July, 1908.] 



67 



Miscellaneous. 



The Government Sugar Bureau recent- 

 ly purchased three American windmills 

 for experimental purposes in connection 

 with irrigating their experimental sugar 

 plantation in South Formosa. Water 

 can be found at a depth of from 10 to 20 

 feet on the lowlands, and it is quite 

 possible that the windmills may be found 

 to be profitable in irrigation work. 

 Whether windmills prove a success or 

 not, the introduction of pumps through- 

 out many of the plantations will be a 

 necessity. * 



This office finds that there is much 

 ignorance on the part of the American 

 business public as to the facilities which 

 this island furnishes for the commercial 

 traveller. Boats of 2,000 to 2,500 register- 

 ed tonnage ply between Formosa and 

 Japan on regular three and five day 

 schedules. These have good passenger 

 accommodations. From Kobe, Japan to 

 Kelung, Formosa, about 950 miles is 

 covered in three and one-half days. 

 The Government railway extends from 

 Kelung iu the north, to Takao Harbour, 

 in the south, about 200 miles. The 

 various sugar plantations can be easily 

 reached from this railway ; in fact, 

 many of the mills are being erected 

 along the road- A splendid modern 

 hotel is in course of erection in Taihoku, 

 the capital city. Good Japanese hotels 

 can be found all alonar the railway. 

 Reports have been published in the 

 United States from time to time in 

 regard to savage warfare in Formosa 

 which would make it appear that the 

 island is over-run with head-hunting 

 tribes ; but savage tribes in Formosa 

 are all confined to the heavily timbered 

 mountain regions, and one may live on 

 the lowlands for years and never see one 

 of them. Life and property on the lo w 

 lands in Formosa are as safe from the 

 attack of savages as they are in Japan. 

 The island is remarkably well policed, 

 and law and order obtain throughout 

 the civilized portions. The American 

 manufacturer who is looking forward to 

 business relations with Formosa in 

 connection with the sugar industry 

 would do well to send his representative 

 here to study conditions and interview 

 prospective buyers personally. He need 

 not be told that the catalogue is of little 

 use without the man to explain it, 

 especially among a people who read but 

 little English. — Louisiana Planter, Vol, 

 XXXX-,"No. 20, May 16, 1908. 



artificTal swarming. 



Those of our readers who know some- 

 thing of artificial swarming will value a 

 note on "How to make Two Colonies 

 from One," by Mr. Frederick Sworder. 

 Bees increase in large numbers when 



there is a good honey flow. The result 

 of this is that they make preparations 

 to swarm, as their abode is getting 

 uncomfortably full. During this period 

 they are in an unsettled state, and, 

 provided the weather is favourable, 

 their owner may lose his swarm. If we 

 desire an increase of stocks an artificial 

 swarm can be easily and successfully 

 made in the following manner : On a 

 fine afternoon, after having taken the 

 necessary precautions to subdue the 

 bees, open a strong hive, lift out, and 

 examine three frames from the centre 

 and search for the queen. 



When found, place these frames of 

 comb along with her and the hatching 

 and adhering bees into another hive 

 previously prepared ; next cover the 

 frames with clothing. Move the remain- 

 ing frames of the brood in the old hive 

 to its centre, filling up the empty space 

 with frames of founndation and prefer- 

 ably wired. Now move the old hive, 

 which is queenless, say, 40 feet away, and 

 on the spot where the old hive stood 

 place the new hive, carefully covering 

 these frames with warm quilting, 

 and the operation is finished. By this 

 simple method it will be seen that only 

 one stock of bees is disturbed, and the 

 old bees from the old hive wijl return to 

 the old spot. Further, this hive has 

 plenty of female eggs besides hatching 

 bees, and is in excellent condition for 

 raising a queen. She will be laying in a 

 fortnight. Most of the old bees will fly 

 back to the old spot and form the swarm. 

 Frames of brood foundation must be 

 added, as required, to the new hive which 

 now possesses the old laying queen. 

 — Transvaal Agicultural Journal, No. 

 23, Vol. VI., April, 1908. 



WEST INDIAN CITRATE. 



Several weeks ago we referred to the 

 progress which the island of Dominica 

 has made in developing the lime indus- 

 try. We now learn that the lime crop 

 last year was the largest ever reaped in 

 Dominica, being estimated at 245,000 

 barrels, or 28,000 barrels more than in 

 tne previous year ; while the value of 

 the exports increased from 54,874i. to 

 77,407Z. The manufacture of calcium 

 citrate is a department of the industry. 

 This was commenced in 1906, when 720 

 ewt. of citrate was exported, but last 

 year the output was 2,380 cwt., valued at 

 7,76U. In addition there was exported 

 128,800 gals, of concentrated lime-juice, 

 valued at 49,150Z., a small increase iu 

 quantity over 1906, but 11,000^. more iu 

 value ; while of raw lime-jucice the 

 exports were 234,238 gals., valued at 



