POLLINATION OF RED CLOVER

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27736, 13 August 1955, Page 5

POLLINATION OF RED CLOVER

IMPORTANCE OF OTHER FOOD FOR BEES The population of humble-bees for the fertilisation of red clover depends very largely on the provision of alternate food plants in winter and spring. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research says in its annual report, that the year's work has shown that tree lucerne is an excellent source of food, and where this tree is abundant, populations of the humble-bee species, Bornbus terrestris, build up considerably by the time the red clover is in flower. A more useful species, Bornbus ruderatus, is however, on the wing, after hibernation; when this source of food is over. But the importance of the tree to the other species has shown the probable value of investigation into food sources. The department is checking on the presence of a long-tongued species, Bornbus hortorum, -which has not hitherto been thought to exist in New Zealand. Greater - yields of red clover are obtained on inland farms in Canterbury. Inland, the climate in winter is colder: the period of hibernation of the humble-bee is longer, and the nesting period is shorter. Under these conditions, their concentration seems to be greater at the flowering time of the red clover. Honey bees, which can also pollinate red clover, assist materially in the production of seed yields. Their contribution in. any year or district varies according to'many factors, some of which are unknown. The report says that with more understanding of their behaviour, their usefulness to the seed farmer may be greatly increased.