weeds will benefit from a broadcast application of poultry manure. This is 

 also an excellent fertilizer for growing young trees but must be used in 

 moderation in a bearing orchard. Green, lat-; maturing fruit may be an in- 

 dication that poultry manure should be applied elsev;here. 



Facts and Opinio ns About B ees 



In a recent letter from John Rice of Marlboro, two questions are asked, 

 (1) concerning the effect of bee stings on arthritis and (2) concerning the 

 number of blossoms visited by bees during rainy and sunny weather. On the lat- 

 ter question, one individual (not a fruit grower) had expressed this opinion; 

 That a bee will pick up enough pollen to carry a load by visiting 25 blossoms; 

 that when there has been a shower and the pollen has been vmshed away a bee 

 will have to go to about 100 blossoms to get the same load they would probably 

 get on a clear, v/arm, sunny day in visiting 25 blossoms. And as it rained all 

 day Thursday the bees would have to visit after Thursday about 250 blossoms or 

 ten times as many as they would during vmrm, sunny weather. 



F. R. Shaw of the Dept . of Entomology, offers the following coiTiments 

 on these points: (1) "As regards the treatment of arthritis by bee venom - 

 this has been demonstrated of value both in this country and abroad for many 

 years. As early as 1879, Philip Terc, an Austrian physician, expressed the 

 opinion that 'almost all true arthritis and rheumatism can be radically and 

 permanently cured with bee stings except those cases of many years' standing 

 where ossification has taken placa.' In this country Dr. Beck of New York 

 City has treated many cases of rheumatism and arthritis with good results. 

 However, no one should attempt to use bes venom as a treatment except under 

 the direct supervision of a doctor." (2) "As regards the theory concerning 

 the value of rain as an agent for improving the set of fruit, I am inclined 

 to doubt its importance as far as its necessitating bees to visit more flow- 

 ers to get a load of pollen. Bees work from 25-75 apple blossoms to get a 

 load of pollen. During the period when it was raining, the bees were confined 

 to the hive. This would certainly cause a poorer set than if the bees were 

 working. Following a rain, the blossoms that were open during this period 

 T;ould not likely be as attractive as blossoms that opened following the rain 

 since the amount of sugar present in the nectar would be lessened by dilution 

 with rain water. Then if the statement made concerning the amount of pollen 

 present v;ere true, which I doubt, the old blossoms v;ould have little to offer 

 to attract the boes." 



Summer Management of Beos in War Time 



Follov/ing is a suninary of a statement prepared by B . N. Gates and 

 F. R. Shaw, authorities in beekeeping in Massachusotts* Due to the unsettled 

 conditions concerning the possibility of obtaining sugar for feeding bees 

 this fall or next spring, good management of bees during the summer and 

 proper preparation of colonies for wintering are essential. The season thus 

 far has been conducive to svrarming. Most colonies were strong early in the 

 spring. This, together with the fact that v/e had on early spring, resulted 

 in exceptionally strong colonies. Following apple bloom vie had a period of 

 rainy weather which caused crowding in the hives and the bees built swarm 

 colls in great numbers. Swarming has been prevalent and beekeepers must be on 

 the alert to prevent both further swarming and after- swarming if they expect 



