444 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist." [December ij 1889. 
down the highlands, river water got by impeding the 
progress of steams, and tank water, which is the water 
obtained from rain and rivers, but stored up for use 
when required. The other method of obtaining water, 
that is, by means of wells, is not used here, as far 
as I have observed, for the purpose of irrigating 
paddy fields. Water got from the rainfall in its course 
of flowing over highlands brings with it a deal of matter 
in suspension, and when it has settled down in the 
lower grounds (the fields) generally deposits a layer 
of mud consisting of materials brought from the adjacent 
highlands. 
River or 6tream water is generally clear except in 
very rainy weather (though there are exceptional cases) 
and does not carry much silt without depositing it 
on its way, except when the streams are flowing at 
a rapid rate. But ordinarily the water got by the im- 
peding of streams contains very little matter in sus- 
pension, and hence very little Bilt is added ; whilst that 
rom tanks generally contains hardly any silt, because 
he water when stored up deposits all the matter 
which it holds in suspension. 
Thus, with regard to the addition of silt we have 
the rain water standing first in regard to its advan- 
tages. But it is not silt alone which adds fertility 
to a Boil, The substances brought in solution are more 
active in this respect and their action is quicker. 
Water has remarkable soluble properties, and dis- 
solves substances on its way. Thus rain water will dis- 
solve substances as it flows, and the dissolving action 
is promoted by the gases and acids vhioh it has ob- 
tained from the atmosphere and soil. River-water 
dissolves substances generally occurring in the bed of 
the rivers, and the drainings it gets on its way down 
contribute 6ome disordered material, while tank-water 
contains as much if not more matter in solution as 
the other two description", the stability of the water 
not effecting the matter in solution. Sometimes this 
description of water is more enriched with matter in 
solution on account of the constant evaporation which 
it has to undergo by exposure. 
It will be thus seen that water should first come 
in contact with the materials themselves so as to 
dissolve them, and that the amount of materials depend 
to a great extent on the nature of the places the 
water has to pass through. The determination of 
matter held in solution in water would be very in- 
teresting ard useful to the paddy cultivators who 
could by that means be guided as to the amount of 
material with which they are supplied through that 
agent. 
We now come to ths other actions of irriga- 
tion water; viz., the dissolving of plant food found in 
the soil, and the entering into the composition of 
plants themselves. These two processes are more or 
less carried on under all circumstances whether the 
water be obtained From tanks or supplied by the rain. 
Thus the usr s of wati r in paddy-cultivation are 
manifold; and for the highest benefits, a knowledge 
of its advantages and the best means of utilizing it 
are necessary. 
CEYLON BEE CULTURE. I. 
Bv Aba. 
The first native of Ceylon who attempted anything 
like bee-keeping on improved methods was the late 
Samuel Jayetileke Mudaliyar of Kurunegala, and an 
interesting paper written by him in 1881 is now lying 
before me. 
The Mudaliyar got out with the aid of several English 
gentlemen beehives &c. from England, and endeavoured 
to improve the primitive means adopted by the natives, 
but with very little success, as the native bees could not 
be induced to build their combs in the imported hives. 
Mr. Jayatileke attributes this, to use his own words, 
to " waut of ingenuity and experience to adapt the 
frames to their mode of comb-building, or to the bees 
preferring pots, which are cooler than the boxes." 
However the old Mudaliyar was able to show visi- 
tors at Roselane Cottage, with no little pride, a 
colony of Cyprian bees which he had in English 
hives in a quiet corner of his garden. I remember 
Mr. Andree of the Kurunegala Land Registrar's Office 
showing me a swarm of the Mi Messa building their 
combs inside an old gin case which he had improvised 
into a respectable-looking hive. 
Bee-keeping with the natives is carried on in the 
most primitive manner. An ordinary water pitcher 
or kalagediya which has become unserviceable is placed 
after smearing the mouth with a little honey in an 
elevated portion (generally on a flowering tree) in 
some retired spot in the garden during the swarming 
season, which is in March and April. A swarm of bees 
may by the merest chance enter this primitive hive 
and build combs and stock the cells. When the 
proper season, which is in July or August comes 
round, the bees are driven away by smoke and the 
pitchers broken. All the honey is abstracted and the 
brood combs are thrown away causing considerable 
destruction of bee-life. But the greater portion of 
the honey used in Ceylon is obtained by bee hunters 
from the crevices and hollows of rocks and trees in 
the jungles where the wild bees build their combs. 
I am induced to write this article on apiculture 
(which will be continued in the future numbers of 
the Magazine) with the hope that my countrymen 
will endeavour to open up an industry, so easily 
conducted, and which will not fail to yield a good 
return if properly carried out. 
(To be continued.) 
INDIGENOUS: FOOD PRODUCTS : CULTI- 
VATED AND WILD. III. 
By W. A. De Silva. 
Portulacacea. 
6. Portulaca Oleracea. L. Purslane, known among the 
Sinhalese as Genda. This is an annual potherb, both 
cultivnted in gardens and growiug as a weed in culti- 
vated places. When growing wild, it is always found 
in such places having a fertile soil, either newly 
manured or otherwise, and is very seldom or never 
found in barren grounds. 
