Pollination of Field Beans

Abstract

Observations on bee behaviour and experiments by the authors show that, contrary to common belief, honey and wild bees are of great importance in pollinating field beans. Whether in a good year for bees and beans or a bad one, yields of cross-pollinated crops can be double those of self-pollinated crops. The decline in beekeeping accounts for the low yields now obtained; the remedy is to place hives near crops at flowering time.