Milan, Ill., Mar. 9, 1881.
=Paris Green.=—It is not very good for bees, as I had an
opportunity last spring to find out. I have in my garden a 10
year old plum tree that never perfected any fruit and knowing
that Paris green would kill bugs I thought it might also kill
the “little turk,” or Curculio. Acting upon the suggestion I
mixed some Paris green in a watering can and put up through
the branches of the tree a long ladder, from the top of which
I sprinkled the whole top of the tree just before dark, and a
day or 2 before the bloom went off. Next day afternoon as I
was passing through my bee yard I was very much surprised to
see on the ground a good many bees in a dying condition which
I could not account for. I came at last, however, to the
conclusion that they had gone to the plum tree in the morning
before it was dry and partaken of the poison. I lost a good
many bees but I have learned this lesson, “never to put Paris
green on trees when in bloom;” still I am satisfied that by
sprinkling or syringing 2 or 3 times, when the plum is in its
incipient state, it will insure a crop. Who will try this
spring and report?