Part I.] 
Stebbing : Note on the Lac Insect. 
57 
in the fact that the Schleichera trijuga is not a prohibited tree and it is 
consequently being heavily felled, as it is a useful timber tree. In the 
interests of the industry aU trees of imder 2 feet should be prohibited 
from being felled. 
In Mysore lac is produced in all three Divisions of the State, but 
6 Mysore chiefly in Nundidroog, and it is found mo.st 
commonly on the Shorea Talura. The insect 
thrives well in Mysore and it might by cultivation be raised to any ex- 
tent on trees growing on barren soil which would otherwise yield no re- 
turn. The Carob tree will probably be found well adapted for this pur- 
pose. It will flourish in dry and stony places, and the lac insect thrives 
on it. 
Mr. J. Cameron in his “ Forest Trees of Mysore and Coorg ” wrote : 
“ The lac tree (Shorea Talura) of Mysore is confined to the deciduous tracts 
of the Maidan. It is abundant in the Anekal, Closepet, and N mididroog 
taluks, where the propagation of lac has been actively taken up by the 
Forest Department. In the Anekal taluk the Assistant Conservator is 
extending the propagation of both the tree and the insect very 
rapidly. Lac being in great demand, this action cannot fail, in 
the course of a few years, to largely increase fresh revenue. ’ ’ 
The Conservator of Forests reports that lac is only collected from 
Tra a re range in unreserved forests. No area can 
7 . ravancore. under lac and the insect is not pro- 
pagated. Wild lac is collected from Odina Wodier, Ficus religiosa, Carey a 
arborea, and Spatholobus Eoxburghii by the local inhabitants, imder 
minor forest produce contracts. The revenue obtained is very trifling 
and cannot be estimated. No steps are at present being taken to increase 
the yearly amount of lac obtainable from the forests. 
CHAPTER X. 
EXPLOITATION. 
(a) Collection. 
It has been already shown that the method of collecting the lac usually 
adopted is to break off the branches containing the incrustation before 
the young larvae have swarmed. This naturally results in the lac cells 
74 R.& A. I 
