602 



American He^ Journal 



July, 1907. 



from the air, and by use of this and 

 water, they form sugar, starch and most 

 the vegetable products. But there is one 

 indispensable condition to vegetable 

 work or nutrition. There must be light 

 and heat. At night the plant ceases 

 work for the most part, as it has not 

 the necessary light. We know how pale 

 and sickly a plant looks under a board. 

 -It is without light. The green part of 

 twigs and leaves — the chlorophyll, as it 

 is called — can form only in the light, 

 and without chlorophyll the plant is un- 

 able to do its work. Warmth is also 

 necessary to the best work and growth 

 of all plants. Cold, then, stops the func- 

 tional activity of plants just as surely 

 as it does of animals. In case there is 

 too little warmth, the plant may live 

 and make meager growth, but it will 

 not secrete nectar, and may not even 

 bloom. Thus we may easily explain why 

 these cold seasons preclude the e.\istence 

 of nectar in the flowers, and of honey 

 in the hive. In case the cold is very 

 pronounced, it even shuts the bees in the 

 hives, and they do not go forth to gather 

 what they would seek in vain when the 

 weather is cold and inclement. 



There is one more point that is not so 

 important to the exclusive bee-keeper, 

 but is of exceeding moment to the fruit- 

 grower. I refer to the fact that many 

 of our most important fruit-trees and 

 vegetables are sterile to their own pol- 

 len. Thus though they will bloom, they 

 will not fruit unless they are cross-pol- 

 linated. They will therefore fail, ut- 

 terly, to fruit, unless they are cross- 

 pollinated. AW flower-loving insects will 

 aid in doing this necessary work. But 

 where we have massed our trees as we 

 have in our orchards, the bees are re- 

 quired to effect this work as there are 

 not enough of other nectar-loving in- 

 sects to do it. Thus we see why we 

 are likely to have a meager crop of 

 fruit in such years as this has been. 

 The cold keeps the bees in the hive, and 

 so cross-pollination is not effected. Even 

 if the bees do go forth, there is no nec- 

 tar to attract them to the flowers and 

 so there is still a lack of cross-pollina- 

 tion, and as surely a shortage in the 

 yield of fruit. It is plain to be seen 

 that the fruit-grower just as much as 

 the bee-keeper is dependent upon the 

 warmth, the rains, and the bees for the 

 best success. 



The Se.\son of 1907. 



I have of late passed through our 

 country from California to Ohio, and 

 have stopped off for a time in Kansas, 

 Illinois, Michigan, and am now enjoying 

 life as a "Buckeye," and everywhere I 

 have found a very cold, backward spring. 

 This has hit the fruit-man hard, and 

 so far has been discouraging to the bee- 

 keeper. It is safe to say that the fruit 

 crop will be light in very many parts 

 of our country. The cold in many cases 

 has actually killed the bloom, and in 

 many other places the cold has prevented 

 cross-pollination, and so the fruit has 

 failed to set and has dropped from the 

 trees. The outlook for honey is not so 

 bad. - The rains in many localities have 

 been very generous, and now the weath- 

 er has warmed up, and there is yet time 

 for an ,-ibundant yield of honey. It is a 



fortunate circumstance that the season 

 is in many places at least 3 weeks behind 

 the usual season at this time of the 

 year. The bloom of clover and linden 

 will be late, and this will give the bees 

 a better opportunity to fill the hives. 



Specialists in Bee-Reeping. 



We all remember how well Messrs. 

 Hutchinson, Heddon and Taylor argued 

 in the olden time in favor of exclusive 

 bee-keeping. Some of these did not 

 "take their own medicine," as they were 

 as successful in other lines as in their 

 favorite work with the bees. I have 

 of late visited several former friends. 

 I find most of them keep bees in con- 

 nection with their other farm work. 

 They say it pays well, and, besides, they 

 are assured that the bees are a very 

 essential aid in their farm operations. 

 I am delighted as well as surprised to 

 find how generally the bee's importance 

 in agriculture is coming to be appre- 

 ciated. I have long felt that farming 

 would be more successful if every farm- 

 er kept and enjoyed several colonies of 

 bees. 



Columbus, Ohio, June 20. 



SHIPPING-CASES TO BURN 



Dovetail Hives, Sections, Foundation, and a 

 full line of supplies by the carload, and shipped 

 from the best shipping-point in Michigan. An all- 

 basswood 24-pound case. 1-piece cover, 13 cents. 

 Honey and beeswax wanted. Send for catalog 

 and discounts. 



W. D. SOPER, Rt. 3, Jackson, Mich. 



GOING OUT OF 

 BUSINESS 



ry 



business, for sale. Have made 

 enouiih, and can afford to quit 

 Tired, 60 years old and want to 

 rest, think, write and live. 

 Can save you money any place 

 in the United States. 

 400 hives at Watertown, Wis.— not 

 here. 



Send a list for prices. BIG CUT, 

 and you will need to be quirli. 

 Read the "Modern Farmer." 



E. T. ABBOTT, St. Joseph, Mo. 



TEXAS QUEENS 



The famous Honey-Producers 

 have out-stripped all others 

 this year in honey-gathering. 

 Record up to July 1st, 320 lbs. 



CARNIOLANS, ITALIANS and 

 GOLDENS 



Tested. $1.00 each: 

 Warranted, 75c " 

 Untested. 50c " 



$10.00 a dozen. 

 7.00 •• 

 5.50 ■• 



GRANT ANDERSON, 

 SABINAL, - - TEXAS 



:WE SELL: 



ROOT'S GOODS IN MICHIGAN 



Let us quote you prices on Sections, 

 Hives, Foundation, etc., as we can 

 save you time and freight. 

 Beeswax Wanted for Cash. 



H. M. HUNT & SON, 



Redford, Wayne Co., Michigan 



By RETURN MAIL 



OR MONEY REFUNDED 



Italian ijueens— each 75 cents or 6 for $4.. 

 Caucasians— each $1. or 6 for $5. War- 

 ranted purely mated. 



D. J. BLOCHER, Pearl City, III. 



" It Is continuous <idvertislng 

 that Impresses the public 

 with the stability of a firm 



MARSHFIELD BEE-GOODS 



Friend Bee-Keeper: — You have had a hard 

 time of it; colonies dwindled to half with some, 

 and you were nearly discouraged. But the clouds 

 have rolled away and prospects are fine for a good 

 crop yet. Get MarshfJeld Bee-Goods, and make no 

 mistake. 



MARSHFIELD MFG. CO., 



Marshfield, Wis. 



lOWA-J. W. Bittenbcnder. Knoxville. 



Gregory & Son. Ottumwa. 

 KAN.SAS-S. C. Walker & Son, Smith 



Center. 

 MICHIUAN-Lengst & Koenig, 127 South 



13th St., Saginaw. E. S. 

 S. D. Buell. Union City. 

 NEBRASKA— Collier Bee-Supply Co.. 



Fairbury. 

 CANAD.\- N. H. Smith, Tilbury, Ont. 



ARIZONA-H. W. Ryder, Phoenix. 

 MINNESOTA- Northwestern Bee-Sup- 



plv Co., Harmony. 

 ILLINOIS-D. L. Durham. Kankakee. 

 OHIO-F. M. Hollowell Harrison. 

 TEXAS-White Mfe. Co.. Blossom. 

 WISCONSIN— S. W. Hines Mercantile 



Co.. Cumberland, 

 J. Gobeli, Glenwood. 



