100 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF SILKWORMS IN INDIA 



and their hands will have to be" strengthened in every possible way 

 by Government. 



13. The industry is eminently a cottage one and the rearers 

 should be encouraged to go in for the production of disease-free 

 seed themselves. The extension of the Government nursery policy 

 would certainly help to give the rearer better seed but it would 

 do no more. It would leave him actually but little better off than 

 he is at present. Unless the rearer can be persuaded to improve 

 himself practically no real control of diseases can be expected. 



14. Financial assistance of some sort is essential, for the average 

 rearer is too poor to afford " improvements." 



15. The most important work of the Government sericultural 

 departments should thus be "instruction and supervision. 



16. The policy of supervised rearers should be given a fair 

 trial. 



17. The policy of sericultural' schools attached to Government 

 nurseries is highly to be commended. Probably only through the 

 children of rearers can progress be expected. 



18. In addition to propaganda work the sericultural depart- 

 ments should conduct experiments in sericultural practice. Es- 

 pecially to be commended are attempts at improving the food 

 plants in every possible way. The introduction of tree-mulberry 

 should be seriously attempted. ' • 



19. In order that the various sericultural departments may 

 know what is being done in all sericultural countries an adequate 

 library of sericultural literature should be got together — and it 

 should be used. Further, officers in these departments should be 

 encouraged to visit foreign silk districts both in India and in other 

 countries. 



20. Sound seed is essential, but the best seed will give bad results 

 if carelessly reared in unsuitable houses, consequently no scheme 

 for supplying seed can be considered satisfactory that does not 

 attempt at the same time to improve the rearing. Until such 

 elementary principles as these are established it is a waste of time 

 and money to attempt to introduce new races of worm. 



21. In the production of sound seed no central seed supply 

 station is required and indeed is prabably not a feasible project 

 under any circumstances. 



22. Improvements are to be looked for from the work of the 

 provincial sericultural departments working among the villages, 

 out they must be given the necessary time to achieve results and 

 sufficient encouragement to stimulate them in an arduous under- 

 taking. 



