[ 497 } 



hatching burrow through the cells eating the red colouring 

 matter and destroying the resin. 



806. Lac dye. The powdered encrustation of the twigs 

 being triturated with a liberal supply of water, the colouring 

 matter passes out in the water. This water is run off into a 

 vat and allowed to remain there till the dye is precipitated, 

 looking like dark mud at the bottom of the vat. The surface 

 water is then run off and the precipitate placed on cloths 

 which are laid in frames 18" square, having compartments 

 about i^ inch square. When the muddy precipitate is toler- 

 ably consistent, the compartments are filled with it and the 

 frames put into a screw-press. The water being expressed 

 out, the firm cakes are placed on a clean floor and dried 

 thoroughly when they are fit for the market. 



CHAPTER LXXXV. 



AGRICULTURAL CALENDAR FOR LOWER BENGAL. 



r/ANUARY. Sugar-cane harvesting and gur-ma.klng. 



J Sowing of kulibegun and deshi onion seeds. Planting 

 of 61 for the August to September crop. 

 Final irrigation of potatoes, cabbages and 

 other English vegetables. Picking of cotton 

 bolls. Pitting of sugar-cane cuttings, or 

 < topping' of seed-canes. Harvesting peas 

 and Kalai. Preparation of land for sugar- 

 cane and cucurbitaceous crops. Transplant- 

 ing of deshi onion. Sale of English vege- 

 tables. 

 KKK 



