FRUIT NOT£;S - Ikrch, 1939 



W. H. Thids 

 iJxtension Horticulturist 



A Haw Bees-for-Pollinution Project 



The distribution of bees for pollinating purposes will be easier this 

 spring through arrangements recently made by a committee of the Massachusetts 

 Fruit Growers' Association. This project will result in closer cooperation be- 

 tween beekeepers b.nd fruit growers than in yea.rs past. All details in connec- 

 tion with the rental of bees by fruit growers may be arranged through the 

 secretary of the M.F.G.A., V/. R. Cole in Amherst. The outline of the project 

 presented by the committee is as follov/s. 



1. M.F.G'A. through its Secretary-Treasurer as agent, to enter into 

 contract vath beekeeper to deliver bees in hives to fruit growers in Massachu- 

 setts at a specified charge. This service is to include the delivary to the farm 

 and picking up the bees after bloom. 



2. Hives to be clean, supposedly free from dise&se, containing at least 

 six frames of bees with ample stores and brood and having been on these frames 

 for at least ten dsys. 



3. Fruit grovi^ers to remove to a tight building or destroy by burning all 

 unused bee equipment and colonies knovm or suspected to be diseased on the prop- 

 erty before the bees are delivered. 



4. Growers to do everything within their power to have all bee equipment 

 in their vicinity subject to same requirements as their own. 



5. Fruit grower to agree to notify beekeeper two days in advance as to 

 wnen he -will be through his application of lead arsenate in tne Pink Spray and 

 two days in advance of the time that he would be using lead arsenate in the Calyx, 

 or Post Bloom Spray. The grower when he places his order agrees not to apply any 

 arsenical spray or dust while the bcos are in the orchard. 



6. Growers to place orders for beos as soon as possible in order to judge 

 volume necessary, the specified charge to be deposited by April 20. 



7. payment to the beekeeper to be made ^vithin two weeks of delivery pro- 

 vided there are no complaints of unsatisfactory deliveries. 



8. April 5 to be the dead line for the agreement between the beekeeper 

 and the agent of the association. 



Specifications for a standard colony for pollinating purposes agreed upon 

 by the committee and representatives of beekeepers, in a meeting on March 23, 1938 

 are as follows ^ "A normal colony consisting of not loss than six frames of bees 

 with brood in a 10-framo hive sit a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees F." 



In cases of dispute between fruit grower and beekeeper as to colonies de- 

 livered, it is suggested that a referee be appointed to make an inspection of the 

 colonies and render a decision as to whether the complaint is justified or not. 

 The cost of the inspection to be borne by the losing party, (if the grower makes 

 a complaint and the colonies are found to be up to standard, the grower bears the 

 expense, if the complaint is sustained by the referee the beekeeper pays for the 

 inspection. The inspections to be made in the orchard). Qualified referees will 

 be appointed by Dr. B. N. Gates, State Apiary Inspector. 



Issued by the Extension Service, Willard A. Munson, director, in furtherance 

 of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. I\fe.ssachusetts State College, United States 

 Department of Agriculture, and County ijxtension Services cooperating. 



