'Bluebejrd^s zMethoch 



Wood, the noted botanist. He had received by 

 mail from California a small box containing* a hun- 

 dred or more dead bees, accompanied by a letter. 

 The writer, an old bee-keeper, had experience, and 

 desired enlightenment and advice. The letter stated 

 that his bees were "dying by thousands from the 

 attacks of a peculiar fungus." The ground around 

 the hive was littered with the victims in all stages 

 of helplessness, and the dead insects were found 

 everywhere at greater distances scattered around his 

 premises. 



It needed only a casual glance at the encumbered 

 insects to see the nature of the malady. They were 

 laden two or three layers deep, as it were, with the 

 pollen masses of the milkweed. The botanist wrote 

 immediately to his anxious correspondent, inform- 

 ing him, and suggesting as a remedy the discovery 

 and destruction of the mischievous plants, which 

 must be thriving somewhere in his neighborhood. 

 A subsequent letter conveyed the thanks of the bee- 

 keeper, stating that the milkweeds — a whole field 

 of them — had been found and destroyed, and the 

 trouble had immediately ceased. 



I am not aware that Mr. Wood ever ascer- 

 tained the particular species of milkweed in this 



case. It is not probable that our Eastern species 



107 



