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      D D Phillips in the Daily Gleaner, April 2, 1936    

David Daniel Phillips was a prominent figure in Manchester having been a member of the Parochial Board for many years in the later 19th and early 20th centuries.    more >>>

There is so far very little information on James Doidge as a person, but at the end of the 1890s he had an important impact on the development of beekeeping in Jamaica.

A special prize was awarded to Mr. Doi[d]ge for an interesting exhibition of aparian appliances. He showed three bar frame hives, wax foundations, honey extractor and the necessary tools of a practical apiarist and the necessary touch of realism was lent to the exhibits by a frame with a section of comb and the bees, including the Queen bee enclosed in glass thus affording visitors an opportunity of viewing the busy little workers with a minimum of risk. Mr. G. Nash was in charge of these exhibits and did his best to answer the numerous questions that visitors addressed to him on the subject of beekeeping. [ from an account of the Manchester Horticultural Show.] Daily Gleaner, May 2, 1896

It was noted at the monthly meeting of the Jamaica Agricultural Society in Kingston in September 1897 that "A. B. Doidge" of Mandeville had joined the Society; presumably this was a reference to James Doidge.

Mr. James Doidge is not only a coffee planter of 18 years in Mysore, India, he has had over 20 years experience in apiary management. He arrived in the Island in the fall of 1895 (and has been with me ever since) studying the habits of the Honey Bee in the Tropics, thus adding to his previous knowledge of them in semi tropical and temperate Zones. (George Nash of Mandeville) Daily Gleaner, April 14, 1898                                    more>>>

Tour of the island: January 1899 more >>>                        

Daily Gleaner, February 28, 1899                                    

ANOTHER TOUR.

On Monday next. Mr. Douet will proceed to Mount James, in the parish of St. Andrew, where he will hold a meeting at 11 a.m.

On Tuesday Mr. Douet, Mr. Doidge with probably Mr. W. Cradwick will proceed to Yallahs and will hold a meeting at 10 o'clock at the Court House and deliver lectures: Mr. Douet on agriculture, Mr. Cradwick on vino-culture, and Mr. Doidge on apiculture. At three o'clock another meeting will be held at Bull Bay, at Mr. Smicle's house, where lectures will again be delivered. It is expected that branch societies will be formed at these places.

On Tuesday, 14th March. Mr. Douet and Mr. Watts, Island Chemist will go to St. Thomas-ye-East: and on the 15^th at 11 a.m. a meeting of the local society at Trinity Ville will be held at which both gentlemen will deliver lectures.

 Daily Gleaner, March 4, 1899

accounts of the tour in St Thomas   

 By Friday, March 17th, Doidge was back home in Mandeville for a meeting of the local Agricultural Society:

Daily Gleaner, March 21, 1899

Manchester Agricultural Association.

The usual monthly meeting of the Central Manchester Agricultural Association was held at Mandeville, on Friday the 17th instant, at 3 o'clock in the Boys Middle Grade Schoolroom,

[There was a short Committee meeting]

The meeting was then thrown open to the public.

Mr. Palache vacated the chair, and on the motion of Mr. Arthur DePass, seconded by Mr. T. W. Elliott, Mr. Doidge was called upon to preside.

Mr. Doidge said he was always in the habit of speaking at these meetings, and was glad of being placed in such a position where he had to keep silent. He and others had been going round the island giving lectures which the people seemed to appreciate very much.

He hoped we would be able to get Mr., Watts shortly to give a lecture in Mandeville. Mr. Watts was the best common sense man he ever came across. He (the speaker) thought he knew something of Agriculture, but on hearing Mr. Watts on the subject he came to the conclusion that he knew nothing. During a conversation with Mr. Watts he enquired whether cotton seed meal could not be cheaply got out here for fertilizing purposes, Mr. Watts told him there was no necessity, and it would be too expensive. The gunngo peas [sic] was as good a fertilizer as one could wish to get.

After explaining the manner in which it was to be used he called on Mr. Palache to give his lecture on “Kitchen Gardening.”

The marked attention with which the audience listened was sufficient proof of their high appreciation of it. From beginning to end it was full of instruction, but the difficulty was, how was one to remember such a lot.

At the close of the lecture Mr. Doidge proposed and Mr. Johns seconded that Mr. Palache be asked to make a present of the lecture to the Society.

To this Mr. Palache readily agreed.

It was decided on the suggestion of Mr. Palache that the lecture be printed in pamphlet form and sold and after defraying expenses, the profit, if any, be give to the Society.

Mr. Palache was asked and answered several questions arising out of the lecture.

 

Doidge's lecturing tours continued through the rest of 1899, though possibly at a slower pace than at the start of the year.

