39 



Danger to Btts From Spraying 



There is so little spraying done at the present time, while 

 fruit trees are in bloom, that it may not be necessary to sound 

 a warning against this practice. 



I would hesitate to spray fruit trees while in bloom for fear 

 of injury to the tender functional organs of the blossom even 

 if there was no danger to the bees. 



Nearly all fruit-growers of today appreciate the value of 

 bees in orchards and the important part they play ^n the better 

 pollination of the blossoms and, consequently, increased quan- 

 tity and quality of fruit. Spraying just before the blossoms 

 open and after the petals have fallen serves every purpose 

 without danger of killing the bees or injuring them. Where 

 it becomes necessary to use a sweetened spray, every precaution 

 should be taken to guard against killing the bees. 



They might be kept from poison spray by feeding a syrup 

 made of one part sugar to two parts water, or honey would be 

 even better, f f fed in the open, one of sugar or honey to three 

 of water might serve the purpose. It would be better fed in 

 the open only for the liability of feeding other bees but I would 

 feed in. an opposite direction from where the poison is being 

 used. It would help if bees were at work on prepared feed 

 before poison spray was applied. 



Value op Hone^y as a Food 



Few people know or appreciate the value of honey as a food 

 for ihuman use. Few physicians have given the matter any 

 thought, and have little knowledge as to its real value in the 

 sick room. I have never talked with a physician who has 

 learned of its value who is not a warm advocate of its merit. 



Honey is regarded by far too many people as a luxury. I 

 would estimate that not over five per cent of t)he homes in this 

 State use honey as a reg'ular article of diet as they do sugar, 

 butter, eggs or fruit. All of these are necessary articles of 

 diet. Not enough uncooked fruit is used, but could honey 

 replace much of the cane and beet sugar used, it would be far 

 better for the health of those who consume it. 



