BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
In Fig. 4 we have a very pretty example of the fine honey-plant willow-herb; here the pollen of the anthers is sterile to the pistil or stigma of the same flower. At A, Fig. 4, we notice that the stigma, or the style, rather, as at \(s\), is turned backward away from the anthers at \(u\). At this stage the pollen at the anthers is ripe. A bee comes along, dusts itself over the pollen in the act of severing nectar, and then passes over to B of a flower of the same species. Here the pollen is gone from the anthers, but the pistil has straightened out and the stigma is ripe to receive the pollen that the bee brings to it from the anthers of A of the other hlossom of the same plant. It will be apparent in this particular case, unless insects, particularly the bee, carry the pollen from \(\Lambda\) to B, there will be no fertilization of the plant, and the bloom will die without fruit.
In Fig. 5 we have another case no less remarkable of a near relative of rhodo-dendron and azaleas. The filaments bearing the anthers are curved downward, the anthers themselves appearing to be held in little pockets of the flower. Apparently they have no power of their own to release themselves. But a bee comes along, alights on the hlossom, and as it reaches around for the nectar jars these filaments loose,
just about the right size, as the bee, of ex-, when they immediately fly upward, dust-, along the bees with pollen. This pollen now on the bee may fertilize the stigma or pistil of B; but as the bee goes from flower to flower the pollen is mixed for it releases all the anthers, so that other insect visitation will continue on the process of cross-pollination. We have familiar cases of these anchored-down anthers in the rhodoendrons, azaleas and some of the swamp laurels. They are all honey-plants, but the honey is said to be poisonous.
In Fig. 6 we have a familiar blossom of the pea and bean, or technically known as papillaceous flowers. At C we notice embryo leam or pea pod. At \(a\) we see the anthers and \(s\) the stigma. This whole thing is covered by a sort of wings. The bee comes along, pries them apart, and reaches for the nectar as shown in cross-sectional drawing of B. The anthers and the stigma both touch the bee on the under side of the waist where there is a good deal of hair. The result is that powder is dusted on the waist of the bee; and as it goes from one flower to another, it mingles the pollen and dusts it over the stigma. The general shape of the flower is such that the wind could hardly accomplish much in the way of cross-fertilization, and apparently the bee has to exert some strength in forcing apart the wings of the corolla in order to get its coveted nectar.
In Fig. 7 we have the familiar raspberry blossom. This is a case of where there is very little color but considerable pollen and nectar to attract the bees. The anthers and pistils separated from each other appear in large numbers on each blossom. The bee allights on the head and reaches down for the nectar. As it does so, it brushes against the large number of anthers and pistils. In doing so it mingles the pollen, fertilizing the flower with its own pollen and with the pollen from other plants.
In Fig. 8 we have the familiar example of the apple blossom. Note there are five stigmas and and ten anthers. In many varieties of the apple, pear, and plum, the flowers are sterile to their own pollen: but, as Fletcher points out, they can be recundated readily with pollen from flowers growing on another tree of the same species. We therefore see how very important it is to have insects, especially bees, to carry on this most important work of cross-pollination, without which there will be imperfect or no fruit at all. Many and many a time a lack of fruit during some particular season is ascribed to the fact that frosts kill the blossoms, when, as a matter of fact, the weather has been such that the honey-bees were unable to get out, and thus carry on the work of cross-fertilization.
In Fig. 8, we have the case of an apple that was imperfectly fertilized. There is perfect seed and perfect fruit formation except on the side that has an indentation. The statement has been made by some prominent growers of apples that it is such fruit as this that rarely hangs long enough to ripen. The first severe storm that comes along causes it to drop prematurely. One fruit-grower told us there were thousands and thousands of bussels of apples every year that are nothing more nor less than windfalls because of the pistil. This same fruit-grower went (n to say that if the bees could get in their work properly, and the trees were sprayed before and after blossoming, the number of windfalls would be very considerably reduced.