Daily Gleaner, May 25, 1899 Mr. J Doidge of bee-keeping fame, is having a successful tour through the country. He was in the Brown's Town district of St Ann on Saturday giving practical demonstrations in bee keeping and the people there expressed their great satisfaction saying that a demonstration like that in an apiary, was worth any number of lectures, or any amount of book-reading. This demonstration was given at Mr. Young's model farm at Tobolski. Mr. Doige went on to Falmouth on Monday. Daily Gleaner, June 9, 1899 Under the auspices of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, a meeting will be held at the Court House, Chapelton, on Thursday 22nd inst, at 11 am when Messrs. Douet and Doidge will deliver addresses on agriculture and bee-keeping. The public are cordially invited. Daily Gleaner, July 15, 1899 [After Jamaica Agricultural Society Annual General Meeting in Pt Antonio, Portland] At three o’clock the people again assembled at the Court House, where instructive and interesting lectures and demonstrations were delivered by Messrs. Doidge and Burnett, on Bee Culture, and Pine Cultivation. Mr Sharp proposed a vote of thanks to the gentlemen for their able demonstration, and remarked that it was the best hour he had spent in his life. Messrs. Watson, Plant, Beckford, Hinshelwood, and Rev. C.C. Douce joined in the expression of thanks, and the proceedings were brought to a close at about 5 p.m.   Daily Gleaner, July 20, 1899 Mr. George Douet, of the Agricultural Society, proposes to visit Vere on the 10th prox. and lecture on agriculture in the Court House. Mr. Burnett and Mr. Doidge will accompany him, to lecture on pine growing and bee-cultivation respectively. The Falmouth people want a lecture from Mr. Burnett, and Lucea is appealing to Mr. Douet for a visit. Daily Gleaner, July 24, 1899 Mr. G. A. Douet, of tbe; Agricultural Society, has arranged to pay a visit to the people of Brixton bill, in Clarendon. Along with Messrs Doidge and Burnett, on the 11th prox. As already mentioned in the GLEANER, a meeting will be held at Vere day before, when addresses on agriculture, and pine cultivation will be delivered by the three gentlemen. Daily Gleaner, August 10, 1899 Agricultural Meeting in Vere An agricultural meeting was held in Vere Trust School room at Alley, on Tuesday last commencing at 2 p.m. when successful lectures were delivered by Messrs. Dout [sic] (Secretary of the Agricultural Society) and Messrs. Doidge and Burnett. The Rev. C. T. Husband presided, and amongst those present were Messrs. H. T. Ronaldson, and George Murray, (members of the Board of Management} J. Elliott, H E Upton, G. Muirhead, L. Harty, J. Fowles, L. Anderson, G. Thirland, A. E. Husband, D. Calligan, D. Minors, J. Muirhead, J. Anderson, I. Illner. J. Gauntlett, A. Lewis, A. Robinson, W. Hill, N. Murdoch, T Simpson, J. Wilson, Mrs. R. Elliott, Miss Smith, Miss Lewis, Mrs. Brewford, Miss Brewford, Mrs. Lawson, Miss J. Lewis, Miss Anderson, Mrs. Nethercroft, Mrs. J, Robinson. There were several small bee-keepers, and others interested in agriculture in attendance, and all the school children.

Mr. Husband explained the object of the meeting, and in an able and eloquent speech introduced Mr. Douet, who in his usual lucid manner, gave a sketch of the work of the Society up to the present time, and spoke generally on agricultural matters throughout the island. He was followed by Mr. Doidge, who lectured on bee keeping, and by Mr. H, G, Burnett who gave a most interesting lecture on pine cultivation. In view of the early commencement of the irrigation scheme these lectures were well timed, and the number of persons present it showed that keen interest is being taken in the subject. The meeting lasted until  5.30 o'clock in the afternoon. The lecturer proceeded to “Spring Field” the property of Mr. Ronaldson. and Mr. Douet came on to Kingston yesterday morning. The same gentlemen will lecture at Brixton Hill in Clarendon to-morrow the 11th inst. Daily Gleaner, August 29, 1899 MINOR PRODUCTS SHOW IN ST. ANDREW. On Saturday last a successful show of minor products was held in connection with Mount James branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. Mr. Douet was among those who visited the show, and seen by a GLEANER Reporter yesterday concerning the matter he said : - “I and Mr, Doidge left Kingston early on Saturday morning for Mount James in St. Andrew where a tomato show was to be held that day by the local branch society up there. We reached there at about 10 o'clock. At 11 o'clock the show was opened by the President, Mr, J. G. Linton, who in a neat speech explained to the people the object of these minor product shows. There was a large gathering including Mr. W.E. Sant, Mr; Robertson, the Secretary, and a large number of members of the branch Society. The show was held in the schoolroom of the Church of England, and the exhibits consisted chiefly of tomatoes, and there were also some pines, oranges, garden eggs, honey, and wax. There [sic] were laid out on two stalls. Mr. Doidge and I were asked to judge the various products, but before doing so I addressed the gathering on agricultural topics generally, pointing out any defeat [sic] in the cultivation of the products that I had observed on the road. Yes I spoke of the utter neglect of some of the products, which were paying such admirable prices. Of course, on the other hand, there were some cultivations that were being carried on very nicely indeed. Mr. Doidge then gave a demonstration on beekeeping. He had a fine lot of exhibits and all the implements in connection with the culture, wax, honey and everything in which the people took an interest. He went thoroughly into the mode of transferring , the old style of bee keeping in kerosene boxes showing how it contrasted with the present scientific way, and the  black bees were being italised. After the lectures we judged the products. There was a keen competition; not a very large number of exhibits yet what were there were nicely put together and we had some difficulty in awarding the prizes. “These small beginnings,” continued Mr. Douet “tends to show the people what is required, as the unsuccessful ones generally go away with new ideas. Altogether the Show was agreat success. We returned to Kingston at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon.” traditional hive made from a kerosene box or soap box, c 1908

