Part I.] 
Stebbing : Note on the Lac Insect. 
73 
already reproduced, strongly advocated the formation of lac preserves 
in the Central Provinces, and his recommendations have since been given 
effect to. 
The formation of lac preserves in the forests is a departure strongly to 
be recommended in many parts of the country. Many Forest Divisions 
contain areas of scrub jungle from which little or no income of any kind is 
obtainable. These areas often contain scattered over them species of 
trees eminently suitable for the cultivation of lac. Attempts have been 
made in some localities from time to time to introduce the cultivation of 
lac into such areas, but more often than not they have been met with 
failure — a failure due in most cases to a want of knowledge of the life 
history and to the important points which govern the importation of 
colonies . 
In the formation of lac preserves in an area the first points to be taken 
into consideration are : — 
i. The number of suitable species of lac trees present and the species 
which are likely to yield the finest lac. 
ii. The abundance of the best species of tree or trees present on the 
area. It is obvious that the closer together these are the 
easier and cheaper will be the propagation of the insect and 
the collection of the lac. 
iii. The possibility of adding to the number of lac-giving trees by the 
formation of nurseries and plantations of the species required. 
iv. The possibility of raising cuttings of the species decided upon with 
the object of growing the lac upon these as soon as they 
have reached sufficient thickness. Ficus infectoria cuttings 
of three years in age are so used in the Central Provinces. 
V. It will also be necessary to carefully consider the chmate of the loca- 
lity with the object of discovering the proper period for the 
introduction of the brood-lac. In some localities, e.(j., in Rewa 
and Nagode Native States, the insect is only propagated after 
the rains (September 15th to October 15th) as the young insects 
are less liable to suffer from frosts than from heavy rain. It 
will also be necessary to ascertain as early as possible the local 
date or dates upon which the larvse issue from the lac cells, as 
upon this being correctly determined vdll depend the whole 
success of the future propagation of the insect. 
vi. The periods for the collection of the stick-lac will require consider- 
ation. In some localities the lac collection is only undertaken 
