It was the object of this experiment to determine definitely whether 

 bees absorbed poison into their systems in this manner, and if so, whether 

 such doses were sufficiently large to be fatal. 



The work was carried on in cooperation with the Department of 

 Horticulture of Purdue University, and the analysis and feeding phase 

 of the work was generally supervised by Mr. H. A. Noyes, Research 

 Chemist, then of that department. 



FIELD OPERATIONS 



Apple trees were caged with screen and cheese-cloth (See Fig. i). 

 When the trees were in full bloom lime-sulphur testing one degree Baume 



Fig. 1. Tree surrounded by a cage having window screen on the top and sides and 

 cheese-cloth on the bottom. A colony of bees is shown near the trunk of the tree. 



and one pound powdered arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of water was 

 applied. Bee colonies were then moved into the cages and observations 

 made on them. Also trees in full bloom in the open were sprayed, while 

 others were left unsprayed. Observations were made on both. Dead 

 bees were gathered from the cages, counted, and analyzed for arsenic. 



LABORATORY WORK 



These experiments naturally divided themselves into three divisions : 

 (i) the ascertaining of the amount of soluble arsenic it took to kill a bee; 

 (2) whether a bee working upon a mixture of insoluble arsenic and syrup 

 would take up the arsenic particles: and (3) whether bees that were found 

 dead near the experimental trees contained arsenic internally that ac- 

 counted for their death. 



