Part I] Lindsay and Hardow : Lac and Shellac 
9i 
any material reduction of stocks, which stood at between 90,000 and 
100,000 cases during the five years 1911—15. 
The decline in exports was arrested .by the outbreak of war, 
and during the war they averaged over 200,000 cases. By 1918 
stocks were gradually depleted in the European markets, and 
although munitions stocks were fairly high, these did not suffice for 
commercial purposes when peace was declared* The consuming 
industries of the United Kingdom and America were in urgent need 
of shellac, and the result was a general scramble for supplies, for 
which almost any price was paid. Unfortunately, both the 1918 
and 1919 crops were short in India and the stringency was thus 
accentuated. It is a significant fact that the absence of Germany as 
a rival purchaser has not been noticed. Fortunately, the 1920 crop 
promises well. It will be interesting to see if, in view of the keen 
demand, the record export of 1909 will again be reached. 
In Chapter VIII have been described the various processes 
employed for the preparation of lac for the 
market. A very small proportion is 
exported in the crude form of stick-lac, and it is unlikely that this 
proportion will increase materially, partly because it involves the 
payment of ocean freight on sticks, dust and other impurities naturally 
adhering to lac, and partly because manufacture in India is cheap. A 
small proportion is also exported in the partially prepared form of 
grain-lac, and as garnet and button lac. Orange shellac constitutes 
the vast bulk of the exports. The proportions in which the different 
classes are required in foreign markets have developed in favour of 
shellac as the following figures show :— 
Foreign Demands. 
Proportional exports of 
During four 
pre-war years 
(average of 
1911 to 1914). 
During four 
years (average 
of 1915 to 
« 9 « 8 )* 
During 1919. 
Shellac ... 
82*1 
87'O 
89-6 
Garnet lac 
... 
7*3 
5-6 
57 
Button lac 
5-8 
1 ‘4 
3 ’ 1 
Grain-lac 
... 
3.4 
5 '° 
i*i 
Stick-lac 
*4 
1 0 
5 
