430 



COLONIAL BEE-KEEPING INDUSTRIES. 



Dear Sir, — With reference to the article on "Bee-keeping in Ceylon" 

 published in the Tropical Agriculturist for December, I think the following are 

 worth reproducing in your next issue : — 



(From the British Trade Journal for May, 1906.) 



" Bee-keeping is an industry in South Australia which affords light employ- 

 ment to an extent not generally known, and is widely spreading where the climate 

 and flora are favourable. Information respecting this pursuit was first obtained in 

 1891, when it was found that 500 tons were gathered. In 1899 the number of hives 

 had increased to 12,182, and the yield of honey to 238 tons, of £7,000 value, whilst the 

 season 1900 was so ijropitious that the number of hives was doubled, 26,700 being 

 returned, and 763 tons of houey, of £21,364 value. On the other hand, the season of 

 1901 was so adverse that the number of hives was reduced to 14,853, or 11,847 fewer, 

 nearly one-half, whilst the yield was only 140 against 768 tons the previous year. 

 The season of 1902 was again favourable, the number of hives increasing to 18,371, or 

 by 3,878, whilst the quantity of honey gathered was 338 tons against 140 tons. The 

 wet year 1903, with heavy rainfalls up to November, was disastrous, the number of 

 hives returned being 17,034, or 1,697 fewer, whilst the output of honey was only 

 315,765 lbs. against 756,822 lbs., or 441,057 lbs. less. In 1904, the rainfall being normal 

 and other conditions favourable, the honey gathered was the second best yield of 

 the decade. The number of hives was 23,633, and the quantity of honey 1,197,737 lbs. 

 (535 tons), compared with 17,034 and 315,765 lbs. (141 tons) the previous season." 



Also the following taken from Customs Returns sent to us from the under- 

 noted countries :— 



Exports for 1904 from New Zealand, 55,166 lbs. ... value £1,204 



Do St. Lucia, 71 tins ... ... „ £82 



Exports for year ending 31st March, 1905, from 



Jamaica, 129,128 gals. ... ... ... „ £9,684,120 



I shall have more figures to send you when the Returns are received. 



Yours faithfully, 



W. H. M. DA VIES. 



Colombo, 21st May. 



The Ceylon Board of Agriculture 



The Nineteenth Meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held on Monday, 

 14th May, at 12 noon, in the Council Chamber. 

 His Excellency the Governor presided. 



There were also present :— The Hon'ble Messrs. H. Wace, C.M.G., H. L. 

 Crawford, S. C. Obeyesekere, P. Arunachalam, and A. Kanagasabai, Dr. Willis, 

 Dr. H. M. Fernando, Messrs. L. W. Booth, F. Beven, R. Morison, C. Drieberg, 

 Daniel Joseph, R. B. Strickland, E. E. Green, G. W. Sturgess, Herbert Wright, 

 Kelway Bamber, W. Dunuwille, and the Secretary. 



There were several visitors present, including Mr. L. Sreenivasa Raghava 

 Aiyar, Asst. Secretary of the North Arcot (South India) Agricultural Associa- 

 tion, and Mr. Simon Fernando Sri Chandrasekere Mudaliyar. 



BUSINESS DONE. 



1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 



2. A letter was read from Mr. Simon Fernando Sri Chandrasekere Mudaliyar 

 offering three acres of land at Horetuduwa to the Society for the establishment of an 

 Industrial School and Experimental Garden— the cost of erection, &c, to be borne by 

 Mr. Fernando, and a sum of Rs. 2,500 provided by him for a maintenance fund. 



