866 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist. 
[June 2, 1890. 
At the commencement of the first term of the 
present year 12 new students were admitted, and 
among them we count more than one representative 
of the most influencial native families in the land. This 
is as it should be, and once we can count men of in- 
fluence among our patrons, our efforts at reform should 
not die from lack of support. 
When we notice such pregnant signs in our retros- 
pect, who will say that the prospect is not hopeful ? 

CEYLON BEE CULTURE. V, 
By Aba. 
In Ceylon there are four species of honey-bees 
viz: — 
1. Mi — 13. Apis Indica: 
2. Danduwella— q^3i(5e3. Apis Florea. 
3. Bambara — Apis Doroata. 
4. Kana Veyiya, — S3«3®&)Sc9j. Trigona, 
The only species of bee kept by the Sinhalese is 
the Mi Messa, the common honey-bee of Ceylon. On 
a previous occasion I gave a brief description of the 
primitive mode of bee-keeping foltowed by the natives 
and the object of these articles is to point out the 
defects of the native method, and to induce my country- 
men to follow a better system of bee-keeping. 
The Danduwella produces very little honey and is not 
a profitable bee to keep. It usually attaches its solitary 
combs to the branch of a tree. 
The Bambara is the most important species of 
bee in Ceylon. It is a large insect, prettily marked 
with black and yellow, and produces a large quantity 
of honey, as much as two or three gallons sometimes. 
Its peculiarly-shaped comb is attached to the branches 
of tall forest trees or to the ledges of almost in- 
accesible rocks. The bee-hunters find it very difficult 
to get at the combs. At the proper season several 
experienced hunters start on the expedition, having 
armed themselves with knives and ropes and materials 
for smoking and burning the bees. Having reached 
the woods where the combs are, the hunters begin 
work on a calm day by driving away the bees by 
means of smoke, The bees fly high up in the air, 
and before they have time enough to alight, one of the 
men cuts the comb and lowers it down in a basket, and 
quickly descends to escape being stung, for the Bam- 
bara when provoked is a dangerous insect, and its 
sting is as poisonous as that of the wasp. Directly 
the oomb is sent down it is thrown into a fire to 
kill all the bees that may have remained behind. It 
is generally believed that the Bambara does not rebuild 
in the same place; this is very probable when we take 
into consideration the destruction of bee-life that takes 
place on the collection of the honey. 
The honey of the Bambara though not so thick as 
that of the common bee is very rich in flavour and 
highly esteemed by the Sinhalese. This bee has never 
been domesticated, and it is very doubtful whether it is 
capable of beiDg tamed. The late Mudaliyer Jayatileke 
of Kurunegala says that the Bambara unlike the com- 
mon bee forages during twilight. 
{To be continued.) 
INDIGENOUS FOOD PRODUCTS : 
CULTIVATED AND WILD. VIII. 
By W. A. De Silva. 
Rlwmnaceae 
18. Zizyphus Jujuba, L. Sin : Masan, 
Is a tree met with in the warmer parts of the Island, 
generally in the south-eastern and the north-central 
portions. The trees attain a moderate height, and 
have leaves which are elliptical, green above 
and whitish beneath. The flowers are axillary 
and greenish, and the fruit is a drupe. When young 
the fruits are green and are of an astringent taste, 
but when ripe they are yellow -coloured and contain 
sugary matter. It is an edible fruit and is so used to a 
large extent. The fruit of the Z. Jujuba is said to possess 
a property of allaying pain in cases of the stinging of 
wasps, and the dry leaves are used in curing hiccough, 
asthma, &c. The seeds also are believed to possess 
thesame properties among Native Medical Practitioners 
as well as the Indian Vytians. The bark of the root 
powdered and mixed with oil is applied to ulcers. The 
wood of this tree is used in India for making sandals, 
and the leaves are used to polish gems. 
19. Zizyphus (Enoplia, Mill. Sin : Braminiya. 
This is an arboraceous creeper common in the un- 
cultivated places, particularly the jungles of the low- 
country. The creeper when growing forms as it were a 
network. The leaves are elliptical and three veins 
are prominent on them. The plant is all throughout 
thorny, the stem is covered with thorns of different 
sizes, generally small and curved a little. The flowers 
are small and axillary, coming out along almost the 
whole length of the stem in well grown plants, and the 
fruits are borne almost at every leaf. Tbe fruits are 
very small, about the size, of pepper, and when raw are 
of a green colour. When they ripen they first assume a 
yellowish form and afterwards get quite black. The 
fruits when young are only mucilaginou*, but when 
fully ripe they have a pleasant sub-acid sweet taste. 
The fruits are eaten, and are much appreciated by 
children. The bark of this species of Zizyphus is used 
in fermenting toddy. It also forms a good remedy in 
cases of dislocations, and swellings cause by violence. 
THE POMEGRANATE. 
(Punica Granatum.) 
Sin: G\qQ&t (Delun) ; Tarn: Lnirj^mtA uottlo 
(Madalan-palam). 
The generic name Punica of the genus of plants to 
which the well'known Pomegranate belongs is supposed 
to be derived from the Latin name of ancient Carthage, 
the fruit having been known to the ancients as the 
Malum Punicum. With regard to its early history among 
European nations, we are told that the Grecians prized 
it very much, and the tree was first brought to Rome 
from Carthage in the days of Sylla. Pliny informs us 
that the colour called Puniceus, used as a dye for clotb, 
is obtained from (be flowers, and that the flowers and 
