The Red Cloud chief., 1901-11-08
BEES TO KILL MICE.
Agricultural Department 1inds
Ally In the Philippines.
stias % the Insect saiA 20 Ne Poison
ous 60 the Small Anina1s-WA1l
- IntsoAucsA 1ato TAAs
COuntry.

Cosntry.
The agricultural department. at
Washington 10 to make n determined
attack upon the American field
mouse. His determination in certain
localities has been resolved upon and
the Philippine bumblebee 10 TO he
brought into service a. the execu-
toner.
This was the statement made by
Prof. c. II. Riley. Of the department,
who passed through Chicago last
week en- route to San Francisco and
tho Philippines. Prof. Riley, of the
division of entomology. will devote
n year In the Philippines TO the study
Of bugs and insects OF the archipel-
ago. '-he "humming bird" bumble-
bee or the Philippines will be n of
the main objects of hts inquiry. 1t
10 planned to import the big bee Of
the Philippines into the United
States that he may make war upon
the American hsld mouse. . rodent
which has caused the farmers Of the
country . loss of thousands of dol.
lars.
ut 10 an old saying among firm-
ers," said Prof. Riley. reports hi
cago piper. shat when there Is plen-
ty of clover there are lots Of humble.
bees. What the farmer really meant
IL that when there are lots Of bum.
blebees there II plenty Of clover. He
might carry his logic further by say.
ing that when Acid mice are scarce
there are plenty Of bumblebees, and
that when there are plenty of cats
there are few field mice.
"In order to save the clover crops
Of the country the agricultural de-
partment has the choice of two
things, to increase the number Of
cats In the country, which will de-
stroy the field mouse. or to take
away from the rodent his supply Of
winter food. Either method II sue
cessful would result In a gain OF
thousands of dollars to the farmers.
The Acid mouse is very fond OF bum
blebee honey and never loses an OPP
portunity to deprive the insect of the
rewards of his work. The honey
taken away from tho bamblebee
causes him to perish in the winter
time. Hence n short clover crop for
the bumblebee Is a carrier of pollen
from one clover plant to another.
Thus when there are lots of bumble-
bees clover to perfection. II
xLn G.II .,,,.. has IaprnSaI che
bumbhebee there 10 no insect that
do its work in the summer time
and che farmers lose accordingly.
This 10 not only true of clover. but
many other plants.
1--WE hold that the bumblebse 10 q
valuable member Of insect society
and that the field mouse IL a worth
less scamp who likes n good dinner
but does not want to work for IL.
"The Philippine bumblebee is an
entirely different insect from his
cousin. He is fully an inch
md q half long and looks like a
small bird. He 10 full of business and
has no fear Of such a small animal
N the field rus He Is a harmless
fellow when let alone, but his sting
IL deadly to smaller forms of ami
NAL life. He will fight for his own
with the tenacity Of a pugilist and
any INSCRIPTIONS held mouse invad-
ing his domain will have to fight for
everything he gets.
"A field mouse after receiving the
sting of a Philippine bumblebee would
much resemble the wrecked appear.
ance of some Of our college boys aft
err the Thanksgiving football game
He would have to lay up for repairs
ut 10 the intention Of the ayricul.
tural department to introduce this
bee into the United States II climatic
conditions will permit. He will be
sent to the warmer parts of the
country At first, where he may grad.
ually become hardened to the more
severe climate. 1t 10 then hoped he
will grow and spread until he covers
the entire country. The department,
has its eye upon other insects in the
Philippines which may prove Of value
to agricultural interests. There are
several varieties Of honey bees which
will be given a trial. A species o,
tree toad, which hos a deadly antip
athy for certain kinds Of citrus in
sects, will he introduced into south
arn California with the hope that il
may be useful in the exterminatioI
of the black or armored scale, which
a caused 81 great a loss to frui
rOWin intarasts of lnta yaar.p