Bee-keeping in Victoria. 



123 



The bee is guided to the blossom by the sense of smell. When the 

 air current is from the hive to the tree the blossom may not be visited, 

 even though comparatively near, unless the weather is favorable enough 

 for the bee to undertake a circular reconnoitring flight, during which the 

 scent of blossoms is picked up and followed to its source. Whatever 

 may be the guiding sense in the case of other insects, I am convinced 

 that, with the bee, it is that of smell. I have never succeeded in in- 

 ducing bees to come near artificial flowers which easily deceived the 

 human eye, but can always rely on them finding a drop of honey placed 

 somewliere out of sight. 



When bees are kept in or near the orchard the ordinary cleaning 

 flights which bees undertake in spring, whenever atmospheric conditions 

 permit, will bring the blossom within range, but when located half-a-mile 

 away bees cannot be counted on as fertilizers during unfavorable weather. 



Fig. 1. — Bees in the Orchard. 



As regards location of the hives, I think that they are best placed in 

 a sheltered position where they are shaded in summer, but have the full 

 benefit of the sunshine in winter and spring. This is more easily 

 accomplished by putting them under trees which shed their leaves. 



Observations made in the United States in recent years showed that 

 the nearer the bees were to the trees the better was the crop of fruit. 



There are as yet no data available as to the number of hives required 

 to fertilize the blossoms of a given number of trees under various weather 

 conditions. Naturally a smaller number is sufficient during fine 

 weather. It is certain that the more bees are kept the better the 

 results. There is, however, a limitation to the number of colonies a 

 fruit-grower can keep permanently in his orchard, as the amount of 

 bee food within the range of the bees' flight during the remainder of 

 the year must be sufficient to maintain them, and to provide winter 

 stores. 



