Apru i i 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
70S 
BEE-KEEPING IN IRELAND. 
The inquiries made in the preceding three years 
relative to the extent to whioh bee-keeping is followed 
in Ireland, and the degree of success attained in this 
special branch of 1 u _1 eoonomy, were repeated lasfc 
year v.ith referent to the season of 1888. According 
to the returns received in 1889 there would appear 
to have been a decrease of 7 4 per cent, in the number 
of swarms at work, and a deorease of 28 6 per 
cent, in the quantity of honey produced in 1888 
as oompared with the preceding year. There were 
26,447 swarms at work in Ireland during the season 
1888, of whioh 8,421 were located in the province 
of Leinster ; 6,674 in Munster ; 9,129 in Ulster; and 
2,225 in Connaught. Of the 26,447 swarms, 9,145 
were at work " in hives having movable frames," 
and 17,802 " in other hives." The quantity of 
honey produced was 328,0921b. ; of this 94,8871b. 
were produced in the province of Leinster ; 99,3181b. 
in Munbttr; 99,7571b. in Ulster; and 44,1301b. in 
Connaught. Of the 328,0921b., 148,4411b. were pro- 
duced "in hives having movable frames," and 
179,6511b. " in other hives." It was stated that 
193,0891b. was "run honey," and 135,0031b. " sec- 
tion honey." 
The average number of pounds of honey to each hive 
having a movable frame was, for the whole of Ire- 
land, 16lb. ; in Leinster 141b. ; in Munster 181b. ; 
in Ulster 151b.; and in Connaught 261b. The 
average number of lb. to eaoh of the other hives was, 
for Ireland 101b.; in Leinster 81b.; in Munster 
13ib.; in Ukter 9b.; and in Connaught 161b. 
The average quantity produced in all hives was, in 
the whole of Ireland 12lb.; in Leinster it was 101b ; 
in Munster, 15ib.; in Ulster, 111b.; and in Con- 
naught, 20. b. The number of stocks brought 
through the winter of 1888-9 amounted to 21,486, 
of which 8,170 were in hives having movable 
frames and 13,316 in other hives. There were 7,7511b. 
of wax manufactured in 1888 of which 2,7071b. 
were from hives having movable frames and 
5,04Jlb. from other hives. The returns received in 
1888 gave the number of swarms at work during 
the season of 1887 as 28,569 ; the quantity of 
honey as 459 3861b.; the number of stocks brought 
through the winter of 1887-8 as 23,212 ; and the 
quantity of wax manufactured in 1887 as 9 7251b 
Globe. 
«- 
LEAF DISEASE AND COFFEE. 
To the Editor, " Singapore Freb Pbesb." 
Sir,— In a recent issue of your valuable paper I 
see that my old fiieud the Ceylon Observer says "It 
will be ftrange if tbe fungus which has ruined coffee 
111 Ceylon and S. India is not deemed worthy even 
of mention in the Straits 1" This is perfectly natural 
from the Ceylon standpoint :— especially when it in 
l.Di no iii mind that Liberian coffee which was intro- 
duce! early in the seventies, is a more robuct variety 
and more able to resist elisease, fell an easier victim 
to Hemileia Vastatrix than Arabian coffee. 
I am aware, Sir, that I am traveling on 
dangerous ground, and that where scientists 
such as Marshall-Ward and others hi.ve faih d 
I cannot hope to succeed. Nor shall I attempt to do 
so. I merely At she to give expression to my indi- 
vidual opinion, which is derived from personal exp< rionce 
and observation. The origin oiHemileia Vastatrixca 
lea) disease as it is more commonly called will j n nil 
probability remain a mystery, consequently the euro 
of it may be looked on as problematical, The disease 
was first noticed in 1869, in the far-away distnot 
of Madulsima and rapidly spread over the Ceylon plant- 
ing districts. Manure to stimulate the coffee" was 
applied. Soils were analysed and treated according to 
prescription. Still the Coffee oontinued to weaken. 
Scientists were called in, and recommended "medio 
ciual" cures ; lime, sulphur, tar, and goodness knows 
what besides. All were tried without effect. Be it 
noted that before leaf-disease made an appearance, 
virtually the whole of the Central ProviDoe of Oeylon 
was under cotlfie. From Matale to Adam's Peak 40 
miles as tbe crow flies N. to S., from Dolosbage to 
Teldeniya W- to E. nearly the same die ance. In fact 
you may say that close on 1,600 square miles were 
under one cultivation. And in all this I doubt if one 
acre of jungle was left standing for 100 acres of coffee, 
Can it be wondere 1 that c isease appeared ? 
Complaints are made that the " slums " of our 
big towns in England are contaminated by over- 
crowding. May it net be so with vegetable cultiva- 
tion ? Is it not po sible that an overcrowded vege- 
table population may be productive of disease, solely 
because all the atmospheric gases for one species 
whioh ought to be spread over a large area, are 
absorbed into a small one P 
My belief is that if in Ceylon _ coffee had been 
planted in isolated patches, leaf disease would never 
huve obtained the hold it ha3. And here in my 
opinion, (it is only an opinion), ii our great 
safeguard — coffee estates being so far from each 
other. Moreover other cultivations, pepper, nut- 
megs, gambier, coconuts, &c, not to mention the 
ubiquitous lalang and an occasional piece ot jungle 
intervening. I have hitherto seen no coffee affected 
with leaf disease, but I hope men with longer local 
experience than mine will give you their views. — I 
am, Sir, Your obedient servant, 
W. Tubing Mackenzie. 
STANLEY- WRIGHTSON TEA CHESTS FOR 
CEYLON. 
My most recent lettei- told you of a first shipment 
of their tea chests to India having been made by 
the Stanley. Wrightson Syndicate during last week. 
It has been followed during this one by a consign- 
ment to Ceylon, and we shall all be desirous to hear 
how far the new boxes may be appreciated by your 
planters. We have been told that the price to be 
paid for the boxes is 2s 2d each, so that they will 
not cost more, if so much, as the wooden boxes in 
which shipment of tea is at present made, while a 
single experience will, it is believed, convince your 
planting community how largely it will gain owing 
to the increased number of chests that can be 
shipped to the ton measurement. It is doubtful| 
however, if the price charged will be sufficient to 
remunerate the manufacturers, though this oannot 
be deoided one way or the other until the result of 
a longer time's experience may be known. But 
it is hoped that ere very long the supply of straw- 
board will be obtained locally and at a con- 
siderably cheaper rate than now has to be paid 
for it in Holland. There was a faotory for 
its preparation from horse manure established 
some years back near Purfleet, but it was closed 
last year owing to its non-success. But those 
who worked it are now of opinion that the 
largely increasing demand for the article has 
established a better prospect for them, and already 
land has baen purchased in the same neighbour- 
hood — Purfleet — to erect a new factory upon. There 
is hope therefore that before very long the Stanley. 
Wrightson Syndicate may be able to obtain its 
material close at hand and at a reduction on its 
present oost which will obviate any necessity 
for increasing the prioe at whioh the first con- 
signment of chests to Ceylon has been oharged to 
its purohaserB. — London Correspondent. 
