TUB BENGAL INDUSTRY 



i * ' i i . . 



centrated at Sahibganj, at Shahpur 

 French ' 



Bholahat (lk 



to ft 



factory tiilnariag 



. .it Bajapur. near th.< run: ,uid at M-*U4*h, 'Tftf 



mdiiKtry of Mal.luh Han in fart nl uproved *fTffr the Urt 



1 tho conm. figure thaw 43. 4tt persons a* employed in IttOl. as com- 

 I with ._>. site, j,, is-ii, i,,,t this improvement, as tat the ease of Mttnfcidah*!. 



ainly in the deartment of weavin. 



an. I Mirl.lniiM. has been mainly in the department of wsaiii^ 



EASTERN BBNUAL AND ASSAM. /*/ UMmtom. Mulberry 

 cocoon-rearing, silk-spinning and silk-weaving are still regarded as 

 very considerable importance. Hut to feed the European m*t factories. OOODOIM 

 are imported from Maldah as the local supply is insufficient. The "Mrf esotr* of 

 spinning and weaving is at Mirganj and the best motto silks are turned out at 

 Dakra. Tin- principal trade centre for yarns and fabrics is ft portion of the 

 Bftdrs station of Rampur Boalia. Bogra cocoon-rearing (a greatly dnnrerisieil 

 m.lusfry) depends entirely on the neighbouring district of fUjehahi far the 

 disposal of its produce. 



Assam Valley. Basu (Agri. Journ. Ind., ii.. pt. i., 22-32) reviews the result* 

 ohtninoil \\ith the experiments to acclimatise the European silkworm in Shillong. 

 This was proposed by Sir J. Bam pf vide Fuller in 1904 and has ever sine* been 

 prosecuted with much energy. It has been proved that the winter colds have 

 proved sufficient to check early and irregular hatching. " Three years' experi- 

 ence has shown that the climatic conditions of Shillong during April and the first 

 half of May, which cover the rearing season, are not unfavourable to the healthy 

 development of the silkworms." But prolonged wet weather is injurious, and 

 it cannot, therefore, be said that the climate of Shillong during April and May 

 is wholly free from danger. Great inconvenience has been experienced in drying 

 the cocoons during the monsoon, which follows closely the rearing season. To 

 safeguard this a drying-case has been used, and apparently with success. 



Basu point* out that a fairly large field exists for the <tHaisimi of sari- 

 culture in Assam. A successful experiment has been performed in Kohima in the 

 Naga hills. Manipur possesses a nascent silk-rearing and manufacturing industry 

 (see pp. 993, 997). There is thus every reason to believe that the European silk- 

 worm might be raised in the greater part of the hilly country extending from 

 Manipur on the east to the GOTO hills on the west. All over toe valley of Assam 

 there ore professional silk-rearers, who have only to be taken in hand and educated 

 in the art of safeguarding their worms, in order to secure the foundation for ft 

 large and important industry. 



UNITED PROVINCES OF AGRA AND Ot/OW. Perhaps the earliest attempt to U. Pro*. 

 organise a modern silk industry in the Dun was made by Capt. Mutton of 

 Mussourie in 1856 (Geoghegan, Silk in India, 101-19, 131-2). From time to time 

 various subsequent endeavours were made, and finally Mr. H. O. Ross, Super- 

 intendent of the Dun, handed the industry over to Messrs. Lister * Co., Bradford. 

 and it is well known that large sums of money have since 1879 been expended by 

 that Company in their efforts to organise a large and profitable industry. Uotard 

 (Memo, on Silk in India, 1883, 24-34) reviews all the experiments performed and 

 tho result* obtained, and his paper will repay perusal. The story ws carried down 

 to 1890 by N. G. Mukerji (Kept, of a Sericult. Tour in the U. Prov.. tk Pimjab 

 and Kashmir, 7-14) in his vigorous review of the results attained by Messrs. 

 Lister & Co. The next publication of importance is by Yusuf AH ( Afonoo. on u* * oa. 

 Silk Fabrics, 1900, 9-25). This sets forth the ups and downs in the industry 

 sustained mainly by Lister A Co., and the complete change which has taken 

 place from the grande magnantrie to that of tenant rearing. A Savings Bank 

 has also been started by them to protect the rearers from the money-lenders, ana 

 every effort put forth not only to improve the position of the tenants but t 

 simplify the superior methods of silkworm-rearing that thev were deain 

 pursue. To the energy and determination of purpose of the late Lord 

 (formerly Mr. Lister) has to be attributed tho present position of the silk industry 

 of Northern India. 



PANJAB. Baden-Powell (Pb. Prod., 1868. i., 181-77) gives a full 

 the silk industry of this province during the period of which he wrote. t, 



though many writers have followed in his foototeps, very I 

 formation of any great value has been made public. In 1838 Dr. Gordon e 

 ceived the idea of extended silk production. He accordingly planted mulb. 

 trees at Ambala, which still existed in 1868 (Geogbegftn. l.c. 

 occupy many pages to enumerate all the experiments that were 

 .nrWt^l Mr Cooe made a viaoro.w effort, in I8M-8, to ftcdimatise U 



account of Panjab. 



conducted. 



Mr. Cope made a vigoro 



1015 



