The spraying of fruit trees while in bloom is possibly injurious to
bees, and there exists among beekeepers a strong feeling against the
practice. Since no entomologist now recommends that fruit trees be
sprayed during the blooming period, this is probably rarely done by
progressive fruit growers. However, it is frequently reported by
beekeepers that they are losing bees by poisoning due to spraying.
A number of cases of the death of colonies, reported as caused by
poisoning due to spraying while trees were in bloom, have been found
to be in reality outbreaks of European foul brood, which is particularly
prevalent in the spring and early summer.

Other circumstances to which is often attributed the death of brood
or of the colony are chilling, fumes from coke ovens, and malicious
poisoning. The wise attitude on the part of the beekeeper is first to
suspect diseases as being the cause of any losses which he may sustain,
and to be sure that there is no infectious disease present before
looking elsewhere for a cause.

1911
E. F. PHILLIPS, Ph.D.,
In Charge of Bee Culture, Bureau of Entomology.

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