52 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



the silkworm house; to properly develop this industry 

 would require a staff available for temporary service in 

 tracts where conditions are favourable; the only men 

 available for demonstrating in outside places are trained 

 coolies, and there is room here for an increase of staff; so 

 far as possible, requests for assistance are met from the 

 available staff. As the purely experimental work on eri- 

 silk is almost completed, the cultivation of mulberry silk 

 has been taken up; the main object is to determine how far 

 it is possible to grow mulberry silk profitably, to supply 

 the raw material which is imported at present and to 

 supplement the supply of raw silk produced at present in 

 Lower Bengal, to see whether improvements can be effected 

 and to provide instruction in rearing and reeling if the 

 prospects are favourable. 



The question of tussar silk is also being investigated, 

 besause in this, as in other silks, advice is asked on points 

 which can be determined only by entomological, as apart 

 from purely sericultural, enquiry. 



8. Lac. — The cultivation of lac insect on her [Zizy- 

 fJius jujuha) has been continued, and progress made in ex- 

 tending the cultivation in Tirhoot. Seed has been supplied, 

 and men trained for twelve indigo concerns in Tirhoot, 

 and advice given about the cultivation of lac to many 

 enquirer. Lac inoculation was done for the Public Works 

 Department of Bengal in connection with canals, and 

 assistance given to the Bikanir State in regard to the 

 possibilities of lac culture there. The cultivation of lac 

 as an adjunct to ordinary cultivation has been explained in 

 an article for the Agricultural Journal of India, volume 

 IV, part 3, and it is solely from that aspect that it is being 

 done. The work of assisting the cultivation of lac will 

 probably expand. Training in lac cultivation is given at 

 Pusa at the present time, and advice given to enquirers. 



9. Insect Survey. — The general collection of insects of 

 India, apart from the purely economic one, has been 

 transferred to its permanent quarters and is completely 



