1S91 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



733 



that pomologist and bee-keeper alike know the 

 danger, and also know the loss to both paiaies 

 in case caution is not observed 10 avoid the dan- 

 ger and probable loss. It is also important that. 

 by definite experimentation, we may learn just 

 how important the bees are in the pollenization 

 of plants. To determine this point. I tried 

 many experiments last spring. I counted the blos- 

 soms on each of two branches, or plants, of apple, 

 cherry, pear, strawberry, raspberry, and clover. 

 One of these, in case of each fruit or each ex- 

 periment, was stirrounded by cheese-cloth just 

 before the blossoms opened, and kept covered 

 till the blo.-^soms fell off. The apple, pear, and 

 cherry, were covered May 4th. and uncovered 

 May 2r,th and May litth. The number of blos- 

 soms considered varied from 32, the smallest 

 number, to 300. the largest. The trees were ex- 

 amined June 11th. to see what number of the 

 fruit had ;-et. The per cent of blossoms which 

 developed on the covered trees was a little over 

 2. while almost 20 per cent of the uncovered 

 blossoms had developed. Of the pears, not one 

 of the covered developed, while 5 per cent of 

 the uncovered developed fruit. Of the cherries. 

 3 per cent only of the covered developed, while 

 40 per cent of the uncovered bhjssoms set their 

 fruit. The strawberries wei-e covered May ISth. 

 and itncovered June 16th. The number of blos- 

 soms in each experiment varied from (30 in the 

 least to 212 in the greatest. In these cases, a 

 box covered with cheese-cloth surrounded the 

 plants. The plants wei'e examined June 22d. 

 Eleven per cent of the covered blossoms, and 17 

 per cent of the uncovered had developed. To 

 show the details, in one case (30 blossoms were 

 considered, it of wliich in the covered lot. and 27 

 in the uncovered, had developed. That is. three 

 times as many floweis had set in the uncovered 

 as in the covered. In another case of 212 blos- 

 soms, the fruit numbered 80 and 104. In a case 

 of 123 blossoms, the number of fruit was 20 

 and 30. 



These experiments agree with similar ones of 

 former years, in seeming to show that straw- 

 berries are less affected than other fruit by the 

 exclusion of insect visits. The raspberry canes 

 were covered with cheese-cloth 5lay 30. and 

 uncovered July li. In every case but one the 

 canes seemed to have been injured by the cov- 

 ers, and so the results were not considered. In 

 the exceptional case. 1S4 blossoms were consid- 

 ered : 93 blossoms developed on the covered 

 canes, and 1(30 on the uncovered. In every case 

 -the fruit on the covered twigs was inferior. It 

 might be thought that the simple presence of 

 the covers was prejudicial: though this could 

 not be a very important matter, as blossoms 

 covered after the bees had freely visited them 

 set well, and showed no injury. Thus we see 

 that, in all our fruits — strawberries the least — 

 the free visits of insects during the period of 

 blooming is absolutely essential to a full or even 

 a fair crop. In many cases the covered blos- 

 soms all failed to develop. We also see that, 

 where fruitage does occur, there seems a lack, 

 as the fruit lacks vigor. The free and ample 

 cross-fei^iUzation^eems to be requisite, not on- 

 ly for a crop, but for a pei'fect development and 

 maximum vigor. 



Our experiments with clovers were tried with 

 both the white and alsike. While the uncover- 

 ed heads were full of seeds, the covered ones 

 were entirely seedless. This fully explains the 

 common experience of farmers with these plants. 



Having the law of the necessity of insects to 

 accomplish this function so well demonstrated, 

 it might be asked. "• Why do we have uny fruit 

 in case the blossoms are covered?" This seem- 

 ing exception may be no exception. Indeed, 

 this may come from the fact that all insects are 

 not excluded. Very small insects, like the 



thrips. and variuus of the jassid;e, which we 

 know ai-e often attracted to flowers, either by 

 the pollen or nectar, would be concealed about 

 the plants, and. from their small size, might 

 gain access, even after the covers were adjust- 

 ed. These would be sufficient to secure partial 

 fertilization, and very likely are the .cause of 

 the meager oop which, in a few cases, we se- 

 cured, even on the covered twigs. 



In case of strawberries, our experiments this 

 year, like some previously tried. .><eemed to show 

 that the presence of insects, though important 

 to a maximum jiroduction. are not so necessary 

 as in case of nearly all other fruit. But we 

 must remember that the strawberry-plants are 

 not wholly inclosed. A cloth-covered box rests 

 on the ground about the plant. This gives a 

 fine chance for insects that burrow in the earth, 

 and for insects that have pupated in like posi- 

 tion, to come up during the tliree or four weeks 

 of tlie experiment, and pollenize the blossoms. 

 This, though a possible, and (shall I say?) a 

 probably explanation, may not be the real one. 

 But we can still affirm, in case of the strawber- 

 ry, that the free visits of insects serve surely to 

 much enlarge the i)roduction of fruit. 



Thus we see that oni' horticulturists and farm- 

 ers alike, with the a ■ iarist. are dependent for 

 the best prosperity 0,1 the presence and well- 

 being of the bees. They should realize this 

 fact, and should demand that our legislators 

 not only become informed, but act accoi'dingly. 



Agricultural College, Mich. A. J. Cook. 



[We believe this paper to be the best, in point 

 of definite facts, and most comprehensive, of 

 any thing we have ever read. It is so valuable 

 that every reader of this journal should peruse 

 it carefully, that he may be able to talk intelli- 

 gently to his faiming and fruit-growing neigh- 

 bors who unfortunately, in many cases, regard 

 bees as a positive detriment to the proper ma- 

 turing of fruit. Almost every year we come 

 across farmers in the vicinity of our home apia- 

 ry and out-yards who persiat in saying that our 

 bees are responsible foi' their ti'ees not fruiting, 

 and so this sort of ignorance is gaining cuiren- 

 cy in many localities, much to the detriment of 

 the bee-keeper and the fi'u it grower. This ig- 

 norance, and perhaps prejudice, should be dis- 

 pelled by solid facts, such as Prof. Cook gives: 

 and we hope our agricultural exchanges, and 

 journals devoted to fruit-growing in particular, 

 will give this paper of Pi-of. Cook's a wide cir- 

 culation. We shall be glad. also, to send extra 

 samjile copies of this journal for bee-keepers to 

 distribute among their neighbors who need a 

 little "posting." That the good work may con- 

 tinue to go on. we have decided to make this 

 article over into a leaflet for general distribu- 

 tion. To cover bare cost and postage, these 

 leaflets will be sent to all who applv. for .5 cts. 

 for 25 : 10 cts. for 50 : 25 cts. for 200 :'(50 cts. for 

 .500. or SI .00 per 1000. postpaid. Now let bee- 

 keepers do a little missionary work for them- 

 selves and neighbors, and thus avoid, in some 

 cases, these unpleasant clashings between the 

 bees and the fi'uit.] E. R. 



THE NEW BEE-ESCAPES. 



DIBBERX S LATEST. 



The cut will give a general idea of the new 

 Dibbern bee-escape. and is the final restilt of a 

 long series of experiments. It has stood the 

 test of actual use on crowded hives in warm 

 weather, and under difficult conditions. 



This escape is entirely original with me — 

 there is not a principle or idea copied from any 

 other escape. I now claim this is the final 

 complete success of my theory, that no " force " 



