WHY KEEP BEES 9 



of southern Canada in districts where I 

 know there were no honey-bees within at 

 least fifty miles. Of course even in such 

 a case we could draw no definite conclu- 

 sions. The crop I mention may have fol- 

 lowed a favorable blooming season such 

 as we often have in our apple sections 

 and in such a season, as I have mentioned, 

 the value of the bees would be negligible. 



It has long been a matter of argument 

 as to whether or not bees injure ripe 

 fruit. I have no hesitancy in saying that 

 they do, though I know that my statement 

 will at once cause a lot of beekeepers to 

 rise with a roar of protest. No one is 

 more jealous of his position than is the 

 average beekeeper and no one more 

 eager to argue a question which implies 

 that he or his live stock may be in the 

 wrong. Though I am a beekeeper my- 

 self, I sometimes like to stir up the clan 

 just to hear 'em buzz. 



The statement has been made so often 

 by beekeepers that perfect fruit is never 



