HUMBLE BEES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7485, 26 February 1885, Page 5

HUMBLE BEES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It may be interesting to some of your readers to know that at least one humble bee, which I presume is one of those liberated a few weeks since at Riccarton, has been seen at St Martin's, Opawa. It was brought to me by a neighbour, who had carefully captured it, to see if I knew what it was. I at once recognised a fine specimen of the humble bee. It was gathering pollen from a cultivated poppy when seen, with which it was well laden. I gave it some honey, of which it partook freely, and then liberated it, when it appeared very strong on the wing. I presume some of them have taken up their abode in this neighbourhood, as one was seen in tho same garden a few days previously to the one mentioned. I am very pleased, as no doubt many others will be, to find that the introduction of the humble bee is apparently a success; but when farmers and others find that their red clover is fertilised, I hope will not give all the'credit to the humble bees. I must have a little credit given to our common bees, as anyone may prove for himself that the red clover is at least partially fertilised, by taking a dry clover head from any locality where bees are kept and examining it. I have often obtained about twenty seeds from one flower.—l am, &c, W. H. HIND, Bee Farm, Opawa.