64 
Indian Forest Records. 
[ VOL. I. 
tree, appears best suited for propagating purposes as it succeeds on trees 
of all other species. When several trees of the selected species grow 
together it does not appear necessary at first to artificially cultivate 
more than three-fourths of them, as during the succeeding evolution 
the remaining fourth will almost certainly be brought under preparation 
by natural means,* but as the success of the crop depends principally 
on the supply of juices obtained by the female insects during the period 
they continue to deposit the resin, it is necessary to place the brood-lac 
on the youngest and most sappy branches. 
“ Lac preserves may be formed by carrying out the above simple 
operations ; but it is not probable that success will be attained at once 
or until experience has drawn attention to several peculiarities in the 
habits of the insect and the manner in which it is influenced by situation 
and atmospheric conditions. Our first attempts were made in the cohi 
weather of 1874, but owing to the want of knowledge that prevailed 
on several essential points, both among the superintending staff and the 
labourers employed on the work, the extent of these was natxirally 
limited and of small result. It was not known with any certainty 
when the exit of young larvae commenced or what was the best method 
of applying them to the trees ; thus a large number were lost and this 
destruction of insect fife was greatly increased by the rough handling 
they were exposed to by the workmen. In one instance a plantation 
which had been prepared and was progressing well was nearly destroyed 
by mistaking an evolution of male insects for one of larvas, — an error 
into which it would not be possible to fall except through want of know- 
ledge of the insect’s habits ; in another the colonies were greatly damaged 
by a fire which broke out and destroyed the lac on all but the highest 
trees ; while in a third, frost and hot winds killed the females and stopped 
the formation of lac on nearly half the number of trees prepared. But 
although we had to contend with so many mishaps, partly through 
ignorance and partly from physical causes, each experience in its way 
brought valuable information which will render more certain our future 
undertakings. 
* “ In 1874, 1,300 trees were prepared at Kosait in the Satpura Reserve, in 429 of which 
the lac was destroyed during the hot weather of 1875, leaving 871, from the incrustations 
of which a new brood of larv® swarmed in July 1876. The lac on these trees was not 
touched owing to its being a bad crop, but was left for further propagating purposes. 
On the 19th August, however, an enumeration of the trees on this spot proved that new 
lac was then being formed on 1,380 trees ; thus 509 trees must have been affected by their 
proximity to the old standards.” 
