HONEY-BEES IN HORTICULTURE 85 



as there were at that season few plants in flower from which they 

 could gather nectar, these bees had died of starvation, notwith- 

 standing the proximity of the ripe juicy fruit. The supply of food 

 which they were so urgently in need of was only separated from 

 them by the skin of the fruit, which, however, this evidence proves, 

 they could not puncture, as they did not do so." 



Alleged Injury to Pear Orchards by Blight. 



Some years ago, opinion among fruit growers that bees were 

 agents for transporting the spores of pear blight and thus the agent 

 of dissemination of this dread plant disease, became prevalent. 

 Various experiments were carried on in order to prove the assertion. 

 In 1901 considerable trouble arose in Kings County, California, 

 between the pear growers and beekeepers. The situation became 

 tense. Further investigations were made. Bees were temporarily 

 removed from pear orchards, but this precaution was found not to 

 prevent the spread of pear blight. It was therefore assumed that 

 there were sufficient bees, wild honey-bees and other insects, in- 

 cluding ants, which were going from tree to tree by thousands, 

 and hence were also agents in the transportation of pear blight. 

 These were conditions over which man had no control. Hence, 

 the honey-bees were allowed to be returned, it having been con- 

 cluded that these should render invaluable service in the cross- 

 pollination of the bloom. Recently investigations, notably those 

 of Dr. J. H. Merrill, have fortunately for the beekeeper's interest, 

 vindicated the honey-bee. In fact, it is improbable that the honey- 

 bee has any part in fire-blight dissemination. By inoculation 

 experiments and extended observation, aphids or plant lice which 

 infest fruit trees, are found to be an active means of transmission. 

 In conclusion of his latest observations. Dr. Merrill says,^ 



"1. The Wight developed only in the tender succulent growth 

 on the twigs. 



"2. By hatching from eggs laid in blight cankers, the aphids 

 come in contact with the fire-blight organism. 



' Dr. J. H. Merrill, 1917, "Further Data on the Relation Between Aphids and Fire Blight 

 (Bacillus amylovorus Bur. Trev.) Journal of Economic Entomology, Vol. 10, No. 1, pages 

 45-46. 



