24 



BULLBTIN 54. 



lected and taken to Dr. W. P. Headden, Station Chemist, for analysis. 

 In the table below the first analysis is that of corn pollen made by 

 Dr. Headden, and the analyses of the other materials are compiled : 



It will be noticed that, while the nitrogpnous material (protein) 

 IS high in the pollen, it is hot very high in some of the flours best 

 liked by the bees, as tor example, corn and oats. Cotton-seed meal 

 runs very high in protein and was not specially liked. 



So there are, doubtless, other reasons than the amount of nitro- 

 genous food material, that influence the bees to take substitutes for 

 pollen. It is probable that the aroma and mechanical qualities 

 may have much to do in determining their choice. There is noth- . 

 ing very definite in the above order of choice of the different foods 

 used. The order will often vary on consecutive days, or even on 

 consecutive hours. 



It is by no means certain that the flour the bees like best is 

 best tor them, for this manner of supplying them nitrogenous food is 

 entirely artificial. The best substitute for pollen is that food which 

 the bees will take, and upon which they do best, and it seems 

 probable that it will have a chemical composition approximating 

 that of natural pollen. 



