72 First Annual Report 



"The union made such a stir in the matter, showing fighting enthusiasm 

 among bee-keepers, that there would have been a lively time had there been 

 a trial on the merits of the case. 



"The Judge made a thorough examination of the laws of the State, and 

 concluded that there existed no laws or rulings upon which he could instruct 

 the jury, and thus ended the case. 



"This ignorance was a God-send to apiculture. It brought out such an 

 array of testimony as to the great advantage that bees were to the clover 

 fields, that now it is difficult to find many so ignorant as to claim that bees 

 are anything but a blessing to fields and flowers, to plants, trees and bushes. 

 They make it possible to produce large crops of clover seed, and fill the 

 land with richest fruit. Many fruit growers now even keep bees, not for the 

 production of honey or wax, but for the especial purpose of fertilizing the 

 early blossoms, thereby increasing the fruit crop. 



"Nature hangs out the beautiful and variegated colors, in order to call 

 the attention of the insects. Dainty repasts are provided in the little foun- 

 tains, distilled and welled up, drop by drop; and the aroma invites the bees 

 and other insects to 'come to the feast!' Why all this design in Nature? 

 She wants their fertilizing aid. The flowers need the visits of the insects to 

 cany the pollen masses from blossom to blossom, in order to fructify them, 

 and cause the fruit to form, abide and ripen— to gladden the hearts of fruit 

 growers and fill their pockets with shekels. 



"The horticulturist may dig, graft and bud, buc what will the returns be 

 without the labors of the bee? The Creator has provided no other means 

 for the fertilization of flowers but the visits of insects, and there are no other 

 msects at that time of the year to flit from flower to flower. The body of 

 the honey bee is wisely adopted to this purpose, being covered with fine 

 hairs, invisible to the naked eye, which brush off" and carry the fertilizing 

 powder to the germ that requires it. The fruit sets better even when the 

 tree has perfect flowers, containing both pistils and stamens, if pollen from 

 another flower, or better still, from another tree, is brushed upon its germs. 

 Who has not observed that a long-continued rainstorm, occuring during 

 fruit bloom, and preventing these little messengers from their rounds, is 

 followed by a failure of fruit ? 



"The bee-keepers and horticulturists should, therefore, always be fast 

 friends— their interests are linked together in a way which should make them 

 'brothers, all !' The prosperity of the one aids in the advancement of the 

 other. 



"The National Bee-Keepers' Union has defended the rights ol bee- 

 keepers in many States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, when they were 

 attacked through the courts, and with one exception has been victorious. 



"The most notable case was in Arkansas, where it carried the case 

 through the Circuit Court up to the Supreme Court of that State, and won a 

 magnificent victory. 



