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State Bee-Keepers' Association. 49 



"These experiments agree with similar ones of former years, in seeming 

 to show that strawberries are less affected than other fruit by the exclusion 

 ot insect visits. The raspberry canes were covered with cheese-cloth May 

 30 and uncovered July 6. In every case but one the canes seemed to have 

 been injured by the covers, and so the results were not considered. In the 

 exceptional case 184 blossoms were considered; 93 blossoms developed on 

 the covered canes, and 160 on the uncovered. In every case the fruit on the 

 covered twigs were inferior. It might be thought that the simple presence 

 of the covers was prejudicial; though this could not be a very important mat- 

 ter, as blossoms covered after the bees had freely visited them set well, and 

 showed no injury. Thus we see thai in all out fruits— strawberries the least 

 — the free visits of insects during the period of blooming is absolutely essen- 

 tial to a full or even a fair crop. In many cases the covered blossoms all failed 

 todevelope. We also see that where fruitage does occur, there seems a 

 lack, as the fruit lacks vigor. The free and ample cross fertilization seems 

 to be requisite, not only for a crop, but for a perfect development and max- 

 imum vigor. 



"Our experiments with clovers were tried with both the white and alsike. 

 While the uncovered heads were full of seeds, the covered ones were entirely 

 seedless. This fully explains the common experience of farmers with these 

 plants. 



"Having the law of the necessity of insects to accomplish this function 

 so well demonstrated, it might be asked: 'Why do we have any fruit in case 

 the blossoms are covered?' This seeming exception may be no exception. 

 Indeed this may come from the fact that a// insects are not excluded. Very 

 small insects, like the thrips, and various of the jassidae, which we know are 

 often attracted to flowers, either by the pollen or nectar, would be concealed 

 about the plants, and, from their small size, might gain access, even after the 

 covers were adjusted. These would be sufficient to secure partial fertiliza- 

 tion, and very likely are the cause of the meager crop, which, in a few cases, 

 we secured even on the covered twigs . 



"In case of strawberries, our experiments this year, like some previously 

 tried, seemed to show that the presence of insects, though important to a max- 

 imum production, are not so necessary as in case of nearly all other fruit. But 

 we must remember that the strawberry plants are not wholly inclosed. A cloth- 

 covered box rests on the ground about the plant. This gives a fine chance 

 for insects that burrow in the earth, and for insects that have pupated in like 

 position, to come up during the three or four weeks' of the experiment, and 

 pollenize the blossoms. This, though a possible, and (shall I say?) aprobabl** 

 explanation, may not be the real one. But we can still affirm, in case of the 

 strawberry, that the free visits of insects serve surely to much enlarge the 

 production of fruit. 



"Thus we see that our horticulturists and farmers alike, with the apiarist, 

 are dependent for the best prosperity on the presence and well-being of the 



