The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-11-29
BEES TO KILL MICE.
Departments Finds
Aliy in the Philippines.
sTiMo8 OF The LITTLE
Inssct Said 90 Be Poisonous to
3 ths$ smalI An!mals Will
SSft .fsS SO In.roducad ad Into This
Or untrv.

I The agricultural department at w aeh.
|ington Is to mako a dotermiued attsob
upon the American field mouso. His
Determination in certain ,localitios has
hanpr nprrcpolvod4upon end tho Philippine
bupbloboe is to bo brought into eeryioo
as tho exeeutioner.
This was the statement made by
Prof. 9, II, Riloy, Of tho department.,
who passed. through Ohiosgo last voc k
on route to San Frsnoisoo and tho PiIip.
pines. Prof. Riloy, Of tho division Of
entomology, viii devote year in tho
Philippines to tho study OF bugs and a !.
sdots Of the archipelago. i'hs "hun-
ming bird" bunblobte Of The Philip.
pinsu will be ono Of tho main objoots
of hie inquiry. Itia planned to import
( tho big Doe Of tho Philippines into tho
|IJaitod station that ho may make war
upon tho American fold mouse, q ro-
don't which has oausod tho farmors Of
tie country loss Of thousands Of dol
lars.
IT is aD old saying among farmers" I"
said Prof, Riley, reports Chicago pa
per, chat whom thore ID plenty Of
Glover there arc lots cf bumb!oboea
" hat the farmer really means is that
whom there arc lots of bumblebees thoro
is plenty Of clover. He might carry
hia logic further by saying that when
field mioe are scarce thoro sre plenty of
bumblehsos, and that whom thoro arc
plenty Of cats there arc fow field mice.
In ordor to save the olovor crops
Of tho country tho agricultural depart
ment has the CHOICE Of two thinso, to
increase tho number of onts in tho coun-
try, which will destroy tho fold mouao,
or to take sWay from tho rodent his
supply Of winter food. Either method
if sucoessful would reault in gsin Of
thoueands Of dollars to tho farmers.
The field mouse is very fond OF bum.
blebee honey and neyor lts,s an op.
portunity to deprive the insoot OF the
roHards Of his work. Tho honey taken
away from tho bumbloSeo oausoa him
70 perish ia tho wintor time. Henoe
short cl0yer crop for the nbleboo ia
q. osrrier OF pollon from ono clover
plant to anothor. II Thus when there
srelots Of bunblebees clover oomes to
perfection, If the field mouse has do
stroyed the bnmblsbee thore 10 no in.
scot ma q b ieg oriks In the isuin5
NOR time aud the farmera lose acoord.
|fingly This ID not onl y true Of olovor,
but many other plants ll;
I'VE hold that the bumblebeo ID a
valuable membor Of insect society and
that tho field mouse is WORTHLESS
sdamp, who likes . good dinner but docs
not want 70 work for it.
Tho Philippine bumbleboo is on
entirely different insoot from his Ameri.
CAD oouain. He is fully all inch and d
half long and looks like small bird.
He is full Of business and has no fear OF
such a small animal as tho fisld mouse.
He is harmless fellow when lot alono,
but his. sting ID deadly to smaller forms
Of animal life. Ho will fight for his
own with the tenaoity Of pugilist and
any unsorupulous field mouse invad ina
his domain will have to fight for every
thing he gets.
"A field mouse after rocoivipg the
sting Of Philippine bumblebee would
much resemble tho wrecked appearance
Of some of our college boys after the
Thanksgiving football game. He,would
have TO lay up for repairs. ~
1T is the intontion Of tho agrioul-
tursl department TO Introduce this bee
into the United S.asos if climstio con.
ditions will permit. He will be SEM
to the warmer parts Of the country q,
first, whore ho may gradually become
hardened to tho moro severe climate
1t is then hoped ho will grow ano
spread until he covers the ontiro ooun
try. The department has it's eyo upor
othor inseo.s in the Philippines whioh
may provo Of value to agricultural inter
ests. There are several varieties o.
honey bees which will be given trial
A hpt clos of tree toad, whlch has I
| deadly antipathy for certain kinds Of
citrus insects, will bo introduced int
southern California with the. hopo tha
itmay DO useful ia Tho extormin atior
OF the black or armorod eoale, whiof
has caused 30 great loss 10 frai
groWing interosts of late yoars. i"
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