464 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [November i, 1881. 
CULTIVATION OF CASUARINAS. 
(From a Correspondent.) 
Permit me, (the writer of the article on Casuarina 
Cultivation which originally appeared in the Eurasian 
and Anglo-Indian Advocate,, and which you republished 
in your issue of the 20th July), to make a few re- 
marks in reply to strictures passed on my statements 
by the Secretary of the Madras Agri-Horticultural 
Society. That gentleman, who claims to have con- 
siderable experience in this matter, says, that on the 
average only 300 trees can be planted on an acre, 
and estimates the yield at Rl,440 for six acres. He 
then wishes the public to believe that my estimated 
expenditure of Rl,400 on six acres will yield only 
R40 nett profit, or in other words only 2 6-7th per 
cent, or, say, 3 per cent. He seems to have for- 
gotten that since he has reduced the number of 
trees on six acres to 1,800 from 18,000, he should 
also have proportionately reduced the expenditure. 
In my estimate the cost of watering 18,000 trees 
is put down at R600. It would not be correct to 
say that one-tenth the number of trees would cost 
only one-tenth the sum for watering. While the 
quantity of water required would be very much less, 
the area over which the trees are scattered would be 
the same, still I think one-tenth the number of trees 
would not cost for watering more than one-third the 
original sum, i.e. , f of R600 — R200. Similarly the cost 
of watching, superintendence, &c, was put down at 
R444 ; but when a large estate is purchased the cost 
for six acres would be very little ; I think, one-fourth 
of the 444 would be ample, i.e , Rill. Now, taking 
the Honorary Secretary's figures as to yield, let us 
see what the profit is on 6 acres containing only 1,800 
trees. 
R. A 
1,800 plants at R5 per L,000 - 9 0 
Ploughing 6 acrea at K3 per acre ... ... 18 0 
Planting and first watering at 12 As per 
1,000 ... 1 6 
40 cart loads of manure at 8Asacart... 20 0 
Watering for first year ... 200 0 
Watching &c ... 1110 
Total... R359 6 
or say R360 0 
Income. 
From 6 acres at R240 each . 1,440 0 
Deduct Expenditure 360 0 
Net profit... 1,080 0" 
or a return of 300 per cent on the original outlay. 
Now, sir, the Hon. Secretary says the outturn is 
only 3 per cent., and from his own figures I prove 
it is 300 per cent. May I not fairly ask which is 
the more exaggerated statement? 
I do not wish to take up any more of your val- 
uable space, but it would be unfair to myself were 
I not to state my authority for saying that 3,600 
trees could be planted on an acre, and that the trees 
would grow well if thus planted. The following is 
an extract from a paper by the Assistant Superin- 
tendent, Government Farms, and is taken from the 
Report of the Saidapet Farm for the year ending 
31st March, 1879. Page 130 :—" The casuarinas were 
planted more closely than in previous years. This was 
done partly for the sake of the shade the trees will afford 
each other, and thereby be able to protect themselves 
better from the sun than when planted far apart, but 
chiefly to induce the trees to grow straight and upright, 
it having been observed that, when casuarina trees are 
planted far apart, instead of developing a straight 
stem their main stem is sometimes liable to fork, 
and to produce many side branches, but no proper 
main stem, which considerably reduces the value of 
the tree. ... In giving each tree 12 square feet, 
I 3,630 trees can be planted on an acre of ground." 
My own opinion at present is that 12 square feet 
is not sufficient for a tree to grow very well, but 
that 25 or 30 square feet would be ample. I am 
borne out in this view by the fact that at Tranquebar 
there is a plantation of 00,000 trees doing remarkably 
well, although each tree has only 36' square feet 
of ground at the most. I am quite sure the Honorary 
Secretary's motive in exposing (as he thought) the 
'fallacious hopes held out by me, was really to place 
people of small means on their guard; but I contend 
that when one in his position attacks me so publicly 
he ought to be at least accurate. I may add that 
the Perseverance Casuarina Company (Limited) has 
been formed with a capital of R20,000, and that 
it seems to be in fair way of being a success.— Madras 
Mail. 
BEE CULTURE IN INDIA. 
Bees' wax and honey form no very insignifican 
items in our trade returns. People in India care 
very little for bee- culture ; they are content to know 
that particular districts of South-rn India afford both 
these items of luxury and medicament ; some few may 
try to be critical about Cuddapah honey, but about 
the honey-bee of India most of us are as ignorant 
as those simple rustic folk in England, who, though 
" bee-masters'' themselves, yet are in blissful ignor- 
ance of the full value of their interesting charge, 
their instincts and habits. Among the insects °of 
commerce which India possesses, there is a hiatus 'eft 
in respect of bees which amounts almost to neglect 
of the gifts of Providence. Not many months ago 
a project was talked of for utilising the countless 
tons of bats' manure which the hill-caves of Cudda- 
pah were said to contain ; whether it is to come to 
any head, or is to remain 1 in the category of this 
non jjosse, remains to be seen. In the meantime, 
it is interesting to know that Indian bees are begin- 
ning to be recognised as very promising producers 
of wealth, and that a venture is about to be made 
for utilising the Indian bee to the purpose, if not to 
the same extent, that it is in France and elsewhere. 
Possibly, with those peculiar views held by certain 
classes of Mussulmans of the sacredness of the bee, 
some little opposition in its being domesticated may 
ensue, but it is not likely to be long-lived. It is a 
very remarkable fact that customs and prejudices 
exist long after the age which gave birth to them. 
The hill-men of Cuddapah go out after the honey and 
wax, which they exchange with the low country-folk 
with instruments of barbaric sound. We wonder if 
they have heard at any time of Virgil and the direc- 
tions he gives, — when you see the swarm issue from 
the hive, watch them attentively and raise tinkling 
sounds and clash the cymbals of Cybele. Somehow, 
the prejudice is both an old and deeply-rooted one 
which ascribes to bees a love for discordant sounds. 
To return to our njuttons : an adventurous gentle- 
man, whom a recent number of the Tropical Agri- 
culturist named, is, we learn, about to start bee-culture 
in India. People have ventured on silk worms, and 
recorded successful issues, and we see no reason for 
believing the bees of the country to be more intract- 
able. Bee-culture may have some little difficulties at 
first to contend with ; so has silk-worm rearing, and 
what patience and unremitting care has compassed 
in one instance, they may succeed also in compass- 
ing in another. Cuddapah honey bears a high com- 
mercial value : when pure, it has a bright light yellow 
hue ; it is only after it gets into the hands of the 
bazaar man that it [acquires the mawkish taste and 
color that it does when it is brought into the market. 
We venture to predict a promising future for bee- 
culture in districts whose conditions are favourable 
