December, 1912.] 



477 



THE CULTIVATION OF LAC IN THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 



This is the title of a Bulletin of the Agricultural Research Institute, 

 Pusa, of which Mr. C. S. Misera, Chief Assistant to the Imperial Ento- 

 mologist of India, is author. 



Lac has been known in India from very ancient times, and the cultiv- 

 ation of the insect which produces lac (Tachardia lacca) on systematic 

 lines has only been taken up of late, and is now spreading to other 

 countries. 



There are a large variety of trees — cultivated and uncultivated — on 

 which the lac insect grows. Of these Kusum (Sin. Kon), Ber (Sin. Masan), 

 Falas (Sin. Karanda), Peepul (Sin. Bo), Arhar (Sin. Rata tora) are 

 specially mentioned. 



The detailed information furnished by the Bulletin under review 

 supplies a decided want, and those who desire to know all about the 

 lac industry will find the publication most instructive. 



The propagation of the insect is done by inoculation of brood lac on 

 to the tender branches of trees. Sticks with emerging insects are tied to 

 the branches, so that both ends touch the latter. 



Two crops of lac can be taken in a year, but generally only one crop 

 is taken from each tree. If, however, it is so desired, two crops can be 

 taken from a tree by partial inoculations. Before inoculation, trees 

 should be pruned so that they may produce tender branches at the time 

 of inoculation. This is necessary only at the start as subsequently the 

 removal of the lac crop has practically the same effect as pruning. In 

 the case of Kusum and Palas no pruning is ordinarily required. Kusum 

 gives a crop only in two or three years as the growth of the branches 

 after a crop of lac is taken is very slow. But this is more than counter- 

 balanced by the superior qualicy and heavy crop of lac obtained. 



The method of pruning of trees, and the implements used for the 

 purpose, are clearly explained by means of illustrations. 



The crops mature at two seasons, viz., Baisaki, from June- July to 

 September-October, and Kartiki, from October to June- July. The 

 matured lac is gathered by cutting the lac-bearing branches, which are 

 reduced to pieces 8 to 11 inches long and kept on bamboos in a cool airy 

 place. Twelve to fourtec n days after removal from the trees the insects 

 will emerge, thus indicating that the time has arrived for inoculation. 

 When all the insects have emerged from the sticks and swarmed on to 

 the branches, the sticks are collected and the lac encrustation may be 

 scraped off and sold, or washed to produce seed-lac. The washing is 

 done by soaking the sticks for twenty-four hours to separate, and the 

 impurities and the red colouring matter, which is called lac-dye, as the 

 value of seed lac for manufacturing shellac and other materials is greatly 

 reduced by the presence of this colouring matter. 



Lac is employed for various purposes such as for ornaments, toys, 

 sealing wax, gramophone records, varnishes, lithographic inks, etc, 



There aie no serious enemies of the lac insect. Ants frequent the 

 trees to gather the honey-dew secreted by the lac insect, and in licking it 



