No. 4.] STATE INSPECTOR OF APIARIES. 129 



Most of these gentlemen experienced total failures. In one 

 instance "142 colonies are now reduced to 114, with a fair 

 chance that there will not be over 100 left in the spring. This 

 latter heavy loss was probably due to having the apiary, as 

 located before moving, directly alongside a clover field, under 

 fruit trees, where the bees worked constantly." 



Summarizing for Colorado Wesley Foster under date of 

 April 8, 1915, says: — 



Each year we have one or more districts where considerable trouble 

 is experienced from spraying fruit trees while in full bloom, but we have 

 legislation covering this. The losses from spraying have been growing 

 more serious in Garfield, Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties each year. 

 Last year, 1914, I think the heaviest losses were sustained in Montrose 

 County, where probably 3,000 colonies were either weakened or rendered 

 practically useless. . . . From observation and reports received last 

 year, I believe it would be safe to state that at least 10,000 colonies [in 

 those counties above mentioned] were affected by spraying. 



New Mexico. 

 E. R. Root^ of Medina, Ohio, writes of a 300-colony 

 apiary nearly destroyed by spraying fruit trees in full bloom. 

 The article is quoted as follows: — 



We have just received a letter from 0. B. Metcalf, Mesilla Park, New 

 Mexico, who saj^s he fears he will lose nearly his whole apiary of 300 

 colonies simply because his fruit-growing neighbors sprayed arsenate of 

 lead on their trees, presiunably while they were in full bloom. His bees, 

 he says, are dying by the thousand. He wishes to know whether the 

 comb containing the fruit bloom honey from which his bees have died 

 can be given to normal colonies. 



We have written him that he had better have some of that honey 

 analyzed, to determine the amount of poison, if any, there is in it, and 

 render us a report. There is an abimdant need of "educating" the fruit 

 grower in many localities yet. Many of them are practicing spraying 

 while the trees are in bloom. 



Indiana. 

 During the past season a number of what are supposed to be cases of 

 poisoning have been reported. The writer was in one j-ard in which several 

 colonies were killed, and where dead bees were found all over the yard and 

 between the yard and the orchard, which had been sprayed in bloom.* 



> "Gleanings in Bee Culture," Vol. 37, No. 11, June 1, 1909, editorial, p. 327. 

 ' Kindig, B. F., 1914, deputy inspector of apiaries. Circular No. 2 of information for beekeepers, 

 Office of State Entomologist, Indianapolis. 