In connection with this matter, the reader will be interested in referring to the subject of Fritt-blossom, elsewhere in this work, where limbs of trees and whole trees have been covered with netting while they were in bloom. The fact that almost no fruit develops under these
Figure 6: \(-\)Paplidosaceous Blossoms, and Their Method of Fi Fi Utilization. A Expanded Peak Blossom, Order \(L\)(Pazlousous\(-\)e, Vexillum; \(\partial\), Ala, Aue, with Carina between, B, Partial Section of Flower of Vetch being Fertilized by Cyprian Ice (Magnified Twice), Right-Ala removed below line \(a,b\)\(-\)v,'''',''','','','
leaves, branches, and even rough wood, of the trunk of the tree, intently smelling and snilling at every part, until it finds just where the coveted treasure is located. After it has dived deep into one blossom, and tasted the nectar, it knows pretty well where to look next time.
The touch-me-not has learned, by ages of experiment, to produce a bright orange flower, to secrete honey in the spur, to place the pollen-bearing stannens at the point where the bee must rub against them in getting the honey, to construct those wonderful seed-pods, which explode and scatter the seed far and wide, just that it may reproduce and multiply its species. We should judge it had succeeded pretty well in a waste piece of woodland near our home, for there are now ares of it as high as one's head, and it is quite a valuable acquisition to our apiary. As nearly as we can make out, the plant has much increased since the advent of the Italians, as might be expected. This is true of dandelions as well;* and the large, brilliant, showy blossoms that now line our roads and waste places, instead of unsightly veeds, should remind one how much an apiary of bees contributes to fulfill the words of sacred propheey:
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them : and the desert shall replace, and blossom as the rose.--_Isaidh_ 35 : 1.
Now, we can not positively affirm that flowers were given their gandycolorsthrough bees selecting the brightest and most conspicuous, thereby inducing such blossoms to bear seed in preference to those less ganduliy attired, neither do we know that cherries became red because the birds selected those that showed a disposition to that color, year after year, for many centuries ; nor can we prove that the bright plunge of male birds came about in the course of time, simply because the females encouraged the attentions of and showed a preference for those most handsome. We can only suggest that the actions of birds, bees, flowers, and fruits, seem to point that way. You all know how quickly we can get fancy-colored flowers, yellow queen-bees, or birds of almost any shade or color, by careful selection for several generations. Have not the bees so colored the flowers, and birds the berries, etc., although they did it all unconsciously?
It is significant that so many of the flowers have a form of construction and depth of flower tube that would indicate that it had adapted itself to the bee. While, of course, there are many exceptions, it appears that nature enters more to the bee than to any other insect. Just see how she makes a convenient dowstep or a flower tube of just the right size and shape, so that the bee can get the nectar which it has to offer. Cheshire has pointed out that so intimate and so perfect is the relation between the flowers and the honey-bees that there would be no advantage in breeding larger bees or of changing their general structure, because to do so would necessitate changing practically the whole of the floral kingdom. While it undoubtedly would be an advantage to breed bees with longer, that advantage would be manifest only in the case of red, and apparently old Dame Nature has designed that the common bumble-bee shall perform the work here that can not fully be accomplished by the honey-bee. It should be mentioned, however, that the honey-bee does gather quite a little nectar from the red clover, and of course accomplishes to a considerable degree the work of cross-fertilization.
## 5 necessity of pollen for brood-bearing
We are interested about pollen, because bees can not rear brood without either that or some substitute for it. Bees kept in confinement, and fed on pure sugar and pure water, will thrive and void little or no excrement; but as soon as pollen, or food containing the farinaceous element, is given them, their bodies will become distended : and instead of a transparent fluid they will void a liquid of a darkish tint which will soil their hives and emit quite an unpleasant smell. We once kept about 300 bees in a cage with a queen, and gave them only pure sugar and water. They built comb, and seemed quite contented, the cage emitting no smell whatever. In order to start brood-rearing we gave them some sugar candy containing flour, and they soon became uneasy and tried in vain to get out. At this time the eage gave off quite an unpleasant smell, and so they were allowed to fly. Had the pollen element not been given them, it is probable they could have endured the confinement a month or more. We once wintered a fair colony of bees on stores of pure sugar syrup, and when they in the spring there was no perceptible spot on the white snow about their hives. They had no pollen, and so, of course, no brood-rearing could go on without it. A few years ago we made some experiments with bees confined in a large room under glass. As it was late in the fall, after brood-rearing had ceased, we did not know whether we should succeed in starting them again. After feeding them for about a week, eggs were found in the cells, but none of them hatched into larvae. A heap of rye meal was placed in the center of the room near the feed, and anxiously we waited to see them take notice of it. After several days a bee was seen hovering curiously about it. In breathless suspense we watched it until it finally began to dip its tongue into the heap, and then to pad it on its legs. It carried home a small load, we had the hive open, and the frame ont, as soon as it was among its comrades, and watched the behavior of the rest while it shook itself among them, until it deposited its treasure in a cell, and hurried away for another load. Very shortly some of the rest followed it, and buzzed about the room until they found where it was loading up, and soon they were at work on the meal, as merrily as in spring. Of course, the eggs were very soon, now, transformed into unsealed larvae, then into capped brood, and, in due time, we had young bees hatched out in the month of December.
