"I wonder if they were spraying just DDT.?"


Jim, that's what they said it was.  I don't believe there was technology after the fact to test the hives for residues in the '50s.  This was of course part of the problem...."he said she said" instead of actual measurements.  The beekeepers were all experienced; and as they said at that time they wouldn't be in business if they didn't know their bees.  The bees collapsed in apiaries that were downwind of the spraying.  The day after the spray, foragers were observed returning to the hives looking "greasy".  Many were crawling at the entrances and heavy carpets of dead bees were seen all over the apiary grounds.  The beekeepers knew this was not Nosema, foulbrood, poor beekeeping practice, or any of the other things on the State's list of "other explanations".  But the judge only listened to "experts", saying that the beekeepers did not have the education to be regarded as having opinions of merit.

Christina

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html