INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1919-20 115 



quiry to make any definite pronouncements on the li fe- 

 ll istor v. 



(b) Experiments on disease control. The following are 

 some of the lines of investigation being pursued. Various 

 races of silk- worms are being tested regarding their resist- 

 ance to disease. Three small Tcutcha rearing houses have 

 been erected and in them experiments on disinfection, 

 length of life of spores, and methods of infection are being 

 conducted. The effect of climatic conditions on disease is 

 being tested. Various rearing methods are being investi- 

 gated in relation to disease. Certain extremely interesting 

 facts have been brought to light by these experiments, es- 

 pecially with regard to infection of the worms in surround- 

 ings highly charged w T ith infectious material and also with 

 regard to the lethal qualities of the disease. But here again 

 the time has not yet come for making any definite state- 

 ments. 



The Government of India having accepted Professor 

 Lefroy's recommendation that a seed supply station be 

 established in Shillong, the matter is now being pushed on. 

 A site for the laboratory buildings has been given by the 

 Governors of the Pasteur Institute and a j3lot of land for 

 growing mulberry has been selected. The plans and esti- 

 mates have been drawn up and final sanction is awaited. 

 It is hoped that building operations will be started imme- 

 diately and the main buildings erected by October. Several 

 hundred mulberry cuttings have been set out in the Shillong 

 Fruit Farm by the Superintendent, Mr. C. H. Holder, to 

 whom thanks are due for his kind assistance. 



Programme of work for 1920-21. 

 The investigation of the life-history of Nosema 

 bombycis is being continued. The experiments on 

 disease control, etc., will be carried on and expanded 

 in the light of the results obtained. Experiments 

 on a large scale to test the value of hill amelioration will 

 be started next year, as soon as a station is established in 

 the hills. It is hoped that u beginning will be made with 

 the study of flacherie. 



