Bee-leeping in Victoria. 121 



the stand-pipe, so that the cone of the tap is in a horizontal position, and, 

 therefore, lowering the lever will open the tap, and raising close it. No 

 dimensions for rod and lever can be given, as these depend upon the height 

 of the tap above the raft, its distance from the centre of it, and the size 

 and passageway of the tap itself. The mea.surements and the angle of 

 bend in the tap lever can, however, be easily ascertained. The tap should 

 be completely shut when the raft is within an inch of the top of the 

 trough, but should begin to run as soon as the raft sinks and draws down 

 the lever, when the water level is reduced by the bees drinking. 



The accompanying illustration will give a general idea of the arrange- 

 ment. The troughs shown are of the dimen.sions stated, and give drinking 

 accommodation for 150 colonies. When the season is very hot and dr\° 

 and the colonies strong, a third trough is added by means of a hose con- 

 nexion, as stated before. The roof of the honey house, with a ground 

 measurement of 21 feet by 18, collects with a rainfall of 20 inches suffi- 

 cient water for the bees and the ordinary requirement of extracting, &c. 



There are many well-timbered areas in Northern Victoria where bee- 

 keeping could be carried on successfully, but which remain vacant owing 

 to the absence of a water supply for the bees. Every beekeeper requires 

 a dwelling and a building for the requirements of his business ; if these are 

 constructed in time to get a supply of water for the following season, and 

 if the roof area is sufficient to give the required quantity with the rainfall 

 of the locality selected, there is nothing to prevent some of the waterl&ss, 

 but for beekeeping, otherwise excellent country, being utilized. 



XXV. — Bees and the Fertilization of Flowers. 



To the apiarist who follows bee-keeping for his living, as well as to 

 the amateur who pursues it as a hobby, the better recognition, in recent 

 years, of the bee as an important factor in fruit-growing and seed 

 raising is very gratifying ; because as fruit-growers and gardeners 

 become bee-keepers to the extent necessary to success in their occupa- 

 tions, they acquire a knowledge of the habits of the bee, from personal 

 observations, which will do much to remove the last of an antagonism 

 which at one time was very pronounced. 



Without going into the subject of bees and ripe fruit, I wish to 

 state emphatically that bees do not injur© sound fruit, but will, under 

 the stress of a dearth of nectar, collect the juices of fruit damaged by 

 rain, birds, and insects other than bees. This fact has been proved 

 by numerous experiments in all countries, and by the experience of 

 fruit-growing bee-keepers, and the opinion still held by a few that 

 bees do attack sound fruit is based on superficial observation, the cracks 

 or fine punctures of the skin of fruit escaping notice. 



Relation of the Bee to Pollination of Blossoms. 



There can be no doubt that insects play a most important part in 

 the life of plants and flowers. Moths and wasps, bees, and many other 

 insects, all assist in carrying the pollen from flower to flower ; but of 

 all insects for this purpose the bee is assuredly the most useful. The 

 first object the bee has in visiting a blossom is to collect either nectar 

 or pollen. The nectar is always lower in the flower than the pistil or 