By warming the room with a stove for several days in succession, we found we could start brood-rearing and pollen-gathering even in the month of January. It may be well to state here, that although we succeeded in rearing bees in midwinter, as strong and healthy, apparently, as those raised in summer time, the experiment was hardly a success after all; for about as many bees died from what we suppose was the effect of confinement as were hatched out. It was a decided success, in determining many unknown points in regard to bees, aside from the office of pollen; and we presume, if it ever should be necessary, we could overcome the difficulties of flying bees under glass. Under the head of Ficht-hossoss will be found further fucts on this nutter. See page 233.
## artificial substitutes for pollen
It has been known for many years, that in the spring time bees will make use of the flour or meal of many kinds of grain, and many bee-keepers feed bushels of it every season. The favorite seems to be rye; and us the bees are apt to fall into it and sometimes get so covered as to perish, we have been in the habit of having the rye ground up with an equal quantity of outs. A great many plans have been devised for feeding it without waste; but, after all our experiments, a heap of meal on the ground is about as satisfactory as any way. Of course, it should be protected from rain; and as there is usually much high wind in the spring, which is, to say the least, very annoying to the bees, it is well to have it in a spot sheltered as much as possible, always aiming to give them as much sunshine as may be. Byway of experiment, we have concentrated the rays of the sun on the meal heap by mirrors, that the bees might work on days otherwise too cold; we have also made glass-covered structures for the purpose, and have even kept their meals hot by means of a lamp; all these plans have succeeded, but we are inclined to doubt whether stocks pushed along in brood-rearing, by such means, were really in advance of some that were left to take their chances. It is amusing to see the little fellows start from their hives on days so cold that they would not otherwise stir out, hie to the warm meal and load up, and then go home so quickly that they do not have time to get chilled.
Is there any danger of feeling then too much meal? There is. Reports and our own experience have shown that bees will sometimes get their combs packed with this inferior substitute for the real article; and we would advise giving it only during those seasons when there seems to be a lack of natural pollen. As a general thing, nature supplies bees with all the nitrogenous food they require, and quite early enough. If rye meal be given on a warm day when the bees can fly in mid-winter they will store some of this meal and start brood-rearing; then when cold weather comes on again, the brood is deserted and dies. Nature, on the other hand, will not supply this food before the proper time for brood-rearing to come on. But the question may arise," How is the owner of the bees to know when nature is not supplying them a firmaceous diet?" If the bees seem to be hovering around chicken-houses, barns, and stables, then it is apparent that they are not getting sufficient pollen to feed, and they should be supplied artificially as already explained.
Not a few of our readers have been perplexed and astonished, doubtless, by seeing the bees, in early spring, greedily appropriating sawdust, just as they do rye meal. We have seen then at the sawmills, so thick on a large heap of fresh sawdust as to attract a large crowd of people; and when we caught them, and tested of the pollen from their legs,we were somewhat amazed to find it sweet and very much like pollen from the flowers. They doubtless had plenty of honey but no pollen, and these fine particles of wood contained enough of the nitrogenous element to answer very well, mixed with honey, as they have it when packed in their pollen-baskets. The pollen from common sawdust contains an essential oil, besides some gummy matter, that gives an odor doubtless reminding the bees of the aroma of opening buds. Not only do they thus collect (to us) tasteless sawdust, but they have been found at different times on a great variety of substances. A friend in Michigan at one time found then loading up with the fine black earth of the swamps, and they have been known to use even cool-dust; but the strangest thing of all was told us by the owner of a cheese-factory, near by. He said the bees were one day observed hovering over the shelves in the cheese-room, and, as their numbers increased, they were found to be packing on their legs the fine dust that had accumulated from handling so much cheese. Microscopic investigation showed this dust to be embryo cheese-mites, so that the bees had really been using animal food as pollen, and living animals at that. If one might be allowed to theorize in the matter, it would seem this should be a rare substance to crowd brood-rearing to its uttermost limit.
