September i, 1887] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
203 
Lac products might yield another source of revenue 
though the depreciation of suollac renders it doubt- 
ful, we think, whether it would pay Englishmen to 
invest money in this industry at the present time 
The lac insect (Coccus lacca ) abounds in the jungle, 
being of the best quality in the neighbourhood of the 
Khassia Hills. It is also found on the north side of 
the Assam Valley proper, enorustiug the branches of 
a variety of shrubs about four feet from the ground, 
and in the densest underwood, so that, for successful 
propagation, dampness and shade are requisite. The 
inseots with which to stock a plantation should be col- 
lected in November iu their lac-cells, about 40 lbs. of 
the latter per acre being required. This lac is affixed 
to the trees of the plantation, and the insects left 
to propagate. The increase of cell-formation soou be- 
comes apparent. At first a streak of crimson draws 
out from the pieces of lac, which, if inspected with 
a magnifying-glass will be found to be a column of 
insects ; then the oolour deepens aud the siae increases 
each insect forms a separate cell and begins to exude 
the tough substance, until by the end of the rains it 
becomes necessary, in many cases, to support the 
branches weighed down by the incrustation. A year 
after the introduction of the insect, each tree yields 
an average of 8 lbs. of lac, or 6 lbs. of clean seed 
lac, the present price of which, in the London mar- 
ket, at 40s. per cwt., gives a gross return of 1441. 
per acre. The lao is pounded small, washed in 
water with a little unslaked lime, dried under shade, 
packed in chests of 5(5 or 112 lbs,, and sent direob 
to Loudon ; and as there is a growing preference among 
dealers aud manufacturers for seed lac iu lieu of 
shellac, the expense of converting the former into 
the latter need not be attempted. 
Ginger and turmeric, if well cultivated and pre- 
pared for the market with care, can be grown in 
Assam at a considerable profit. At present they are 
reared in a desultory ruanne r in almobt every village, 
but so little care is bestowed upon the culture and 
drying that only a very low price is obtained in the 
local bazaars. Generally the roots receive a super, 
ficial washing, are theu smeared with fresh cow-dung, 
and hung in baskets or spread on trays amoug the 
rafters of the native huts, the ascending smoke 
doing the rest. The dried root consequently is dirty, 
shrivelled, and, despite the constant smoke invariably 
riddled with the bamboo-borer iusect. It was proved, 
however, by experiments on one of the Sylhet plantations 
about twenty years" ago, that if properly cured 
Assam ginger will command a price nearly equalling 
that paid for the best Jamaica ginger, and Mr. 
Weynton says it might be worth, perhaps, to extract 
the essential oil on the spot aud only ship the 
latter. 
Anise and star anise are found in abundance iu 
Assam, the one under the name of Mahori, the 
latter n'ider that of Badian. Among the low hills 
round Gowhatti, aud in the forests of the Khafsia 
and Napa Hills, sufficient seedlings of anise for 
stocking can be easily procured, but considerable care 
is required in transporting them, and this should be 
doue during the cold weath-r, the pUnts lifted with 
as much earth round the roots as can couvenien'ly 
be carried. As the object with ani-n is to obtain 
as luxuriant a foliage as possible, hiyh cultivation 
and copious manuring should bo restored to ; the 
plaut may be put in 4 feet by 4 feet — the same dis- 
tance as tea, buc if the district in which the plant- 
ation is situated is more thau ordinarily subject to 
visitations of blight and red spider, it will be prudent 
to plant somewhat wider — say 5 feet by 5 feet; for 
the quality of tho oil will be adversely affected by 
the pr-seuco of deceased leaves. Anise leaves should 
be gathered like tea, and plucking.* like place iu dry 
WMthet only. The leaves may be subjected to a 
light r..lling, so as to break the cells, and the oil 
pressed out or extracted by distillation. The oil may 
be shipped iii small casks or botth s, tho latter being 
always easily pmcurablo iu the growing districts. 
