36 
28, Without a prolonged series of careful counts of the numbers 
of colonies ina given district it is obviously impossible to say for 
certain whether the bee-population (by which Apis dorsata alone is 
referred to) is decreasing, increasing or stationary, but residents in 
the planting districts are almost unanimous in asserting that it is 
aeashiay decreasing. As regards the causes which underlie such 
decrease, they may be ascribed, I think, mainly to the increased open- 
ing up of the planting districts concerned and consequent (1) destruc- 
tion of the primeval jungle and (?) increased facilities for trade. 
29. In the case of those colonies of bees which nest in trees it must 
be remembered that there are comparatively few trees which are- 
suitable. One such tree may contain a hundred or more colonies of 
bees—one “ Bee-tree ” which I saw had about 156 colonies on it— 
and so many colonies require a large amount of branch-space; then 
again the branches must be fairly horizontal to suspend the combs 
properly. Before the hill districts were opened up such trees were 
undoubtedly much commoner than they are now. ‘The present system 
of shade-trees ((7revillea and such-like) over coffee does not provide the 
bees with suitable trees and the present ‘‘ Ree-trees” are all, or 
nearly ail, relics of the old jungle. As they decay or are cut down, 
the bees are compelled to go elsewhere and many colonies probably 
perish whilst searching for anew home or because they are ultimately 
compelled to make shift with an unsuitable position. 
30. Increased facilities for trade do not. at first sight have any 
bearing on the destruction of bees, but, in cases where the colonies 
are robbed by jungle tribes, it would seem that a larger and nearer 
market and better prices lead to a more systematic persecution of the 
bees for the sake of their products. A junyle tribe which used to rob 
the nests for its own immediate necessities now destroys every acces- 
sible colony to supply the market. This is an economic factor which 
should not be lost sight of if the necessity for any restrictions on the 
robbing of these colonies of bees is considered by Government. It 
seems to ine that there is a decided difference between a man who 
collects jungle produce for his own use and one who collects it for 
sale to others. 
31. The method of collecting the honey and wax has already been 
described. _The bees are always burnt off with a torch and the whole 
colony is killedas arnle. It has been stated (Planters’ Chronicle, 
VIII, 27) that “it is quite easy to take honey and wax without 
destroying the bees”; go it is, when the bees are in a hive under 
control. When they are all on a single comb containing honey and 
young brood, and when moreover this comb is suspended from a 
branch or rock perhaps a hundred feet above the groand, the matter 
1s very different and J doubt whether any other method would be 
practicable as a rule. 
32. As regards the desirability of legislation to prevent the 
destruction of bees, it does not appear that there is any necessity for 
this because the matter appears capable of being dealt with without 
special enactments. So far as reserved forest areas are concerned, I 
anderstand that the right to collect honey and wax is vested in 
- Government under the general heading of ‘* Minor Forest Products ” 
