AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1914-15. 67 



took place in July 1914 several observation nests were 

 established in the Insectarv and new colonies were success- 

 fully started and soldiers and workers reared. This is 

 the first time, so far as I am aware, that any species of 

 the true earth-dwelling Termitidw has been reared from 

 the egg to any adult stage under observation, although some 

 of the woodliving Protermitidce and Mesotermitidce have 

 been reared in Europe. Further colonies are now being 

 reared. 



10. Insecticides. Experiments in the preservation of 

 wood against attacks of Termites (White Ants, so called) 

 were continued, the species of Termite experimented with 

 being Microtermes obesi (anandi), which is apparently a 

 common species throughout the plains of India. ' Powel- 

 lized " wood, supplied by the agents for testing, has failed 

 almost wholly within four years. " Sideroleum," tested as 

 a preservative of wood against Termites, has also failed; 

 •further tests will be made of it. Testing of " Micro- 

 lineum " as a preservative has been started. 



Creosote was tried to make sugarcane setts immune to 

 Termites without interfering with germination, but these 

 experiments failed. 



11. Stored grain pests. A series experiments on the 

 preservation of rice, wheat and pulses against insects under 

 stored conditions has been commenced on a small scale. 

 The methods found most effective will be tested on a larger 

 scale. 



12. Silk. One student completed a short course in Eri 

 and Mulberry and two were undergoing training at the 

 close of the year. The univoltine mulberry silkworm eggs, 

 which were sent to Shillong and Muktesar for rearing in 

 March, gave satisfactory results but those sent to Muktesar 

 for rearing in October did not hatch properly as the natural 

 temperature of the place from July to October was not 

 sufficiently low. Our attempts to establish a superior 

 stable multivoltine hybrid race, which would not degene- 

 rate, were continued. Mulberry silkworm eggs were 

 supplied to 171 rearers and eri eggs to 144 applicants and 



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