98 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF SILKWORMS IN INDIA 



effect improvement of the silk-industry in that way." The second 

 is Basu's : " The rearing of silkworms in Assam is surrounded by 

 an amount of prejudice and superstition which to an outsider 

 seems incredible and which may prove a serious obstacle to any 



improvement that we may try to introduce It is true 



that the Assamese ryot is, as a rule, too lazy and at the same 

 time too well off to exert himself for improving his lot in life." If 

 these opinions are correct the future of sericulture in Bengal and 

 Assam is not very bright. In other parts of India the human 

 material may be better — more susceptible to improvement. I am, 

 however, optimistic enough to believe that even Bengal and Assam 

 are not so hopelessly bad. Given time, improvement may be 

 possible but the task will admittedly be a difficult one. 



To my mind the problem of disease in silkworms in India is 

 not primarily one of caterpillar or climate, it is one of men. If 

 the right men can be got to fill the posts in the sericultural depart- 

 ments and if the ryot shows himself to be capable of progress, then, 

 the silk industry can be more or less freed from the burden of 

 losses from disease. If India cannot supply those fit to lead and 

 advise and if the peasant cannot change his ways, then no genuine 

 improvement can be expected. 



There is no panacea in sericulture. There -is no straight road 

 to success. Disease can be conquered only by honest and careful 

 deed selection coupled with the adoption of modern means of dis- 

 infecting and rearing. If the ryot with adequate Government help 

 cannot be induced to adopt these simple measures his state is in- 

 deed parlous. The matter lies in the hands of the people of this 

 country. If they fail, it will be through the defect of their own. 

 character — if they succeed it will be to their own credit. 



