246 



JOURNAFi OF THR ROYAL HORTICTtr.TURArj SOCIETY. 



The natural ibalancc of pollinizing insects for flowers is upset in 

 two ways : — 



(1) In towns and suburbs, buildings, close cultivation, and the 

 grubbing up of hedge banks (in which bumble bees live), all lessen the 

 number of insects. Hive bees are specially to be recommended. Mr. 

 W. F. Eeid tells us that it is not smoke that prevents fruit-setting in 

 towns, but the absence of pollinizing insects. 



(2) In large fruit-growing districts, especially if the land is closely 

 cultivated, the proportion of bumble and other wild bees is out-balanced 

 by the amount of work they have to do, and hive bees should be kept. 

 A recent Australian Government Agricultural Journal recommends 

 one colony of bees to each two acres of fruit, or on a 140-acre farm 

 70 hives in groups of 10 or 15 hives in a spot placed at advantageous 

 points. Spr,aying and cultivation close to the hives might be left 

 until late in the evening to avoid discomfort, or veils might be provided 

 as a protection. 



Being interested to get information as to the proportion of bees 

 recommended for fruit-growing in England, I asked the Secretary of 

 the British Beekeepers' Association, Mr. W. Herrod, his opinion in 

 the disposal of beehives on a fruit farm. He recommended on 160 

 acres placing the apiary either in the centre, or preferably dividing it 

 into four groups of 10 hives at each spot thus : — • 



o 



0 



160 



acres - 



o 



o 



Bees are said to fly a mile away from their hives on warm sunny 

 days, but on cold cloudy days they limit themselves' to 100 yards. It 

 is important to have the hives strong in spring ready for work. 



Bumble bees work on rather later in the evening than hive bees, 

 and come out in somewhat less favour,able weather, but their number 

 is not generally very large. 



Unless methods of prevention or cure of the " Isle of Wight Bee 

 Disease " can be found and put in practice, it looks as if it would 

 in a very few years have a most disastrous effect on fruit-growing, even 

 surpassing the loss due to American Gooseberry Mildew, Black Currant 

 Bud Mite, &c., and ruinous if it also attacks wild bees. 



Germination of Pollen. 



The study of this subject is of importance. E. P. Stand sten 

 found in Wisconsin in connexion with this work that although sun- 

 shine considerably increases the setting of the fruit of tomato it has 

 little effect on apples and plums. 



