1872 TJie Western Pomologist and Gardener, 65 



admirable condition through spring and until new potatoes are ready for the table. It also 

 grows in a cluster in the hill, close around the stem, rendering digging very easy and 

 expeditious. Taking all its qualities into account, its enormous yield, fine quality, and 

 splendid late keeping, it must be regarded as a very valuable late variety, superior to any 

 other known ; and this is the universal testimony of all who have grown it. 



Bees aud Grapes. 



I notice, Mr. Editor, in a recent number of your paper, statements to the effect that a 

 portion of the citizens of Richmond, Ind., have the new and consequently astonishing dis- 

 covery, that honey bees will not only injure, but will actually destroy grapes. 



This report is not altogether new to me, having heard the matter whispered from other 

 sources ; yet I did not, previous to the matter finding its way into the papers of the 

 country, deem it worthy of notice or comment, in presence of what is looked upon as a 

 well established fact among many of our most extensive and scientific fruit growers. 

 Namely : that honey bees in visiting the dift'erent blossoms, carry from one to another the 

 pollen or fertilizing elements, so that thousands of blossoms that would, in the absence of 

 some artificial method of having this pollen conveyed to them, remain perfectly barren. 



It is also well known, that the jaws of the honey bee are not made to cut through the 

 rind of grape.s, apples, pears, plums or any other fruit enclosed in a firm rind or skin. 

 But they are simply made so as to enable them to press wax into shape when engaged in 

 constructing comb. 



One individual inquired of me if the honey bee didn't possess the ability to puncture 

 fruit with their proboscis ? In reply, I would here say that this organ is perfectly pliable, 

 and will not puncture anything in the shape of solid substance. 



In order to prove the utter inability of the bee to cut through any solid substance, let 

 any one put her jaws under the object - glass of a microscope, where it will at once be 

 seen that they are simply two small paddles coming together broadside, and not one sharp 

 edge against, or in close proximity with the other, as we witness in the wasp, the hornet 

 and the yellow -jacket. These latter insects can and do wound fruits ; and the hone}' bee 

 follows them up aud sucks the juice. But we have no account of their ever having been 

 numerous enough to wound all the grapes in such a village as Richmond ; consequently 

 there must be a disease of some description or other which has caused the grapes around 

 Richmond to crack open. I would call the attention of the citizens of Richmond, to the 

 foregoing facts, and in that connection let them search for some disease among their 

 grapes. I would also refer them to other cities, among which I will name Cincinnati, in 

 which I know of one person who keeps fifty colonies within the limits of the city — many 

 others have a less number — still we hear nothing of their destroying grapes. I woould, 

 therefore, advise the inhabitants of Richmond to search for a just cause of complaint 

 before they attempt to expel the bees from their village. Besides, it may prove, too, an 

 expensive experiment, if the bee keepers see proper to look after the matter. I feel con- 

 fident that the legal tribunals of the State of Indiana will not sustain any such proceed- 

 ings. I have known this same move to be made in another State, and by the time the 

 matter was wound up, the prosecutors were very well satisfied to let the bees alone, if the 

 defense would not push them for hard swearing, as it was proved beyond a doubt that bees 

 could not puncture a grape. An attempt was then made to expel them on account of their 

 getting into their sugar bowls and preserve dishes, in which cases they were advised to go 

 home and instruct their women to keep all such vessels closed up and bees would not 

 trouble them, and besides, it would learn them to be tidy house - keepers. As to grocery- 

 men, they were instructed not to let syrups collect in puddles under and around their 

 molasaes barrels and to keep their sugars covered up, and further trouble would cease. 

 — Cor. Anderson Herald. 



Raspberries. — Any one who has a garden without this fruit, should not let another 

 season without planting of them. They are not only very nice fresh, but preserved by 

 canning in sugar, or dried, are among the most excellent fruit there is for winter use. 



