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quality. As soon as the combs are filled and sealed they should be 
removed and the honey should be run off and bottled. Honey will not 
keep in the comb in this climate. From the month of September to 
March the bees are more or less inactive and during this period the 
hives should be examined and if necessary feeding should be given in the 
form of sugar and water in order that the hives may remain strong and 
healthy for the following season. It is always a good plan to place 
combs that have been emptied near the hives so that the bees may use 
them for feeding and building purposes. It will be seen that the 
methods adopted in Singapore differ in many ways from those 
practiced it Europe but after studying the social customs of Apis indica 
for many years it has been found that the above method is the only 
one whereby success is assured. 
Bee-keeping whether taken up as a hobby or as a means of 
making money is at all times a delightful and engrossing study and as 
has already been shewn is of considerable importance to the agriculturist 
whose aim is to produce healthy seed and vigorous plants. Works 
that give much information on bees and beekeeping are Cheshire’s 
“Beekeeping, its science and practice ” and Kirkby and Spences’ 
“ Introduction to Entomology,” these two books l would recommend 
to any one who wishes to make a study of the science. 
I am deeply indebted to Father Gex., Mission Etrangeres Singa- 
pore, for much of this information. He is an enthusiastic beekeeper 
and visitors to the Agri-hort icultural Show in Singapore in 1906 will 
remember with pleasure his excellent exhibit of honey. His exhibition 
of bees at work was a revelation to hundreds of visitors- 
T. W. Main. 
NUTMEG CULTIVATION IN SINGAPORE. 
I have had nutmeg trees growing for the last 12 years. They 
have been cleaned and manured occasionally, and are a moderate 
success. My best tree is about 20 feet high and 22 feet broad, and 
has usually a few hundred nuts on it. I am now in a position to give 
the trees constant personal attention, and am confident of good results. 
The trees should be pruned, otherwise they grow too much to wood, 
and the stems cleaned. The land should be weeded, and the ground 
loosened under the trees. Care must be taken not to injure the roots. 
Manure should be spread close to the stem, and allowed to work its 
way in. 
Young trees should be shaded, by planting bananas between. 
One occasionally comes accross a nut divided into two parts, as in 
Jordan Almonds. 
Sandy soil is unsuitable, and stagnant water about the roots is 
injurious. 
Plants are raised from fresh seed, which do not rattle in the shell 
when shaken, and planted in a nursery, an inch below the surface, 
and a foot apart. They take about six weeks to germinate, and should 
be watered daily. 
