INDIAN MULBERRY SILKS 



SILK 



BOMBYX 



Mulberry Plant 



But in the early stages of the life of the worm it may be fed on the 

 tender young leaves of the pipal (Ficus religiosa). This fact is of 

 considerable practical value when in spring the mulberry of Bengal is in a 

 backward state. 



Diseases of Diseases of the Mulberry. Mukerji (I.e. 121-7) discusses the diseases 



Mulberry. to w hich the mulberry trees are liable. The most serious appears to be 

 tukra. This is caused by a minute scale-insect (Dactijlopius bromeli(i'). 

 When attacked by this disease the leaves become curled up and the tender 

 shoots swollen. When eaten they are shortly after voided by the 

 silkworms, and if consumed to any material extent cause flacherie or 

 grasserie. Tukra accordingly does much harm to the silk industry from 

 January to June, and the only cure is the application of kerosene emulsion. 



Naicha. Another somewhat similar disease is known as naicha. This is also caused 



by a member of the COCCID.E. It would seem the case that bush mul- 

 berries are much more liable to these diseases than tree mulberries. 

 Mukerji observes that all the silk districts are not equally affected by 



Consequences. tukra. In Murshidabad it prevails to such an extent that if it had not 

 existed, there could have been obtained at least a third more leaf and 

 therefore a third more cocoons. In Malda, Birbhum and Bogra very little 

 damage is done by tukra due possibly to greater intelligence in cultiva- 

 tion. Tree mulberries once started require little attention and are much 

 less affected by dry, hot weather or disease. 



Butler (Agri. Journ. Ind., ii., pt. i., 97-8) gives useful particulars 

 Disease, regarding a fungal disease seen on the mulberries of Kashmir. The State 

 plantations near Srinagar had been seriously attacked. The disease is 

 found on old trees without causing appreciable damage, but does great harm 

 to the young plants in the nurseries. It attacks the seedlings in their 

 second and subsequent years, does not kill them outright, but they have 

 to be cut back below the diseased parts, thus losing several years' growth, 

 even if they are not attacked again. The disease is caused by a parasitic 

 fungus (Coryneum mori) which invades the wood or the branches, 

 and comes to the surface to form spores. Butler adds, after his detailed 

 description of the fungus, that it has previously only been found in Japan, 

 where it was first described in 1904. It is thus probable that it was intro- 

 duced into India during one of the attempts made to apply Japanese 

 methods in Indian sericulture. 



Rent of Mulberry Lands. Some share in the decline of the Bengal 

 silk industry has been attributed to the high and differential rents charged 

 for mulberry land. Insufficiency of nourishment, due to dearness of 

 mulberry-leaf, was, it has been said, one of the chief causes of the low 

 yield and low quality of the silk. But Mr. Finucane (in an official paper) 

 argues that the land usually placed under mulberry is valued for growing 

 sugar-cane, tobacco, potatoes, and that accordingly if mulberry cannot 

 hold its own in popular favour against these and such like crops, it would 

 be unwise and pernicious to " prop it up by factitious encouragements." 

 He then continues, " There can be no doubt that the rates of rent for high 

 land on which mulberry is grown are higher than for low rice land, which 

 is of a different quality ; but the real question is are the rates charged 



Special Bents. when mulberry is grown, higher than the rates which would be charged 

 for the same land if sown with sugar-cane or potatoes or other upland 

 crops ? " He then answers that question by showing that in some districts 

 an illegal practice does prevail of charging special rates for mulberry 



1000 



Introduced 

 from Japan. 



Rent of 

 Land. 



Alternative 

 Crops. 



