41 
Part I] Lindsay and Hardow : Lac and Shellac 
very little Government Forest and only a small Forest staff. Where 
there is Forest staff, as in Palamau, the Sonthal Parganas, Singhbhum 
and Sambalpur, the work can be carried out departmentally, but in 
the very important lac districts of Manbhum, Ranchi, Hazaribagh and 
Gaya, there is practically no Forest staff. In these districts, as in the 
Chattisgarh Division of the Central Provinces, special arrangements 
will be necessary. The Central India States and the Feudatory 
States of Orissa and the Central Provinces will doubtless, in their 
own interest, adopt similar measures within their respective territories. 
The work that is required may be divided into two heads, the 
distribution of brood and the demonstration of improved methods. 
Though different in purpose, these two objects may be effected by a 
single means, Several writers have already suggested the establishment 
of what may be termed Lac Brood Farms, namely areas containing 
lac-growing trees managed by Government for brood and demonstra¬ 
tion purposes. If they are to be effective, they must be fairly large, 
say ioo to 200 acres according to the number of trees contained. 
These farms would be established throughout the lac-growing area. 
A start would be made with suitable sites in existing Govern¬ 
ment Forest, and the operations subsequently extended by acquisition, 
as required. Each such farm will require an Overseer and a staff of 
several guards to supervise the work, guard against theft and issue 
the brood. It is confidently expected that the farms will not only 
be self-supporting, but will even bring in revenue, unless a very 
decided slump occurs in the shellac market. The best localities for 
such farms are naturally near the local centres of the stick-lac trade, 
so that they will be within easy reach of the cultivators and are likely 
to become known and get talked about. Suggestions for suitable 
sites will be found in the Local Notes attached to this report. It is 
understood that the Government of Bihar and Orissa are now con¬ 
templating a scheme on these lines in Khas Mahal near Daltonganj 
in the Palamau district of Chota Nagpur. When this farm is in full 
working order, it may serve as a model. 
It is suggested that the whole of the lac be reserved for brood 
and sold to cultivators or advanced in time of need, when there is 
assurance that it will be used for the purpose intended, but it is very 
[41] 
