71 
rounding the berry even after the epidermis is removed. Grapes so 
prepared without exception laid before the hives until dried up. If 
but one segment of a grape be broken by violence or by over-ripeness, 
the bees are unable to reach the juice beyond the film separating the 
broken from the unbroken segments until further violence or decay 
permits an entrance for the tongue. Clusters of sound grapes which I 
hung between the comb frames in hives occupied by strong colonies 
w r ere unbroken and sound after fifteen days 7 exposure in the hives. 
The skins were polished smooth, but none were broken. I also stopped 
up the entrance to several hives — containing good-sized colonies — in 
the apiary and in the wire-covered house, by pushing sound grapes into 
the opening, so close together that the bees could not pass through. 
By this means the bees were confined to the hives for days in succes- 
sion, not being able to break down and remove the grapes, and 
although the skins of the grapes next the inside of the hive were pol- 
ished smooth none were broken or injured. 
The past season furnished an excellent opportunity to observe the 
capacity of bees, under so exceptional circumstances, to injure fruit, for 
the drought was very exceptional both induration and severity, and I 
was called to several places by fruit-growers to witness the proof that 
bees were u tearing open the skins of the grapes 77 and otherwise behav- 
ing in a manner altogether unworthy of an insect enjoying a wide rep- 
utation for virtue and orderly living. In each instance I succeeded in 
convincing the fruit-grower that the bees were simply performing the 
office of gleaners; that violence from other sources, or over-ripeness 
and decay had preceded the bees, and that he would be acting the part 
of wisdom in following the example of the bees in gathering the grapes 
before further violence, or the action of the elements, rendered them 
worthless. 
After grapes have been subjected to such violence, or have so far 
burst open and decayed as to make it possible for bees to injure them, 
and the circumstances are so exceptional as to lead the bees to seek 
such food, unless they are speedly gathered they would soon become 
worthless if unmolested. During the past season I made many visits 
to vineyards, one located near the apiary I visited every day, and my 
observations and experience with bees in confinement and those having 
free access to the vineyards furnishes abundant proof to convince me 
that bees do not and cannot under any circumstances injure sound fruit* 
If from any cause the pulp is exposed, such as the attack of birds or 
wasps — the most common source of injury — or from the ovipositing of 
insects, or bursting of the berry from over-ripeness, and if no other re- 
sources are available, the bees appropriate and carry away the juice, 
and the extent of the injury depends upon the degree to which the pulp 
is exposed, the sweetness of the juice, and the number and necessities 
of the bees. 
