Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site hou5e.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5e!ijk From: ijk@hou5e.UUCP Newsgroups: net.garden Subject: Pollinating Tomato Plants - WHERE Have All the BEES Gone???? Message-ID: <585@hou5e.UUCP> Date: Fri, 24-Jun-83 09:52:53 EDT Article-I.D.: hou5e.585 Posted: Fri Jun 24 09:52:53 1983 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jun-83 18:00:21 EDT Organization: American Bell ED&D, Holmdel, NJ Lines: 30 This year, as in the past years, I have noticed a slowness in my tomato flowers in producing actual fruits. The problem seems to be a noticeable lack of bees - although I live in a small town, it is moderately wooded and green. In an effort to get bees to visit my garden, I have even set out small containers of honey - but, they remain untouched!!! Obviously, I'm doing something wrong (could it be the bargain brand of honey I'm using {gourmet bees???} ?). Should I try something else, or try spreading the honey on imitation flowers. There are some flowering plants around the house, but they don't seem to be visited by bees - any flowers that particularly attract bees???? And where have all the bees gone ?? Has gypsy - moth spraying killed them off?? (The implications of that seem bad for farming in general). All spring, I have only noticed one bumble- bee, and he must have just been passing thru. Is there anything else I can do (take a Q-tip and rub the flowers??) Note, I am aware of a chemical called something like Tomato - Set that can be obtained from garden centers, but I am reluctant to use it (and even then, it says not to use it more than 3 times, which limits its praticality) - probably causes the tomato to cause cancer, or something worse. Besides, that's what bees get paid for, right? All suggestions gratefully considered and thanks in advance: 28 Ihor Kinal, American Bell Holmdel, 31 Holmdel, New Jersey ( where maybe the pollution has finally caught up with us). hou5e!ijk