is prob- 

 ably true that in all cases where nectar is present, especially 

 if abundant, as in the linden and tulip, that cross-pollination 

 is requisite to seed-production. In basswood we know the 

 nectar is very abundant. 



America to the Front. 



We are more impressed each day of our stay in Europe 

 with the superiority of America to even the best portions of 

 the old world. Food here is very much more expensive. 

 Meat and fruit are very high-priced. And yet wages are much 

 less than in America. It would seem that the common labor- 

 ing class here could have only meat and fruit as rare luxuries, 

 while even the bread loaf for the poor is dark and solid. 

 Potatoes not larger than cherries or plums are common in the 

 market, and sold here in Berlin for 34 cent per pound, or 

 45 cents per bushel. Potatoes are the cheapest food we can 

 buy, though they are so small that no one would buy them at 

 home. Apples are usually from 8 to 10 cents a pound, and 

 often much more. We can get very nice dried pears here for 

 20 cents per pound. The best we have purchased come from 

 California. 



Rains in California. 



I hear glad news from California. The rains the present 

 season have been copious. At Claremont they have had over 

 3 inches, while a year ago at the same date there was less 

 than 1 inch. As is well-known, we have had little rainfall 

 the last 10 or 12 years ; the same time before that was char- 

 acterized by a much heavier rainfall. It is thought by many 

 that we will now have another period of generous rainfall. 

 Last year we had a fine rain record — the best for years. We 

 hope a better is to be ours the present season. 



Last year was excellent in its promise for honey, though 

 the season was, on the whole, disappointing. The reason was 

 that it was cold and windy in May and June. We may rea- 

 sonably hope that the present year will give us rain, warmth, 

 and then we shall surely be favored with a good honey 

 harvest. Berlin, Germany, Jan. 9. 



Amerikanische Bienenzucht, by Hans Buschbauer, is 

 a bee-keeper's hand-book of 138 pages, which is just what 

 our German friends will want. It is fully illustrated, and 

 neatly bound in cloth. Price, postpaid, $1.00; or with the 

 American Bee Journal one year — both for $1.75. Address 

 all orders to this office. 



