<P> Before pollination needs were understood, orchardists often planted entire blocks of apples of a single variety . Because apples are self - sterile, and different members of a single variety are genetic clones (equivalent to a single plant), this is not a good idea . Growers now supply pollenizers, by planting crab apples interspersed in the rows, or by grafting crab apple limbs on some trees . Pollenizers can also be supplied by putting drum bouquets of crab apples or a compatible apple variety in the orchard blocks . </P> <P> The field of pollination management cannot be placed wholly within any other field, because it bridges several fields . It draws from horticulture, apiculture, zoology (especially entomology), ecology, and botany . </P> <P> Growers' demand for beehives far exceeds the available supply . The number of managed beehives in the US has steadily declined from close to 6 million after WWII, to less than 2.5 million today . In contrast, the area dedicated to growing bee - pollinated crops has grown over 300% in the same time period . To make matters worse, in the past five years we have seen a decline in winter managed beehives, which has reached an unprecedented rate near 30% . At present, there is an enormous demand for beehive rentals that cannot always be met . There is a clear need across the agricultural industry for a management tool to draw pollinators into cultivations and encourage them to preferentially visit and pollinate the flowering crop . By attracting pollinators like honeybees and increasing their foraging behavior, particularly in the center of large plots, we can increase grower returns and optimize yield from their plantings . </P>

Modern methods in employing artificial beehives for cross pollination in horticultural gardens