The diagram illustrates the Langstroth Hive showing (from top to bottom):

At the 1899 AGM of the Jamaica Agricultural Society the value of the lecture tours by Doidge was positively assessed:

Daily Gleaner, July 14, 1899

Port ANTONIO, THURSDAY. -The annual meeting of the Jamaica Agricultural Society was held here to-day at noon in tho Court House.

. . . .

BEES - The past year has also witnessed the growth of an industry which was before the casual pursuit of a few, and the business of still fewer persons into one which almost from the beginning is profitable to the intelligent, careful and diligent apiarist. The Board recognizing the peculiar fitness of Jamaica with its eternal summer and constant profusion of honey-blossoms, for bee-keeping, gave the Secretary every facility to stimulate the increasing desire for practical knowledge of the modern apiary. The Board made a first grant of £50 for this purpose. Mr. Jas. Doidge, of Mandeville, who has had a life-time’s experience in different parts of the world in the care and of the habits of bees, was engaged as lecturer and demonstrator, and the result of his visits throughout the island and his teachings generally, is, that the old soap box and black bees are rapidly giving place to the Langstroth Frame Hives and the finer Italian bees in every part of the island; planter, penkeeper and peasant now own apiaries, and many ladies make it a profitable pursuit. The pages of the Journal have been opened to Beekeepers, and an Apiary Department is conducted by Mr. Doidge.

LECTURES.—During the year there has been a great demand for the presence of the Secretary throughout the country, to speak on agricultural matters, and at many of the places he has gone to Branch Societies have been grown promptly formed. He has frequently been accompanied by Mr. James Doidge of Mandeville appointed by the Society as Lecturer on Bee-keeping, who has already done wonders in the way of interesting the people in the use of up-to-date apparatus and as he has had over 55 years experience in coffee culture in Southern India and here, he spontaneously gives lectures in the pruning and general cultivation of coffee when opportunity admits. His services are now in great request. Mr. Wm. Cradwick of the Public Gardens and Plantations Department has also rendered valuable services to the Society in giving practical demonstrations throughout the inland, especially on the budding of Citrus plants and in fostering the new Grape industry. Mr. Francis Watts the Agricultural Chemist has also given material assistance in this connection.

However, at the monthly JAS board meeting in August some reservations were expressed, not about the quality of the lectures, but rather about the poor organisation of the tours:

Daily Gleaner, August 10, 1899

THE LECTURES ON BEEKEEPING.

Dr. Johnston said that be saw in the minutes that £50 had been voted by the Society to be expended for lectures on beekeeping. He would like to enquire about that. There was no doubt that beekeeping wassa very interesting study, nor was there any doubt that Mr. Doidge was perhaps the best exponent on the subject in the Colony, but there was something so very erratic about the movements of Mr. Doidge, that he feared the money being spent in sending him about the country was being wasted. For instance he had seen a notice in the GLEANER that Mr. Doidge would lecture in Brown's Town and would be the guest of Dr, Johnston. That was the first he had heard about it, nor did he hear anything else, the matter had passed out of his thoughts, until Mr. Doidge turned up one day saying that he had come to lecture. They expressed surprise at his arrival, at which he asked if there was not a meeting ready to receive him. They knew nothing about a meeting and the result was that he spent a couple of days at Tobolski, Mr. Doidge was perhaps very helpful to Mr. Young and to the people who visited him there, but if that was the only good that his visits were to do the money spent in travelling was being wasted.

