THE WILD COCHINEAL INSECT OF INDIA. 247 



merit of the cotton cultivation has not only become possible, but offers 

 the prospect of a fair return for capital invested. The most feasible 

 plan for trying the experiment, would be through the medium of a joint- 

 stock association, with limited liability. If successful, as I have no doubt 

 it would be, the cultivation of cotton may be carried on in Guiana to any 

 extent. Abandoned cotton estates are easily reclaimed, and can be 

 purchased for sums much under what it would cost to clear and drain the 

 same quantity of land, if even obtained by free grant from the crown. The 

 plantation might, in the first instance, be resettled by the natives ; and the 

 company taking advantage of the colonial regulations for procuring immi- 

 grants, could secure the necessary labour for the undertaking. 



So great is the reward of success, that the experiment is worth trial, 

 and if only a small portion of those who are so deeply interested in the 

 cotton question, would take part in the proposed enterprise, it would soon 

 be triumphantly proved what are the capabilities of British Guiana, and 

 the problem of " Free Cotton, how and where to grow it," would receive 

 a favourable solution. 



THE WILD COCHINEAL INSECT OF INDIA. 



In 1848, Dr. T. E. Dempster was led to make certain observations on 

 the wild cochineal of the North West Provinces and Punjaub, which was 

 that year unusually abundant in the vicinity of Loodianah, and to institute 

 certain experiments to ascertain the quality and quantity of the colouring 

 matter contained in the indigenous insects. After much trouble, and a 

 variety of experiments, he succeeded in producing, with the Indian cochineal, 

 fast dyed tints, the brilliancy of which astonished and interested all who 

 saw them. The existence of a cochineal insect in most parts of Hindoostan, 

 had been long and generally known, but it had been regarded as so inferior 

 in quality, as to be altogether worthless, as an article of commerce. 



Dr. Dempster found the female insect to agree in all essential characters 

 with the description given by Cuvier of the true Mexican Coccus cacti. 

 The size, however, was smaller. It was distinguished from the female 

 kermes, by preserving in its advanced stage the distinct form of an insect, 

 and never becoming a mere berry or gall. He discovered a very small pro- 

 portion of young perfect male insects. In comparing them with the 

 drawings of the male of the Mexican species, and of the male kermes, he 

 found that the indigenous insect was not identical with either, although in 

 general appearance, it most resembled the male kermes. The Indian 

 coccus is found only on the common cactus or prickly pear of those Indian 

 provinces, and is surrounded by a quantity of fine cottony matter, into • 

 which the female deposits her young. It is beyond all doubt a Coccus 

 cacti, and although it will probably turn out to be of a distinct and 



