74 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



Officers for the determination of the species of lac insects 

 has been continued and the series from most ranges are 

 now almost complete. Ser and Kusumb plants, inoculated 

 with lac insects, were again sent to Japan. Brood-lac 

 was sent to Ceylon. Numerous enquiries about lac cultiva- 

 tion were received and answered. The Bulletin on the 

 " Lac Cultivation in the Plains of India ''' is being trans- 

 lated into Hindi and Urdu. Experiments to determine 

 other food-plants of the Ber lac have been carried out and 

 are still in progress. 



(4) Apiculture. — The experiments with European bees 

 have been continued, but this year particular attention has 

 been directed to obtaining fertilized queens. A large 

 number of experiments were made and in all twenty-five 

 queens were reared, but of these only two were successfully 

 fertilized. Although this result seems rather poor, a 

 large amount of valuable experience was obtained and it is 

 hoped that when the proper season again comes round more 

 successful results will be obtained. 



The experiments with the Indian bee, Apis indica, were 

 continued, but much progress was still impossible owing 

 to the lack of suitable appliances. A foundation mill has 

 now been obtained and it is hoped that during the next 

 honey flow a satisfactory test of their honey-gathering 

 qualities will be made. 



VII. — Demonstration. 

 Owing to lack of funds no new coloured plates were 

 issued during the year. Additional copies of the plates 

 already published were issued to the Directors of Agricul- 

 ture, Bengal and the Central Provinces, and to the Prin- 

 cipal, Agricultural College, Nagpur. Sets of coloured lan- 

 tern slides were supplied to the Director of Agriculture, 

 Bengal, Principal, Agricultural College, Nagpur, Entomo- 

 logical Assistant, Baroda State, and the Assistant Profes- 

 sor of Entomology, Agricultural College, Lyallpur. The 

 Department of Agriculture, Bombay, have indented for a 

 large supply of coloured plates and arrangements have been 

 made to supply these. 



