70 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



extreme heat and dry conditions, the worms did not thrive 

 and disease broke out in the cocoon stage, necessitating the 

 rejection of the majority of the eggs obtained. 



Numerous requests have been received for disease- free 

 Eri and Mulberry Silkworm eggs, samples of cocoons, thread 

 and cloth, pamphlets, castor seed and mulberry cuttings and 

 seeds, and these have been complied with whenever possible. 



Exhibits were sent to the Bankipore Exhibition and to 

 the Exposition held in connection with the Anniversary of 

 the Calcutta Scientific and Industrial Association. A 

 demonstration of Eri and Mulberry Silk rearing, reeling, 

 spinning, weaving, etc., was given at the Tirhut Agricul- 

 tural Exhibition held this year at Pusa. 



One drawback to the progress of the Eri Silk industry 

 is still the difficulty which small rearers have of getting rid 

 of the cocoons when they have obtained them, as the mills 

 will only take large quantities for spinning. 



9, Lac-culture. — The work of collecting and sorting the 

 specimens of lac insects, received from the various Forest 

 Range Officers, was continued. Experiments in lac culture 

 were again carried out and two short courses on Lac culti- 

 vation were given, thirteen students receiving instruction. 

 Numerous enquiries were received and answered regarding 

 the cultivation, and brood-lac was supplied to a number of 

 applicants. Inoculated Ber and Kusumh plants were also 

 sent to Japan. An exhibit, showing the details of lac- 

 culture, was sent to the Tirhut Exhibition held at Pusa 

 and copies of a leaflet on the subject written in the verna- 

 cular were distributed. 



10. Apiculture. — Two more colonies of American Italian 

 bees were obtained from England in November 1911 and 

 have proved very successful from the honey-gathering point 

 of view, but so far, all attempts to obtain fertilized queens 

 for multiplying the colonies have failed, apparently largely 

 owing to the activities of certain bee-eating birds. The 

 experiments will be continued, as it is important to deter- 

 mine whether it is possible to multiply the colonies in this 

 country. Experiments have also been made with the 



