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without the labour of the largest part of the community 

 being used in the transport, it would be impossible at 

 present to make any use of these remote tracts, even if 

 the prejudices of the people as to living on places where 

 they could not grow their favourite crops, where they 

 would have to propitiate strange spirits without the hope 

 of obtaining a permanent settlement by their labours, could 

 be overcome. This last is the most formidable obstacle of 

 all ; and though the ideas of the Indian peasant are 

 translated by me into a somewhat illogical form, anyone 

 who knows them will concur with me in saying that this 

 is nothing like so illogical as the reality. This being the 

 case, the only thing to be done is to take up the cultivation 

 systematically ; and surely if the future prospects of Tusser 

 are so good as I, and I believe you too, think them to be, 

 it would be worth the while of some of the great houses 

 to send out trustworthy agents to examine the country, 

 select sites for establishing farms on which Tusser could 

 be grown, and devote their energies to superintending the 

 cultivation. By these means the production of Tusser 

 could be largely increased, and cultivation could be 

 extended so as to meet any possible increase of demand. 

 Such an increase is impossible at present, owing to the 

 difficulties stated above, and no largely increased supply 

 can be expected till the whole system is re-organised. If 

 the work be taken in hand, I cannot recommend a more 

 favourable field for experiment than Chota Nagpore. The 

 climate is fairly good, and much cooler than the plains. 

 There is a considerable number of people who are now 

 engaged in the cultivation, and who understand the best 

 methods, and who could be made the means of inducing 

 others to take to the cultivation, providing it were shown 

 to be certain to be profitable ; and the trees necessary for 

 rearing the Tusser worm can be found everywhere, and 

 are easily grown and propagated. If you know of any 

 large silkhouses willing to make experiments in this 

 direction, I am sure you cannot use a more effective 

 method of increasing the production of Tusser, and pro- 

 ducing a supply commensurate with the increasing demand, 

 than by calling attention to the above statement of facts. 

 I myself shall be very glad to give any information in my 

 power to any large firm wishing to make an organised 

 attempt to increase the production and systematise the 

 cultivation of the silk, as I am sure that no other trade 

 would be of such advantage to the country under my 

 charge/' 



