1883.] EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Stormont, Sir Henry Loch, Sir Arnold Kemball, and others, all directly 

 interested — and to a very large extent — in the prosperity of the 

 woods and forests, and forestry of Britain. Nothing can better indi- 

 cate the rapidly growing interest that is being taken in the subject of 

 forestry, and the application of its principles to the wants of the 

 country, than is thus shown by those who are most deeply interested 

 taking an active part in spreading a correct knowledge of forestry 

 among the people. 



The essays and exhibits at the meeting also show a marked 



increase, and in this department of the Society's work much more 



may yet be done if members would take up the matter in earnest, 



and, each in his own way, contribute something every season. Either 



an essay or reporo on some special subject in which the author takes 



an interest, and upon which he can give some useful information ;. 



or some article of a useful or ornamental nature for exhibition at the 



meeting, is quite within the power of a large number of the 



members, and would add immensely to the attractions of the 



meetings. 



♦ * 

 * 



We have received from the India Office 'A Collection of Papers 

 on Bee-keeping in India.' It is published under the orders of the 

 Government of India in the revenue and agricultural department,, 

 and consists, in substance, of a number of interesting reports by 

 forest and district officers, and other persons who have paid 

 attention to the subject of bee-culture. Much valuable informa- 

 tion will be found in the volume, the text of which is accompanied 

 by some illustrations. The results of the inquiries are summed 

 up as follows : — ' It is found first that several varieties of honey 

 bees are found in every province of India w^here there is sufficient 

 forest or jungle, and that the honey of some of the varieties is 

 good and in considerable demand ; ' next, ' that efforts have been 

 successfully made in the hills, by Europeans, to domesticate Indian 

 bees, but that bee-culture is only practised by natives in the 

 very rudest way.' In the third place it is said to be ' very doubtful 

 whether the bee could be domesticated in the plains, owing to 

 the dearth of flowers during the three or four months preceding 

 the rains ; ' and in the fourth place it is added * that in Southern 

 India persons (Mr. Stormont, of Bombay, and others) have given 

 up all attempts to domesticate the most common variety of be» 

 found there, on account of its intractable nature.' 



