9° 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[July i, 1881 
bottle is placed in the box. When a box has to be 
closed, air must be given by means of perforated zinc 
on the sides of it. 
L vrvae cun be found in almost unlimited number, 
on bushes, shrub-i, trees, and low plants. Larvse, 
which teed by night, can only be obtained in large num- 
bers, by looking for them with a lantern at night. 
Cocoons are found on the branches on the trunks, 
or at the foot of trees ; pupoe by digging at the roots 
of trees; others are found on the stems of grasses, on 
blanches in the bushes, and on walls and fences. 
To conclude ; I may say, with regari to the send- 
ing of cocoons, pupce, and also ova of It picloptera, that, 
with a little care, and especially, if they were given 
in charge of the captain, or some other person on 
boardship, they could be sent to Europn from distant 
countries, and arrive alive in good condition. 
In 1864, salmon and trout ova, were safely sent 
from England to Australia and Tasmania, packed in 
a box, which was placed in the ice-house of the S. 
"The Norfolk." In the same manner, silkworm ova, 
cocoons, and pupoe could be sent to Europe from very 
distant countries, and arrive in perfect condition. 
Alfred WaiHy, 110, Clapham Road, London, S.W.— 
Indian Daily News. 
CALIFORNIA^ BEE CULTIVATION. 
There is ground for supposing that there were no 
bees in the New World prior to the invasion of the 
European. The Indians agree that the busy little 
insect is never fonud far distant from the outskirts 
of civilisation, and there is a recorded tradition that 
the invasion of California by the backwoodsman was 
predicted by a warrior of the Gumas tribe, on dis- 
covering a bee-tree on the Gila River. As civilisation 
advanced, however, its pioneers soon learned to value 
the honey; and a race of hunters grew up, who made 
it their business to track the flight of the wild bees 
to their nests in old hollow trees, and then, by 
smoking the bees out, and cutting down the tree or 
its branch, with a batchet, obtaining the combs, which 
were carried away in buckets and tubs. It is only in 
recent years, however, that anything like bee culture 
has been attempted ; but so rapidly has the system 
extended, that it has now become quite an important 
industry, more than thirty-five millions of pounds of 
honey being annually produced and sold in America. 
The trade is principally cwied on by large capitalists 
who have often fiom 2,500 to 5 000 swarms of bees, 
and even larger numbers, one firm having as many 
as 12,000. Perfect organisation is necessary for the 
management aud care of the little workers. In 
the United States the bees are " farmed out," i.e., 
apiaries of say a hundred swarms are placed in 
the grounds of farmers, the distance between each apiary 
being generally from three to four miles. The fann- 
ers receive i either a fixed rent or a share of the 
honey lor the accommodation. The bee-owner has a 
staff of skilled workmen who clean out the hives and 
remove the boxes of surplus honey as they are filled. 
In addition to these exp rienced bee-men, occupation is 
afforded for many other people in manufacturing the 
boxes in which the honey is transported to the dif- 
ferent markets, one firm alone, we believe, finding 
employ ent for nine men and two steam saws during 
six weeks of the year in cutting up the timber for the 
72,000 boxes which they require. The glass-makers 
also find Some custom from the honey dealers, the slides 
and ends of the boxes being of glass. On an average one 
acre is estimated to support twenty-five swarms ot bees, 
and the yield of a swarm is generally about 50 lb. of 
honey ; tothat the trade is evidently capable of yet 
further development. Much attention is paid to the 
improvement of the breed of bees, and, with character- 
1 ti 1.1 unity, the Americans have introduced many 
COi ea 10 save the time and labour, not only of the 
boo ay dealers, but of the bees themselves — Graphic. 
AN OLD PLANTER ON CEYLON PLANTING 
PROSPECTS 
This mail brings us a letter from a Kadugannawa and 
Walaha pioneer, whose communications were well- 
known in our columns in " Days of Old " under the 
sobriquet "Saxon. " We quote from his communica- 
tion as follows :— 
" I am at present at Bath. It is a very beanti 
ful city and neighbourhood, with a genial clim- 
ate, but their spring, like everywhere else the 
cold east winds have been, is very trying. The 
weather is now fine and m Id and spring may be said 
to have come at last. Farmers are having a hard time 
of it, with such seasons. I am glad to hear a good 
crop is expected and that planters' prospects are look- 
ing up. It is always the way : people run from one ex- 
treme to the other. When 1 left Ceylon, planters 
were in high glee, and expecting great things. 
I must say they have been very extravagant and 
now that many have got to the end of their tether, they 
think it all up with them. 
"I hope it will do many a great deal of good and 
and make them more cautions when good times return, 
to take advantage of their opportunites and make 
hay while the sun shines. How many times before 
have hard times come on the planters, generally at the 
time least expected. There is nothing new therefore 
in the present depression : it might have been ex- 
pected, aud there is no reason why good times 
should not again return, as they have always done be- 
fore. 
"Ontil you get two or three rattling good heavy 
monsoon rains, you will not get rid of leaf disease: 
all other remedies will prove useless and unavailing. 
"The ra'n must come at the proper time. You 
should have a very heavy monsoon next May, if my 
observations be correct. Remember me to all old 
friends in C-ylon. I still read the Observer with 
great interest, and only wish I could return again 
to have another spell at planting and to stir up 
your degenerate Government." 
SOUTH INDIAN TEA AWARD-. 
The South Indian Post publishes the awards for 
South Indian teas at the Melbourne Exhibition and 
adds : — 
The above must satisfy even the most sceptical that 
for excellence of quality, our South Indian teas stand 
unrivalled. The Nilgiri Tea Planter has, of recent 
years, been much disheartened at the low prices that 
have ruled in the English market for Indian teas. 
The depression has been variously accounted for. In- 
dian produce was insignificant till very recently, and 
the overwhelming influence of the importers of China 
tea has been brought to bear, to drive it out of 
competition. The fall in price has been disastrous to 
many concerns within the past twelve months. 
Scores of tea gardens have been abandoned in the 
North. Quality not quantity has b en the continuoui 
cry from the brokers at home, and the reason for a 
demand of this nature is not far to seek. System, 
atically Indian teas hive been used to mix with 
the inferior China article much to the detriment of the 
Indian tea industry. Fresh markets have, of course, 
been suggested as a remedy, and investors in Indian 
tea gardens have not been slow to discover and take 
advantage of such outlets as offered. The Melbourne 
Exhibition offered a capital opportunity for establish- 
ing a market in Australia, and the high awards for 
our tea mu>t be most flattering to ihe fortunate 
planters who had been to the trouble of competing. 
Two of the Coonoor gardens — Brouklands and Glen- 
dale-— have taken the first order of merit for their 
