88 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Apparently, however, after the first day, there was an increased 

 number of bees in the sprayed portion of the tree, and a decrease 

 in numbers in the unsprayed portion, which suggests the loss of 

 repellent powers in the sprayed portion and a decrease in the 

 general activity of the bees working linden ; hence the observations 

 may be questioned. On the third or fourth day, scarcely a bee 

 could be seen in any part of the tree. Thus with limited trials, 

 no definite conclusions could be reached. 



A report of Forest Commissioner Wm. W. Colton, of Newton, 

 along these lines, is that a material similar to sulpho-naphthol, 

 "Milkol" may serve as a repellent. His observation is the result 

 of having used "Milkol" in municipal spraying, during the season 

 of 1916.^ 



Summary. 



Bees and beekeeping are inestimably important to the horti- 

 culturist. He may fertilize and cultivate the soil, prune, thin, and 

 spray his trees, in a word, he may do ajl those things which modern 

 practice advocates, yet without his pollinating agents, chief among 

 which are the honey-bees, to transfer the pollen from the stamen 

 to the pistil of the bloom, his crops may fail. Honey-bees in an 

 orchard are an item of assurance or insurance and protection. 

 Usually the expenditure is so slight that it does not warrant com- 

 parison with the possible and probable returns. 



