17 



SPRAYING AND DUSTING FRUIT TREES 



Beekeepers in many sections of the state have suffered a con- 

 siderable loss of bees due to the spraying of fruit trees with 

 poisonous arseuicals while in blossom, or to the careless broadcast- 

 ing of poisonous dusts. Because of these conditions many bee- 

 keepers are removing their bees from the vicinity of orchards. 

 This has resulted in heavy losses to the fruit growers due to the 

 lack of bees for proper poUinization of the blossoms. The fruit 

 growers are waking up to this situation and are using more care 

 in the application of poisonous sprays and dusts. In many eases 

 thej- are paying the beekeepers to move their bees back to the 

 orchards. 



The beekeepers can help to improve conditions by calling the 

 attention of fruit growers to the necessity of bees for poUinization 

 purposes and to the danger of destroying bees and other pollinat- 

 ing insects by the careless use of poisonous sprays and dusts. 

 Poisonous dusts, if applied when there is a wind, may drift for 

 considerable distances and fall upon the flowers in neighboring 

 fields. The bees collecting pollen and nectar from these flowers 

 are themselves killed as well as the brood to which the poisonous 

 material is fed. 



Not only is it unnecessary to spray trees with arsenicals while 

 in blossom, but it may even be injurious to the tender blossoms 

 and prevent the setting of fruit. 



The following is a copy of the law of New York State relating 

 to spraying fruit trees when in blossom: 



PENAL LAW 



§ 1757. Spraying fruit trees with poison. Any person who will 

 spray with, or apply in any way poison or any poisonous sub- 

 stance, to fruit trees while the same are in blossom, is guilty of a 

 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than ten doUars 

 ($10) or more than fifty dollars ($50) for each offense. 



RULES AND REGULATIONS IN RELATION TO WEIGHTS 

 AND MEASURES 



The following rules and regulations heretofore adopted by the 

 Department of Agriculture and Markets are in full force and 

 effect : 



(1) General regulations. 



(a) Variations in all commodities unless otherwise stated in the 

 regulations shall be as often above as below. 



(b) All markings on containers must be on the top or side and 

 must not be covered or obscured in any way. 



(c) |In cases of food, if the quantity of contents be stated by 

 weight or measure, it shall be marked in terms of the largest unit 

 contained in the package; for example, if the package contains a 

 pound or pounds and a fraction of a pound, the contents shall be 



