ijk@hou5e.UUCP (06/24/83)
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