HUMBLE BEES AS FARMERS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 70, 1 February 1879, Page 2

HUMBLE BEES AS FARMERS.

The New Zealand Government has been making attempts to introduce into the colony the common English humblo bee, for the express purpose of aiding the agriculturist in cultivating his fields of clover. Last year several nests of these insects were sent out to New Zealand, but unfortunately perished on the voyage. Very recently another consignment has beeu forwarded, in the packing oi' which a different method has been adopted. Instead of sending the noste containing the bees in a torpid state, a number ol wild bees were caught and carefully placed in cages specially prepared and littcd with appliances for furnishing fond to the bees on their journey. The object for which the presence of the humble bee is so particularly desired in New Zealand is the service which tho insect renders iu the fertilisation of tue common red clover. While in search of tho honey, or rather the raw material from which they make their honey, and of their pollen or farina, whicn plays 60 important a part iu their domestic economy, the bees uuconseiously render great service in fertilising the flowers as they pass from plant to plant To their agency we owe, no doubt, many of the varieties which have been produced by this commingling of species. While collecting honey every day from the strong and closely-set petals of the clover flower, the common bee is not strong enough to dive sufficiently deep to collect the fertilising dust; the humble bee, on the contrary, being much stronger and OMnnrenUj cousrttruceOj uan iluuiL-h llio pollen, and thus render great service to the agriculturist. The anxiety with which their presence in New Zealand is looked for is therefore readily understood ; on the success of the present experiment depends the increased growth of this valuable kind of fodder.—Sydney Mail.