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Date: | Fri, 11 Apr 1997 08:12:00 -0500 |
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David Green wrote:
>
Thomas Cornick writes:
> >I am wondering if an orchard floor of clovers would attract enough bees to
> be a pollination aid if the clover was mown when the fruit trees come into
> bloom...<
>
>
> This would not work; moreover it is a dangerous idea.
> Orchardists are advised to get rid of the clover, or at least mow it close
> before the insecticide application, but this is often forgotten or ignored.
> It causes especially bad kills if highly residual materials such as Penncap
> M (trademark) or Sevin WP (trademark) are used. Bees carry home the poison
> with pollen and brood and young bees may die for weeks. The contaminated
> pollen can even be covered with fresh pollen, then uncovered during winter,
> causing winter loss.
>
> I highly recommend that this thought be quickly abandoned.
I am totally in agreement with David's thinking here. He certainly has the experience to write
authoritatively on this subject. I also have bees in an orchard, on a more or less permanent
arrangement. I have an agreement with the orchardist to keep any blooming weeds out of the
orchard, and this includes clover. He maintains a grass/hay cover under the trees for the very
reason David describes, and I have never had a pesticide problem in this yard for over 15
years. I probably am fortunate to work with a person who really appreciates bees and
understands how they forage. One thing is sure - you don't want to attract bees into the
orchard area after fruit bloom. They're much better off elsewhere.
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA
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