On Tue, 20 Jun 1995 09:00:00 -0700  Paul van Westendorp commented:
 
>  In monocultural settings as cranberry (and blueberry) is grown today, it is
>  the shortage in numbers of pollinating insects that is the limiting
>  factor.  Bumblebee nests may be comprised of a few dozen individuals while a
>  cranberry field has millions of flowers.  Considering the current prices for
>  commercially available bumble bee nests,  I question the economics of their
>  use in a field setting.  (Greenhouses is a different matter).  Perhaps,
>  simple enhancement of nesting habitat would be more cost-effective.
 
 .. and after some other comments ...
 
My $.02: I'm pollinating for a fruit grower (pears and apples) in my
area (Belgium 50degN-2degE).  He is quite convinced by honey bees
pollination for the number of pollinators BUT he is also convinced IT
IS NOT ENOUGH !! The weather here is generally cloudy and rainy (cold
and wet).  Some days when full blooming : no one honeybee is flying
but bumblebees are (too cold).  Honeybees are easily disturbed in
their fruit pollination by another more attractive crop in the same
area (i.e. oil rape).
 
  His opinion is to increase the spring pollinators population.
3 actions :
 
 The first : he puts a lot of birds nests in his 16 ha of trees :
natural protection against insects AND after bird nesting : bumblebee
nests.
 
 The second : he plants in his area some acres of stimulating crop
(Phacelia) in the late summer (Aug-Sep-Oct). This increase the number
of wintering bumblebees in his area.
 
 The third : he puts a series of Osmia nests to increase their
population during the pollinating time.  Osmia gets more pollen !
 
BTW he is trying to get seeds of a *SHORT FORM* (max 40 cm height) of
this very interesting plant (Phacelia) : to plant it under his fruit
trees.  If anyone knows : TIA
 
BTW2 this crop is also very interesting to honeybees which have a late
honey flow.  Natural honey flow is finished here on 20-30th of Juli !
 
Hope this helps !
 
This: C'est ma facon de parler !
 
Jean-Marie <[log in to unmask]>