96 A Modern Bee-Farm 
Strange as it may appear to those who are inclined to 
grumble at the visits of the bees to their fields or gardens, 
it is a simple matter of fact that if the honey be not 
gathered it will only evaporate, and none is secreted 
after the flower begins to fade. 
Fruit growers often complain that the bees damage 
their fruit crops, and in autumn, when there is nothing 
else to be obtained, because they see a few bees among 
the wasps and flies, the former get all the blame; whereas 
they have never been known to break through the skin 
of sound ripe fruit, but simply collect the juices that may 
be present where birds, wasps or other insects have first 
made an inroad. 
Spraying Fruit Trees in Bloom. 
Fruit growers should be cautioned against spraying fruit 
trees when in full bloom with any poisonous substance. 
Not only is the process an unneighbourly and cruel act, 
causing the deaths of thousands of bees that visit his trees 
for his own certain benefit; but he is at the same time 
showing his own unwisdom and want of thought, inasmuch 
as the dressing at that period of development does more 
harm than good. 
So convinced is the Author of this fact that he avoids 
spraying at that season, and carries out other measures 
which largely do away with the necessity of spraying the 
trees in his orchard unless it may be in the winter. 
Permanent metal guards are placed round the stems of 
the trees, and while these may not absolutely prevent the 
female moth ascending it will be found that numerous 
earwigs collect under these cone-shaped guards, while 
ultimately spiders with their webs, and these are enemies 
of the moth. The cones also prevent other creatures from 
ascending the trees. 