Mr. Douet said that in consequence of misunderstanding the first visits of Mr. Doidge with him (the speaker) to Brown's Town had been as far as Dr. Johnson congregation was concerned without practical result. In the first instance the people had been assembled by Mrs. Johnston for a meeting but in consequence of a misunderstanding, as to the hour, arising from the arrangement being made by telegraph they did not arrive before the people had gone away but that a meeting wan held at Mr. Young's Model Farm. On the second occasion he could not accompany Mr. Doidge and had been under the impression that Mr. Doidge had made arrangements whilst he (Mr Doidge) thought that he had made arrangements for the meeting and be had not done so. He was exceedingly sorry that this should have happened and that the people of Brown's Town should have been disappointed. He usually made all arrangements for meetings and he tried always to keep them up to time.

He was not responsible for the statement that Mr. Doidge was to be a guest of Dr. Johnston in fact he had not seen the statement. The money voted for the purpose was far from being wasted,

After the lecture in August 1899 little more reference to James Doidge appears in the press. He contributed sections on bee keeping to the Journal  of the JAS in December 1899 and April 1900, and in April also, his Jamaica Bee Supply Company won numerous awards at the JAS Agricultural Show on the Mico grounds.

 In May 1900 James Doidge apparently disappeared without trace, not only from Jamaica, but from eveywhere else too. So far no further information has come to hand about the fate of this mysterious man.

Daily Gleaner, May 28, 1900 Reported Disappearance of Mr. Doidge Anxiety as to his whereabouts   It is reported that Mr. James Doidge Apiarian lecturer to the Jamaica Agricultural Society, and coffee planter, who left the Island on the 11th ult [i.e. April] on a business trip to the United States has apparently disappeared. Mr. Doidge had been engaged by Dr. Morris, Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies, for a lecture tour on bee culture throughout the Islands, and after all preparations had been made for his leaving, he suddenly had a call to the States and instead of taking up his arrangements with Dr Morris he proceeded to New York Just prior to departure he was married. Since his arrival m New York no body in Jamaica has heard from him, not even his business associates although it was arranged that immediately on his reaching New York he would write to them. His trip to the States was for the purchase of a large quantity of apiarian goods from the Falconer Manufacturing Company. Communication has been made with the Company as to whether Mr. J Doidge had called there but up to the present time no answer has been received Mrs. Doidge is now seriously ill from worry at not hearing from her husband and arrangements are being made for the visit to New York of a gentleman here to learn what has become of Mr. Doidge. We trust that new« of him will shortly be received.

The Ellis Island records do not contain any reference to a James Doidge arriving in New York from Jamaica  in April 1900, nor at any other time.

In November 1900 a legal notice in the press seems to indicate that Doidge's departure may not have been planned, and also that after 6 months there was still no indication of what had happened to him:

In the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica, in Bankruptcy.

 

In the matter of a Bankruptcy Petition against JAMES DOIDGE, of Kingston and Williamsfield, in this island, Apiarist, trading under the firm of The Jamaica  Bee Supply Co.  

   (Sgd)

E.A.N., J.

 15 Oct.,

  1900.

On the application of William Hitchins Orrett, for the Petitioning Creditor, and on referring to the admission by H W P Baker (the party on whom under the order of this Honourable Court, dated the 21^st day of September, 1900, all proceedings in this matter are to be served) of the service of the Order dated the 1^st day of October, 1900, requiring the Debtor to file a statement of his affairs, and the Debtor having omitted to file the same in obedience to the said order and being absent from this Island and beyond the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. It is hereby ordered that the time be extended to the 6^th day of November, 1900, as the date within the said statement of affairs should be filed and this order be published in a local paper and in the “Jamaica Gazette” once a week for 3 consecutive weeks, and if at the expiration thereof the same James Doidge still omits to file his statement of affairs as directed aforesaid, the Petitioning Creditor is at liberty to apply for an absolute order against him.

Given under the Seal of the Court this 15^th day of October, 1900

(L.S.)   (Sgd. O’CONNOR DE CORDOVA

 

The reference to Doidge's marriage just before leaving Jamaica suggests a possible cause for his hasty departure; no Mrs Doidge is mentioned before this, but there are several mentions of Mrs Elgiva Doidge in the years after his disappearance. Mrs Doidge died in 1923, when she was referred to as 'ELGIVA WILHELMINA DOIDGE late of Whitehall in the Parish of Saint Thomas. Widow', but nothing specifically links her to James Doidge, the expert on apiculture.

advertisement January 1900

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