976 



Action of Bees in Pollination. [march, 



of bees as agents for pollen distribution. It was noticed that 

 the trees and bushes on this plot very rarely carried satis- 

 factory crops of fruit, and it was thought that this might be 

 attributed to an insufficient supply of bees. The nearest 

 hives were about half a mile to the east, and as the prevailing 

 winds were from the west it seemed likely that the bees when 

 leaving their hives would fly east for shelter. Mr. Avery, 

 expert to the Cumberland Beekeepers' Association, assisted 

 in the experiment, and placed in the orchard two hives of 

 Italian bees, this variety being chosen to enable them to be 

 distinguished from local bees when at work amongst the 

 flowers. During the flowering period of the early varieties, 

 the weather was unfavourable, but during occasional gleams 

 of sunshine the bees were very busy. The later varieties were 

 favoured with better weather. Mr. Avery kept them under 

 observation and found that the percentage of bees other than 

 Italian which visited the trees was very small, and on some 

 occasions hundreds of these bees were at work when not an- 

 other variety of insect could be seen. 



Bushes of red and black currants and gooseberry, and 

 branches of apples, pears and plums (one of each), were 

 covered with muslin. On some of the bushes a few odd fruits 

 developed, while on the branches of the large fruits not a 

 specimen matured. The crops carried by the remainder of 

 the trees and bushes were excellent, and there was not a single 

 variety of either apples, pears or plums which did not bear 

 fruit. It is inferred from this that the bees which previously 

 visited the plot were insufficient in numbers. 



Other insects besides bees may possibly play a part in the 

 distribution of pollen, but it may be observed that compara- 

 tively few are on the wing at the time of the flowering of 

 fruit trees. The whole of the colonies of wild bees, with the 

 exception of the females, die off during winter months, while 

 the females lie dormant until spring. The honey bees on the 

 other hand, retain their full strength, and being well pro- 

 tected in the hives from inclement weather, they are ready on 

 the first gleam of sunshine to sally forth in quest of honey, 

 and in this way they distribute pollen. 



In favourable seasons the wind undoubtedly is responsible 

 for the distribution of a large quantity of pollen, but when 



