68 



and by practical fruit-growers, all of which went to prove the value of the 

 hive-bee in the production of fruit, and the loss caused by its absence. One 

 or two instances will suffice. Mr. C. A. Green, writing to the Fruit-grower, 

 published in Rochester, Now York, said, — 



It has now become demonstrated that many kinds of fruits, if not all 

 kinds, are greatly benefited by bees, and that a large portion of our fruit — 

 such as the apple, pear, and particularly the plum — would he barren were 

 it not for the helpful work of the honey-bee. Professor Waite, of the Agri- 

 cultural Department, Washington, covered the blossoms of pears, apples, 

 and plums with netting, excluding the bees, and found that such protected 

 blossoms of many varieties yielded no fruit. In some varieties there was 

 no exception to this rule, and he was convinced that large orchards of Bart- 

 lett (Williams's Bon Chretien) pears, planted distant from other varieties, 

 would be utterly barren were it not for the work of the bees, and even then 

 they could not be profitably grown imless every third or fourth row was 

 planted to Clapp's Favourite, or some other variety capable of fertilising 

 the blossoms of the Bartlett. In other words, he found that the Bartlett 

 pear could no more fertilise its own blossoms than can the Crescent Straw-' 

 berry. 



And, again, Professor Waite, when speaking of insect-visits to pear- 

 flowers, says, — 



The common honey-bee is the most regular, important, and abundant 

 visitor, and probably does more good than any other species ; 



And sums up as follows :— 



Plant mixed orchards, or, at least, avoid soUd blocks of one variety. 

 Be SLtrr there are sufficient bees in the neighbourhood to visit the blossoms 

 properly. When feasible, endeavour to favour insect-visits by selecting 

 sheltered situations, or by planting windbreaks. 



The editor of the Rural New-Yorker says, — 



In those great greenhouses near Boston, where early cucumbers are grown, 

 it is always necessary to have one or two hives of bees inside to fertilise 

 the flowers. No bees, no cucumbers ! unless men go around with a brush 

 and dust the pollen from one flower to another. 



Much more evidence as to the value of bees as fertilising agents could be 

 quoted, but the foregoing should be sufiicient. 



SHELTER. 

 Well-sheltered orchards with the bees close at hand would receive the 

 most benefit, especially in boisterous weather. The bees could then utilise 

 every hour of sunshine in visiting the blossoms that would be impossible 

 in exposed situations or where the bees had far to fly. 



SPRAYING FRUIT-TREES WHILE IN BLOSSOM. 

 I do not know that it is necessary to say much on this subject, as I dare 

 say our orchardists are well aware that spraying trees with the usual poison- 



