INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1917-18 109 



obtained from these rearings. It is not yet, however, con- 

 sidered advisable to distribute the eggs of these races on 

 a large scale until we are quite certain that they will not 

 degenerate later on. At present we have twenty different 

 mongrel races under rearing and are carefully recording 

 the results in each case. 



Numerous inquiries concerning rearing, reeling, dye- 

 ing, bleaching and spinning were dealt with during the 

 year. Silk samples and bulletins on silkworm rearing were 

 distributed to many applicants. Silk exhibits were sent 

 during the year to the following : — (1) Madras Exhibition 

 of Indian Arts and Industries (Diploma of Merit 

 awarded), (2) Exhibition of Foods and Household Requi- 

 sites, Bombay (Certificate of Merit), (3) Banjetia, Bengal, 

 (4) Gwalior (Gold Medal), (5) Gujranwala (Gold Medal), 

 and (6) Gorakhpur (Certificate of Merit). All the opera- 

 tions in sericulture from the egg to the finished product 

 were exhibited in Madras and Gwalior, and these were 

 much appreciated by the visitors to these Exhibitions. Eri, 

 muga, tasar and mulberry silkworm show-cases were 

 supplied to the Superintendent of Sericulture, Berham- 

 pore, Bengal. 



Silk pieces and castor seed to the value of Rs. 884-0-5 

 were sold during the year and the sale proceeds credited 

 to Government. 



The Pusa silk-twisting machine, on which about one 

 pound of mulberry, muga or tasar thread can be twisted by 

 one boy or woman in one day of eight hours, was sent to 

 Berhampore (Bengal) for exhibition purposes. This is 

 believed to be an improvement on former local methods of 

 silk-twisting. A silk merchant at . Berhampore, who is 

 supplying silk to the Home Industry Association of 

 Calcutta, is twisting cotton and matka (handspun waste 

 mulberry silk) on it, and is satisfied with the working of 

 the machine ; with this coarser thread one seer (two pounds) 

 can be twisted in an eight-hour day. 



Large quantities of mulberry seeds and mulberry silk- 

 worm eggs were supplied to the Agricultural Department 



