Sept. 1, 1902.] 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist^' 
215 
West Indies, as also is the Syrian or Palestine 
bee which is closely related to the formei'. 
The latter can seldom be obtained in a pure 
state, and the choice of a race for tlie West 
Indies is practicolly limited to the Italian, 
which is also the one best suited to local condi- 
tions." And again, " A dash of Cyprian blood 
in the Italian makes an excellent strain of 
bees for work in a hot climate," 
At present, however, it will be enough if 
tlie "mee-messa" {Apis indica), the only satis- 
factory honey bee of Ceylon and one capa1)le 
of domestication, is taken iu hand and kept 
in frame hives, and the Iiints given in the 
West Indian pamphlet followed as to procedure. 
In previous mumbers of the Magazine we 
have given a complete account of what has 
been done in the past in the way of bee-keeping, 
describing the different varieties of honej'-makers 
and their characteristics. 
An experiment in apiculture has been carried 
on at the School of Agriculture since 1900, with 
a view to '-educating" the Ceylon honey bee; 
and the Director of the Museum and Govern- 
ment Entomologist have shown interest iu the 
experiment. 
We must not emit to mention that Mr, Charles 
Andrei, of Xuruiiegala, has kept bees for many 
years, and planned a special hive on the lines 
of the Langstroth hive, specially suited to tbe 
Ceylon bee. 
BETEL CULTIVATION IN INDIA. 
(Continued.) 
In Bengal three varieties are cultivated, one of 
which (difficult to grow) is known as ' sweet betel,' 
and has a fine flavour and odour like camphor. 
There it would appear that the vines are grown 
on 'pandals,' but before being allowed to creep 
over them the creeping stem is pulled down 
repeatedly, and a portion is made to rest on 
the ground in a soil wliich is covered with a 
little earth, a few leaves being plucked each 
time. Fond-mud and other good mould is used 
for occasionally earthing-up. 
In Orissa, we read, the plant reaches maturity 
in 12 or 15 months and yields leaves ior 50 
or 60 years. An acre is said to yield from 
£88 to £100 gross or a net profit of from 
£Zo to £35. 
In Ahmednagar betel begins to yield from 
the third year, and picking is carried on at 
intervals of 8 to 10 days. The vine is cut to 
the ground once a year, after which new shoots 
spring up ancT are trained on to the live supports — 
Erythrina t'wc^icrt (erabodu) or Moringa-pteryosper- 
ma (murunga). 
In Kandesh the leaves are plucked with the 
aid of sharp-edged thimble-like plates which 
nip the leaves clean off witl.out wrenching the 
plant. Then the leaves retail at 1 to 2 annas 
per 100, 
In Foona where it is well-raniiured the vines 
last from 15 to 20 years. Every year the uj^per 
half of the vine is cut, while the lower hall' 
is coiled and buried under fresh red earili and 
mauuure. 
In Nasih the acre yield is said to be wortli 
Rs. 1.50 to llf. 750 annually, b^it from R.?. -ICO 
to PiS. COO are often spent before the crop 
yields any return. Stunted shoots arc said to 
give the best leaves, soft, smooth and full of 
flavour, while those on luxuriant shoots are 
coarse. Two kinds of vines are distinguished, 
one yielding quick returns, the other better and 
larger crops. 
In Dharwar the vines are planted iu the open, 
on quick-growing trees, 2,000 to the acre, the 
crop last for from 4 to 7 years. Then the vines 
are dug up and the leaves of the supports are used 
as manure and the wood for fuel. After a catch 
crop of sugar cane for which the land is well 
prepared betel follows on. 
In Kanara betel is allowed to run up mango 
trees. 
In Thana the vines are started in pits 1| 
ft. apart, and when established are given 5 oz. 
of oil cake (generally mustard as castor is found 
unsuitable) and a second dose of ^ lb. beiug 
given at a later stage. 
In Xolaba the vines are manured with fish 
and yield a crop in the first year. 
The ordinary fertilisers tised in India are dried 
and powdered cowdung or dry soil from ponds. 
POULTRr PICKINGS. 
Considerable vitality has lately been e.thibited 
in poultry-fanciers' circles. We have long known 
that there are amongst us a few poultry eahusiasts, 
and the names of Messrs. T. Sanmugam, Chapman 
Dias, and Dr. VauRoyen are well known among 
Ceylonese brid fanciers, who have for soma time 
been devoting time and attention to tbe subject 
of the improvement of poultry. Now, however, the 
number of private individuals who are interested 
in this home industry is larger, and we know of 
one Government officer who is taking up the 
matter of improving the poultry of his i)roviuce 
from his official standpoint. Under these circum- 
stances it is not unreasonable to expect that soma 
real benefit will accrue to the country. 
. Tlie following is a resume of the results of the 
Poultry Show held on the 13ch August taken from 
the Ceylon Observer — 
The Brahmas exhibited were considered no 
quality at all and cocks and cockerels received no 
prize. Laugshaus also failed to come up to expec- 
tations. The four Leghorn imported hens exhi- 
bited were capital specimens and there was keen 
compelitiou between JMTs. 1''. C. Loos (jr,) and Mrg. 
J. Cary, the former being awarded the prize. 
There w-asafairlot of country-bred Leghorns. Mr. 
Geo, John, who was the chief competitor, carrying 
off tbe prize for hens and Mrs. C:iry for cockerels. 
Dr. Thomas exhibited a very fine imported 
Minorca cock which carried away the prize from 
two others. Mrs, Loos and Mrs. Bowie divided 
h..>nours for hens in Chi.s class. Mr. Seale got first 
prize for c. b. Mii\orca cocks with aa ai\imal which 
slunved good quality, as also tlid the hens amongst 
which Mrs. Bowie's bird yot the prize. Tiio 
