No. 4.] STATE INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 127 



Mr. John Wallace told me early in March this year that he had 35 

 colonies left, so his losses must have been considerably over 100 colonies. 

 The spray which fell on the clover poisoned some cattle and horses that 

 were pastured in the orchards. 



Mr. Wallace had a cow that sickened and dried up, but finally recovered. 

 A flock of sheep pastured on the alfalfa in the same orchard were 

 not affected by the poison on the leaves at all. The sheep are showTi 

 back of the row of colonies. (Illustration opposite page 126.) These 

 colonies were purchased [for the orchard] to help make up for the losses 

 caused by spraying. 



The reason assigned for these losses is mentioned elsewhere 

 in considering the use of "green manure." 



Severe Losses. 



E. R. Root ^ of jMedina, Ohio, in a magazine editorial 

 explains how J. G. Brown, one of the Colorado sufferers, 

 had his bee business ruined by spraying fruit trees. The ques- 

 tion has arisen, "Why have we not heard of this wholesale 

 destruction of bees in Colorado before?" The explanation is 

 given by Mr. Brown. It is based on the newer and more 

 general practice of green manuring, that is, the growing of 

 cover crops beneath the fruit trees in order to maintain soil 

 fertility. This practice is becoming more and more general. 

 Crimson and red clover are used almost entirely. These are in 

 full bloom before the spraying season for the trees is over. 

 The poisonous liquids fall from the trees to the clover. Then 

 comes the havoc. "As these clovers furnish nectar when there 

 is nothing else, the bees are killed by the thousands." ^ 



Colorado, therefore, furnishes, as reported, an example of 

 most widespread and tremendous destruction. Mr. Root has 

 estimated that something over 5,000 colonies will necessarily 

 have to be removed from the vicinity of orchards in western 

 Colorado if the}' are to be saved. 



It should be mentioned, in connection with the reports of 

 losses in Colorado, that European foul brood was discovered in 

 1914, but the writer is informed that the district afl'ected con- 

 tains onlv about 300 colonies. The writer feels that losses from 



I "Gleanings in Bee Culture," Vol. 43, p. 5, January 1, 1915. 



' The fruit men know that these cover crops should be plowed under before they come into 

 bloom ; and about the only reason why they don't do it is because they are too busy with their 

 spraying. 



