The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-28

same report says: "We have twelve
acres in grapes and about 100 stands of
bees, blacks and hybrids, and we do not
think we have ever had grape pune
tured by bees
A report from Thuddcus Smith, of
Pelcc Island, Ontario, some years ago,
says: "Having been grape-grower
and bce-kecpcr for twenty years, and
now having charge of thirty-thrcc acres
of grapes and keeping from twenty-five
to forty hives of bees, it is quite natural
that should take an interest in this dis
cussion-'Do Bees cat Grapcs7'
"My father planted one of the first
vineyards in Kentucky, and he was also
quite bee man for those times. When
our first crop of grapes was ripe, we'll
remember his coming to me, when ! was
but boy, and saying that we would
have to give up our bees, as they were
destroying the grapes. But being re-
luctant to part with them, he decided
not to birthstone them without invcsti-
eating the matter; and this invcstiga-
ton led to the conclusion that the bees
fe" only upon the grapes that had been
puncturcd; and he discovered that Il
small bird was doing the mischief. Our
bees and grapes were both saved"
The report further says that one Of
his ncighbors was troubled by having
his early grapcs-cspccially the Hart
| fords and the Dclawarcs--puncturc :;
and that they had not left him perfect
bunch of Hartfords. BY careful watch
ing he discovered the dcpredators to be
the beautiful Baltimore Orioles, which
we're passing over in large noclts. In Il
day or two he killed forty or fifty Of
them, and saved the remainder of his
grapes.
Another rruit-growcr, who had sixty
! acres in fruit, reported that his apialy
was in his vineyard; and that he had
for years made careful examination and
that he had never known sound fruit to
be attacked by bees. And still anot her
says: "By my own experiments | am
forced to the conclusion that, instead Of
the honey bee destroying the fruit, she
only gathers the juices Of those pune
tured.' y
Further reports Of this character might
be cited, but the foregoing arc deemed
sufficient and | will not weary your pa
ticncc with them.
1t is universally admitted, | believe,
By competent observers, that bees are
never i'm curious to any plant while gath
cring honey or pollen from the flowers.
On the other hand, it is fully proven
that, by aiding in fertilization and cross
fertilization, they arc Of great benefit TO
plants. They are among natures great
hybrdizcrs-&iding in the fertilization
of flowers and rendering fertile many
barren ones. Nearly all orchidaccous
plants absolutely require the visits of
bees or insects to remove the pollen
masses. The great nation of Russia,
finding they could get more clover seed
with the fcrtilizing Of the blossoms by
bees, imported bumblc- bees to fcrtilizc
their clover.
If the whole genus Of bees became cx-
tinct, or very rare. the hearts case and
the red clover would become rare or
would disappear How is that? Be
cause bees promote the growth of those
flowers, and they arc almost indispcnsa-
bic to the fertilization of the hearts
case. In Il word, no bees, no seed no
seed, no increase Of flowers. The more
visits from the bees, the more seed from
the flowers. Twenty heads of unpro-
tectcd Dutch clover yielded 1000 seeds
the same number protected from the
bees produced not one seed. One hun
drcd heads of unprotected clover yielded
27,ooo seeds; while the same number
protected from the bees yielded not Il
seed.
Bees, then, must be considered the
friends not only Of the fruit-growcr,
but Of the florist, the scotsman and the
agriculturist, as we'll; and there should
be no antagonism of interest between the
bec-keepcr and the fruit grower.
II Il tIa'o-. CHe