The Grit-advocate., 1903-04-24
FARMING MATTERS,
Law to Protect Bees.

Mr. F. l.. Thompson. acting secre-
tary of the Denver Bee Keepers AS
sociation, writes as follows:
At the last meeting of the Denver
Bee Keepers Association 1t was voted
TO request the Denver papers to pub
lish the law prohibiting the spraying
OF fruit trees in bloom with any sub
stance injurious to bees. with a brief
statement of the necessity for the law.
and how bee keepers may avail them
selves of its protection
All well informed horticulturists
agree that spraying during the time
OF bloom is not only valueless, but
also injurious. since the poison used
renders sterile a large proportion of
the blossoms il touches. The time to
spray. according to Professor Gillette
of the State Agricultural College. is
once soon after the petals of the bios
SONS fall, and second time ten days
after the first spraying. On the other
hand, spraying during bloom has re-
peatedly proved fatal to neighboring
bees within this state. Hence the law
works no harm to any class. but pro-
tects the interests of state industry
representing nearly $500. 900 in capi-
tai invested. by over $500 persons of
modest means. to whom the prosper
ity of their bees means much in pro-
viding the necessaries of life. The
law not only protects them. but also
benefits the fruit grower since the
quality and quantity of fruit is largely
promoted by the fertilizing visits of
the bees to the blossoms
Three years ago fruit grower of
Larimer county asserted he had the
right TO spray his trees at any time.
and no lot of bee men could stop him
or cause him any trouble. He did so,
and the next morning seven colonies
of bees belonging to near neighbor
We're almost all dead. BY the advice
Of some prominent bee keepers. the
owner of the bees consulted the pros
ecuting attorney. The outcome was
that the offender was arrested under
the law. plead guilty and was fined
Sl5 and costs, the whole amounting
to $50. He has since been very care
tul to spray at the proper time. This
precedent has been quite effective in
warding off pending troubles of like
nature.
The best course for any bee keeper
to pursue who fears injury to his
bees this spring is to join the Nation
a! bee heepefS ASSOCIATION at once
and he can do this by sending 81 to
the general manager, n. E. France,
Platteville, Wisconsin. and reporting
10 that association all circumstances
that call for action. In the great ma
jority of cases the Intervention of the
association will head off any neces-
sity for suit, but if suit should be
necessary it will be vigorously prose
cured
The law in question is section S.
page 173. of the Colorado Session
Laws of 1897, as follows: at shall
be unlawful for any person or persons
TO spray fruit trees while in bloom
with any substance injurious to bees"
The general penalty clause, section
of the same act. is as follows: "Any
person violating any of the provisions
of this act shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor. and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished by Imprisonment in
the county jail for a period of not less
than 10 nor more than 100 days. or
by fine of not less than $40 nor more
than SloO. ANY justice OF the peace
or district or county courts of the re-
spective counties shall have jurisdic-
tion to try any case arising under the
prOVi ions of this act -