82 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



it seemed to us the easier way. Possibly 

 others might think differently. At any rate, 

 we should be glad to have reports from any 

 who may try both ways. 



A COURSE IN APICULTURE AT THE IOWA STATE 

 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



In keeping with many of the other pro- 

 gressive States, Iowa is to have this spring, 

 a course in beekeeping in connection with 

 the State Agricultural College at Ames. 

 This course is to be an eminently practical 

 one, and the students are to be given daily 

 lectures upon different phases of beekeep- 

 ing, no text-book being used. In this the 

 plan will be similar to the one carried on 

 at some of the other institutions where bee- 

 keeping is taught. Briefly, the course will 

 consist of one lecture and one laboratory 

 period of three hours per week for half a 

 year. Among other things will be taken up 

 a study of the anatomy, physiology, devel- 

 opment, and habits of the bee, including 

 practice in general apiary methods, the 

 handling of bees and their products, the 

 races of bees, diseases, etc. 



COVER PICTURE. 



The view shown on the cover gives a 

 glimpse of some beautiful apples hanging 

 in the trees just before picking time. No 

 amount of careful blending of printer's ink 

 can bring out the rich coloring, and we are 

 glad that we made no attempt to imitate 

 the natural tints. This picture, and the 

 ones on pages 95 and 96 were taken last 

 fall in the fifty-acre orchard of Van Rens- 

 selaer & Southam (see article by Mr. Van 

 Rensselaer on page 94). Very close to tins 

 orchard is situated our Stone Hill yard, a 

 part of which is shown on the cover of our 

 July 15th issue. The spraying outfit used 

 was also shown on the cover of our June 

 15th issue. Messrs. Van Rensselaer & 

 Southam are enthusiastic over the value of 

 the bees as pollinators, and they want even 

 more bees, if possible, next season. 



Is it at all strange that the most progres- 

 sive and successful fruit-men do not need 

 to be told of the value of bees as pollinators, 

 nor of the bad etJect on the fruit itself of 

 spraying in full bloom? 



BEES AND GRAPES. 



During September and October we usu- 

 ally hear of one or more instances of trouble 

 arising between beekeepers and grape-grow- 

 ers because of the supposed injury that the 

 bees do to the grapes in biting or stinging- 

 holes through the skins of the grapes and 

 sucking the juice. Of course, it has been 



shown many times that bees can not do this; 

 that birds are the real culjjrits, after all, 

 and that the bees merely suck the juice from 

 the fruit that has burst because of being 

 overripe, or that has been punctured by 

 birds, and is, therefoi'e, unmarketable. To 

 get the grape-grower to believe this when he 

 sees the bees with his own eyes working on 

 the juice of the grape, is rather difficult. 



There is some difference of oj^inion as to 

 whether bees pollenize the blossoms of 

 grapevines. Our Mr. Marchant says he has 

 seen bees working on the blossoms in the 

 South, and he believes that bees do cross- 

 pollenize grapevines. 



In our own apiary we have very large 

 crops of grapes on the vines growing at 

 each stand; but we confess that we ourselves 

 have no absolute proof to otfer one way or 

 the other. We should be glad to hear from 

 any of our readers who have such proof' 

 for if it can be shown that the bees pollenize 

 Ihe blossoms of the grapes as they do of so 

 many other fruits, tlus fact will go a long 

 way toward overcoming the prejudice 

 against the bees that exists in the minds of 

 some of the gi'ape-growers. 



MISBRANDING AND ADULTERATION OF SPRAY- 

 ING MIXTURES. 



In this special number on bees and fz'uit 

 it may be pertinent to call attention to the 

 fact that fruit-growers, besides having to be 

 extremely careful as to the time for spray- 

 ing, must also pay strict attention to the 

 quality of the solution which they use for 

 spraying. In these days of adulteration it 

 is a favorite practice on the part of many 

 sensational writers seeking for a little more 

 notoriety to call every thing adulterated, 

 even comb honey, as our readers know. 

 However, tlie United States Department of 

 Agriculture in a recent statement for the 

 press has called attention to certain cases of 

 adulteration and misbranding that the fruit- 

 growers among our readers would do well 

 to notice. Because of our lack of space we 

 are unable to use the whole statement in 

 question. The following is the introduction : 



GOVKRNMENT WINS INSECTICIDE AND FUNGICIDE 



CASES. 



Washington, D. C— The Government has recent- 

 ly secured judgments against a number of concerns 

 for violations of the Insecticide Act. These involve 

 the misbranding or adulteration of insect-powders, 

 moth-balls, roach-exterminators, and various other 

 insecticides and fungicides shipped in interstate com- 

 merce. Following is a resume of each case: 



We can not use the resume of each case, 

 nor is it necessary here to mention all of the 

 cases listed. The following, however, being 

 instances of adulteration or misbranding of 

 preparations used for spraying will be of 

 interest : 