How to start bees at work on five meal.
A beginner hears the feeding of oatmeal highly recommended as a substitute for pollen. He places some near the entrances of the hives, but not a bee touches it. He is told again to wait until early spring, before the bees have access to natural pollen, and then they will take it. He does so, but, as before, not a bee notices it. He is next told to put a heap of it in the sun, a few rods distant from the hives. This time he may succeed; but it would not be strange if he should once more report that his bees would have nothing to do with it. Finally he is directed to take a piece of honey and get some bees to feeding on it, then to set it on the heap of meal. The bees soon gather over it in great numbers; those who go home loaded start out many more searching all about the vicinity, to see where the treasure comes from. The hum of the busy ones on the honey soon attracts them, and, in snuling about the pile of meal, some bee discovers that it can be used as a substitute for pollen; the others soon follow suit, and, in a little time, both the bees and their owner are happy, and the pile of meal quickly disappears. After this he never has any more trouble in getting the bees to work on meal, for he _knoweshoe_. The bees and their owner have both learned a valuable lesson about pollen. Is there any very great difference in the way they have been taught? Did they not both learn by practical experiment?
bees roorbing artificial pollen from barns and stables.
Thre are times when bees will not only find sawdust but delve down into chop feed for cattle. On such occasions they will raid barns, stables, and chicken-houses in a way that seems almost like a regular case of robbing. In the spring of 1999 numerous reports from all over the country told how bees had invaded premises of farmers, driving cattle out of the stables, and causing annoyance generally. One of our own neighbors telephoned us one day, saying that a swarm of bees had taken possession of his chicken-house, and that he would like to have us come and take the bees out. Investigation showed there was no swarm, but the inside of the building was filled with bees. At first we were inclined to think that syrup of some kind had been st red there, as it looked like a genuine case of robbing; but a careful examination of the floor where the chickens had been fed showed the desire of the bees for nitrogenous food was so great that they had invaded this chicken-house and helped themselves to the bran and screenings.
A few days later a farmer located near one of our outyards complained that our bees had taken possession of hiseow-stables, saying that the cows were stung, and that it was impossible for man or beast to enter the barn. We sent a man down to investigate, and he found,as in the former case, that the bees were after chopped feed.
The spring had been peculiar--so peculiar, in fact, that warm weather came on without any natural supply of pollen. The time for rearing brood had come; and the poor bees, through dire necessity, were compelled to help themselves to any thing they could find. When a few of their number found a substitute for pollen they were wild with excitement, and rushed pelmell into every stable and barn where there was any trace of meal of any sort. It is in'seasons like this that the ajarist shou'd be forehained enough to supply them with all the eye meal they can use. But this supply shou'd be cut \(t\) if just about as pollen from natural sour es b b g g is to come in.
ness, even these returns are not had; for if he secured only enough for family use, the diversion or change to relieve the tired brain is worth something.
The question as to whether one should keep few or many bees will depend upon many conditions; but the principal one is the ability of the man. Many a person can handle a few chickens, and get good results; but when he runs the number up into the hundreds he meets with failure and disaster. Some of our friends have done remarkably well with a few colonies; but when they have attempted to double or treble the number they entered into a business proposition that proved to be too much for them.
Many years ago a neighbor of ours cleared a thousand dollars from one aere of onions. It made him wild. He bought ten more acres of the same kind of onion land, going into debt for it, and expected to clear the following year $10,000. When he managed the one aere he did all the work himself; but when he worked the ten aeres he had to hire help. The help was incompetent, or did not understand. Onions fell in price; and at the final roundup that year he had a great stock of poor onions without a buyer. They rotted. He became discouraged, and lost all he had.
A good many, on account of a lack of experience or perhaps business ability, not understanding their own limitations and those of their localities, will plunge into bee-keeping too deeply and meet with disaster. There are, undoubtedly, some people who can keep more bees by scattering them in outyards; and if they have the requisite training and business ability they can make more money. But where we find one person who can manage 500 colonies or more successfully, there will be dozens who can not go beyond the 200 or 300 mark. The same rule applies to any business.