- 33 - 
fie lds b ef ore _the p lants bloom. A minimum of one hive per acre mate- 
rially increases seed production. 
Clover, Red 
Hollowell, E. A. 
1932. Red-clover seed production in the Intermountain States. U. S. 
Dept. Agr. Leaflet 93, 7 pp. 
p. 7: The dependence of seed setting on the number and activity 
of honeybees and bumblebees is not realized by most farmers who grow 
red-clover seed. The red-clover flower is practically self-sterile; 
that is, the pollen of a flower will not fertilize any other flower 
on any head of the same plant. Therefore, before fertilization can 
occur, it is necessary that the pollen be transferred between flowers 
on different plants. This cross -pol lina t ion is done p rincipally by 
honeybees , bumblebees, and other kinds of bees,, whose presence in 
large numbers at the time red clover is blooming is essential for large 
yields of seed. If other nectar and pollen producing plants more 
liked by the bees than red clover are available, the honeybees in 
particular will work the other plants in preference to the red-clover 
flowers. If only the second growth is saved for seed, the time of 
cutting the first growth may be regulated so that the second growth 
will be in full bloom v/hen other flowering plants are scarce and then 
large numbers of bees are present. There is reason to belie v e that in 
sect ions wh ere an in crease in acrea ge_h as b e en accomp anied by d^cl liv - 
i ng y ields of , soed ,^the_introducti on of _ addit ional _coloni es of honey- 
b ees w ou ld prove profi t able . Bumblebee nests should not be destroyed, 
and every effort should be made to provide desirable nesting places 
for queen bumblebees. 
Pieters, A. J., and Hollowell, E. A. 
1937. Clover improvement. U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1937: 1190-1214. 
p . 1 1 99 : Bees visit the_ red_clover_floret_ for _ necta r_and_p ollen o r 
both , tripping the florets and transferring pollen from plant to plant, 
thus constan tly maint ai ning t h e condi tion o f mixed inh erita nce ^~ the 
species . Other insects, such as moths, are constantly seen on red 
clover heads, but they do not come in contact with the pollen and 
therefore do not effect cross-pollination. 
There has been considerable controversy as to the extent to 
which pollination can be accomplished by honeybees. Discussion has 
centered upon the fact that the tongue of the honeybee is not long 
enough to reach the nectar. The literature on this subject is volumin- 
ous and cannot be reviewed here. M ore raceqt inves tig ati ons cloarl./ 
indicate that honeybees visit red clover principall y for pollen and 
seldom ob tain necta r, bu t regardless of what is obtained, pollen is 
transferred and cross-pollination is effected . 
