Daily camera., 1901-10-11
BEES TO KILL MICE.
Agricultural Department 1inds
Any n The Phiuppihes.
Btsag ~ the lnsosA 0aaA - - PoAeon-
ous to the onall Aal0Alo-Wlu
- yatRoAaeeA late TAAs
Coaatgy.


Washington IL TO make . determined
attack upon the American field
mouse. His determination In certain
localities has been resolved upon and
the Philippine bumblebee II to be
brought into. service - the sxecu-
toner.
This was the statement made BY
Prof. C. H. Riley, Of the department.
VINO passed through Chicago last
week en- route 70 San Francisco and
tho Philippines. Prof. Riley, Of the
division Of entomology. win devote
year in the Philippines TO the study
OF bugs and insects OF the archipel-
ago. The cumming bird" bumble-
bee Of the Philippines will be ons Of
the main objects OF his inquiry. It
10 planned to import the big bee Of
tho Philippines into the United
States that he may make war upon
the American field mouse. . rodent
which has caused the farmers of the
country . loss OF Thousands OF dol
lars
ut IL an old saying among farm
era" said Prof. Riley. reports . Chi
cAgo paper. 'that when there b pIen-
~ Of clover there are lots Of bumble-
bees. What the farmer really means
IL that when there are lots Of bum
blebees there is plenty Of clover. He
might carry his logic further BY say
ing that when field mice are scarce
there are plenty Of bumblsbsss. and
that when there are plenty Of cats
there are few field mice.
I'm order to ave the clover crops
OF the country the agricultural DE-
partment has the cholss OF two
things. to increase the number Of
eats In ths country. which will d.
stroy the field mouse. or 70 take
away from the rodent his supply Of
winter food. Either method II sue
eessful would result In . gain of
Thousands Of dollars 10 the farmers.
The field mouse 10 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 the bumblebee
causes him to perish In the winter
time. Hence . short clover crop for
the bumblsbes IL . carrier Of pollen
from one clover plant to another.
Thus when there are lots Of humble
bees clover comes TO perfection. II
the field mouse has destroyed the
bumblsebee there 10 no insect that
can do fts work In the summsr time
and the farmers loss asooetiin9ly.
This 10 not only true OF clover. bat
many other plants.
I'VE hold that the bumhlsbeo 10 Q
valuable member Of insect society
and that the Aeld mouse 10 Q worth
isss scamp who likes . good dinner
but does not want 10 work for IL.
"The Philippine bumbIsbss u An
entirely different inssst from his
American cousin. He - fully an inch
and half long and looks Nike .
sman bird. He 10 full of business and
has no fear Of such . small animal
~ the hsd mouse, He 10 . harmless
fellow when let aions. but his sting
- deadly TO smaller forms ef ami
NAL life. He win fight for his own
with the tenacity Of . pugilist and
any interruptions Aeh mouse invad-
ing his domain will have 70 fight for
everything he gets.
"A hsld mouse sftps receiving the
sting Of . Philippine bsmb,sbes would
much resemble the wrecked appear
anes of some Of our college boys Aft
er the Thanksgiving football game.
He would have 70 lay up for repairs.
1T IL the intention Of the agricul-
tursl department 70 introduce this
bee into the United etAtes II climatic
conditions will permit. He viii be
sent to the warmer parts Of ths
at hrst, whore he may grad
ualiy become hardened TO the more
severe ehmstS. II u then hoped he
Will grow and spread saeil b covers
the entire country. The department
has It's eye upon other insects In the
Philippines which may prove Of value
70 agricultural interests. There are
several varieties of honey bses which
vii b. given . trial. A species OF
ssse toad which hos . deadly antip-
SHY for certain kinds OF sitsus IN
ssets, win b inteodussd into south.
arn California With ths hope that II
may b. useful In the extefminstion
pf the black or armorsd scale, which
AAs caused 30 great . loss 70 fruit
growing interests Of late years"
Uss Prof. Fields woeD powdsrs. a
AnGie trial proves tAeiS WustA.
DeWist's Little Early Risers never |
disappoiat. They are safe. prompt gen |
Tie, effective ip removing ill impsrities |
from the liver and heNele Small and |