For Ihfl cultivation of star anise or badian, a manure 
containing a high percentage of phosphates, such as 
limestone, hooea, or animal oiTal. answers best. Tho 
seed, or rather fruit, is of course the principxl prod act, 
but the bark of the badian is almost equally rich in 
aromatic constituents. Both seed and bark may be 
lightly crushed and infused iu alcohol or distilled in 
the usual manner. The flavour of anise preparations 
is so pungent that the house set apart for their mani- 
pulation should be kept distinct from all buildings 
devoted toother manufactures, and the people employed 
in the anise business should be retained for that special 
purpose. Natives are proverbially careless, so that 
strict vigilance to prevent interchange of the tea and 
aniseed baskets must be specially guarded against. 
Scented tea is all very well in its way, but impregnated 
with the powerful odour of anise it would find scant 
favour either with dealers or the general consumer. 
Andropoyon Schasnamthus, or Ghundho bina, as the 
Bengalis term it, is a small stunted-looking shrub 
that is found under the hills on the south side of the 
two valleys now forming Assam. It is well-known in 
Ceylon aud Southern India, and from its fresh-gathered 
leaves is distilled the lemon-grass oil of commerce ; 
in its native state Ghundho is rather barren, b|it well 
manured and cultivated it responds to generous 
treatment, aud repays those who raise it. The prun- 
ing is much the same as that demanded for other leaf- 
producing crops; even the coarse, older leaves are 
impregnated with the essence, but care must be ex- 
ercised to avoid over-plucking. The plaut should be 
allowed to attain six feet iu height before plucking, 
aud as soon as signs of exhaustion, such as drooping 
of the lower leaves, become apparent, an interval of 
rest should be accorded. It should not be touched from 
October to April, and only on bright, warm days. If 
fire is used tho heat must be low, but a brighter and 
clearer oil is obtained if a glass retort is employed, so 
arranged as to revolve slowly in the full beams of the 
sun, otherwise the produot is streaked with films of 
dark muddy lines that will detract considerably from 
its market value. The plant may be propagated from 
layers, cuttings, or separation of the roots, but is 
sufficiently abundant to provide iudependent saplings 
for ftock without recourse being had to the above 
somewhat tedious methods of multiplication. Either 
bottl«s or half-maund tins may be used for the first 
exportations. The refuse, after all oil has been ex- 
tracted, is liable to ferment aud beoome offensive, and 
should therefore be burnt without delay. 
Cajuput ( Milaleuca cajaputi Roxb.J , a small tree some- 
what resembling the weeping willow, is found mostly at 
the entrance of ravines, but it might be procured from the 
Tipperah Hills, or from auy other locality in which 
ruined temples are found, for in such places it 
was formerly carefully propagated by the priests, 
who had a knowledge of its medicinal virtues, though 
they seldom extracted the oil, but applied the 
hot, bruised leaves for sprsins, bruises, and rheum- 
atism. The tree reaches maturity in its fourth 
year, but the young shoots may be constantly 
cropped, and in this manner returns may be Lad 
eighteen months after plnniing. The leaves should 
be collected in fine hot weather, from April to 
September, lightly rolled, chopped, macerated iu 
water for twelve hours, strained, and placed in a 
gla-s or enamelled still. The product is a light greeu 
or bluish tinged, limpid oil, which, as it is apt to 
discolour if exposed to light, should be packed ai 
soon as possible. There is a large local demand for 
cajuput oil, not only in Assam, but also iu the 
neighbouring state of Munnipoor and in Burundi, and 
probably the whole production could be sold to 
supply local wants. The cost of cultivating the 
plants is very small, the preparation inexpensive, 
and the returns haudsome. The plaut may be grown 
on almost any soil above swamp mark, scattered 
about in unused plots, and should be placed in 
groups large enough to afford leaves for one day's 
systematic plucking. 
Another plant which might be profitably cultivated 
is the Gynocardia odorata, or Ta-fung-yu of China, which 
yields the so-called Ohaulmoogra oil of commerce 
The oil was previously expressed by the inmates ol 
tho gaols iu tho Sylhet district, but trees nr.- 
found wherever there is an intact primeval forest, 
