THE WORK OF THE FOREST DEPARTMENT IN INDIA. 41 



used in the preparation of varnishes, in the manufacture of 

 gramophone records, sealing wax, lithographic ink and for 

 other purposes, is one of the most important of the animal pro- 

 ducts of the forest. There is an extensive literature on the 

 subject of lac and its propagation. Lac cultivation is by no 

 means confined to the forest; in many localities it is a source 

 of profit to the cultivator in open waste or cultivated lands. 

 The extensive propagation of lac by the Forest Department is 

 attended with many difficulties, of which not the least is that 

 of guarding it from theft while still on the trees. Strenuous 

 exertions have been made to cultivate lac departmen tally in the 

 Central Provinces, but so far the results have been disappoint- 

 ing, and it is probable that its cultivation in future will have to 

 be entrusted to a very large extent to private agency, the Forest 

 Department leasing tracts of suitable forest for the purpose. 

 The importance of this industry may be realised from the fact 

 that in 1914-15 the value of various forms of lac exported from 

 India amounted to as much as Us. 1,60,57,434. 



Silk is likewise a product which requires more intensive 

 cultivation than it is possible for the Forest Department to 

 undertake directly. The whole question of silk-production in 

 India has recently been the subject of special investigation by 

 Mr. Maxwell Lefroy. 



Horns, hides, bones, ivory and other animal products are 

 collected as a rule under permits. 



8. Forest Industries. 



The important role which the forests of a country play in its 

 general commercial welfare and in providing employment for 

 its population is not always fully recognised. Ten years ago 

 it was estimated that in Germany work in the forests provided 

 employment for 1,000,000 persons, while 3,000,000 persons, earn- 

 ing 30,000,000 a year, were employed in working up the raw 

 material yielded by the forests.* If similar estimates were 

 available for India they would no doubt show that apart from 

 the jungle population which is directly dependent on the forests 



* Schlich's Manual of Forestry, Vol. I, 3rd Edition, 1906, pp. 22 and 23. 



