82 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 1. 



nation in increasing the size of fruits is an ex- 

 ceedingly interesting fact. 



Prof. Munson, of the Maine Experiment 

 Station, has found that the size of tomatoes 

 may be quite dependent on the amount of pol- 

 len they receive while in bloom. One receiv- 

 ing a large amount may be four times as large 

 as one receiving only a small quantity. We 

 have, doubtless, all observed that a pea-pod 

 that has set only one or two peas is greatly 

 dwarfed in size. What the pod is to the pea, 

 the skin and pulp are to the apple seeds. 

 Facts prove, beyond the shadow of a doubt, 

 that the cross-pollination of apples does affect 

 not only the seed but the fruit also. 



Prof. Waite gave considerable attention to 

 the quince, but did not find so great a differ- 

 ence, and the fruits were as perfect and as 

 abundent where self-fertilized as when crossed. 



This is not as we should have expected, but 

 ■we should be satisfied with the truth. 



Prof. F. A. Waugh, of the Vermont Agri- 

 cultural College, has been at work along this 

 same line in a careful study of the numerous 

 varieties of native and Japanese plums, and 

 has found them, almost without exception, 

 self-sterile here in the North. 



In concluding his paper Mr. Waite says, 

 " The number of insect visitors in any orchard 

 determines to a great extent the amount of 

 cross-pollination carried on. The pollen of 

 the pear and apple is not produced in sufficient 

 quantity, noris it of the right consistency, to 

 be carried by the wind ; and the pollination 

 of these trees is, therefore, dependent on the 

 activity of insects. . . . If there is no api- 

 ary in the neighborhood, therefore, each large 

 orchardist should keep a number of hives of 

 bees. Honey-bees and other members of the 

 bee-family are the best workers in cross-pol- 

 lination." 



His advice to fruit-growers is to plant not 

 more than three or four rows of any one va- 

 j-iety together, unless the variety is known to 

 be perfectly self fertile, and be sure there are 

 enough bees in the neighborhood, or within 

 two or three miles, to visit properly the blos- 

 soms, and, when possible, to favor the bees by 

 planting in a sheltered situation, or by plant- 

 ing windbreaks. 



I must confess a keen enjoyment in again 

 taking up the study of this subject under the 

 light that recent scientific investigation by 

 careful, painstaking, and unprejudiced observ- 

 ers' has thrown upon it. We can now see why 

 there was such a variety of opinion on this 

 subject in the symposium referred to. We 

 find that, while some varieties of both apples 

 and pears are, under favorable conditions, ca- 

 pable of self-fertilization, yet a majority of 

 the various varieties of apples and pears are 

 either wholly dependent on insect visits, or 

 greatly benefited by them, in setting and ma- 

 turing their fruits. 



Should any wish to study this subject fur- 

 ther, I would refer them to a paper by M. B. 

 Waite, Assistant Pathologist, Division of Veg- 

 etable Physiology and Pathology, in the Year- 

 book of the Department of Agriculture for 

 1898, which I wish might be placed in the 

 hands of every fruit-grower of the land. 



Prof. L. R. Jones, of the Vermont Agricul- 

 tural College, informs me that Mr. Waite is 

 quite conservative, and does not overestimate 

 the value of bees in this connection. 

 Middlebury, Vt. 



HARRINGTON'S MULBERRY APIARY. 



Mulberry-trees for Windbreaks ; a Pneumatic 

 Wheelbarrow for Carrying Bees. 



BY M. W. HARRINGTON. 



I send a picture of my . 100-colony apiary. 

 As you can see, I keep my bees in straight 

 rows, as I use a spring cart to carry the combs 

 to the extractors in the honey-house. I also 

 have 4X 16-feet adjustable shades, or roofs (on 

 post), over my bees. I have a double row of 

 Russian mulberry-trees five feet back of the 

 north row of bees, for a windbreak and shade, 

 which gives me and family a lot of fruit as 

 well as the birds. Tiie birds take the mulber- 

 ries in preference to the other and more valua- 

 ble fruit. 



By the way, the mulberry-tree makes the 

 quickest and cheapest windbreak of any tree I 

 know of. 



In the picture your humble servant is look- 

 ing over a comb of bees, resting it on the comb 

 and tool carrying rack, with my observation 

 hive just back of it, and a red cedar in the fore- 

 ground. 



I use a pneumatic and spring wheelbarrow 

 to pick up (in row) and carry my bees clear in- 

 to the repository in the cellar, so that the bees 

 scarcely know that they are being handled at 

 all, besides the perfect ease of carrying them. 

 I have cellar space for only about 50 colonies 

 or hives. 



Williamsburg, Iowa. 



[Pneumatic wheelbarrow — that is something 

 new. I wish you liad also sent us a photo and 

 a description of it. It is not too late yet. 

 Send us a picture that we may show it to our 

 readers. Your apiary looks very inviting. It 

 must be a pleasant place to work in. — Ed.] 



THE DIVISION-BOARD FEEDER. 



Suggestions Concerning it; the Difference between 

 Good Wax and Poor Wax; How to Refine Wax. 



BY E. H. SCHAEFFI^E. 



In a recent number of Gleanings a feeder 

 was illustrated for inside feeding. The idea is 

 a good one, but I think it will be found a nui- 

 sance in this, that it will hold but a limited 

 amount of honey unless it is given the space 

 of two frames ; and when you come to refill, 

 it will be full of bees that will have to be driv- 

 en out or drowned in the honey. Allow me to 

 suggest that it be made of tin. Along the bot- 

 tom on each side have a string of small holes, 

 and outside of these a flange extending above 

 and % inch out from the feeder. On the bot- 

 tom have a screw cap. 



To fill the feeder, turn it upside down, fill 

 through the screw cap, screw it down tight, 



