HONEY-BEES IN HORTICULTURE 73 



It will suffice to say that pollination is a recognized necessity; 

 that among our economic plants the transferring agents of pollen 

 are insects, and chief among these usually are honey-bees; that few, 

 if any, of our important vine, bush or tree fruits, are wind polli- 

 nated ; that cross-pollination is accepted as the rule rather than the 

 exception; that cross-pollination results in better size, shape, 

 quality (keeping and eating), color, firmness, flavor, texture and 

 the like, as well as frequently in better production and prolificness. 



It should be borne in mind, however, that the fruiting of the 

 tree, as for instance, the apple tree, depends not only upon the 

 insect pollination, but also on its cultural care. For instance, 

 a crop of fruit will depend upon the vitality of the tree. In a year 

 following a heavy crop, the pollen borne in the blossoms is less virile 

 according to the statement made to the writer by Prof. J. W. 

 Crow, of the Ontario Agricultural College. The same is true of 

 diseased trees. "Microscopically," Professor Crow says, "the 

 pollen can be detected as weak." 



During this conversation Professor Crow alluded to other factors 

 in pollination. "The best conditions," he says, "for the pollina- 

 tion of fruit trees, is just succeeding a shower." This has been 

 determined experimentally. Moreover, the pollen supply is 

 directly proportional to the set of fruit. 



The act of pollination by honey-bees is usually in response to 

 an effort to secure nectar or pollen for food. Hence the close 

 relation of fruit and vegetable growing with beekeeping. Were it 

 not for the flowers there would be no bees ^; safely, too, it is 

 assured without the bees there would be a shortage of fruits. 



The Need of Honey-bees in the Setting of Crops. 



It is recorded that in a Massachusetts town, some years ago, 

 bees were banished by law, and as a result there was little fruit in 



1 It has been determined by evolutionary thinkers that flowers owe their form and color 

 to insects, which have been the selective agency in blossom shape, and markings. Had 

 there been no bees and similar insects, there would be no elaborate and many hued flowers; 

 had there been no flowers, there would be no bees and similar insects, as we know them. 

 There has been this dual biogenic interdependency for centuries, eras and ages, which today 

 precludes separability of many plants and their insect pollinators. 



