112 Indian Forest Records. [Vol. iVlII 
forests. As a centre for research, however, Ranchi is probably 
superior, and I therefore suggest it as one of the very few localities 
that meet the three above-mentioned requirements. Forest Officers 
concerned with lac development should of course be given every 
facility for visiting it. 
Nature of Work .—An outline of what might be the main en¬ 
quiries carried on is herewith appended. 
A. —Work on Food-plants. 
1. Distribution of the main food-plants and the optimum 
conditions for their growth, especially with reference to climate, 
altitude, and soil. 
2 . Comparison of the amount and quality of lac got by equal 
inoculation of different species of plant with insects of the same 
brood. 
3. Comparative resistance of different species of plants to 
heavy inoculation ; decrease in yield and period necessary for 
recovery. (With this is connected the practical working of rotation 
systems such as that suggested in Chapter V of the Report.) 
4. Possibility of more concentrated or intensive cultivation of 
food-plants, with special reference to the introduction of crop culti¬ 
vation as in the case of arhar in Assam ; or bush cultivation as with 
mulberry for silk-worms. 
5. Effect of transference of insects from one species of plant 
to another, regarding yield and quality of lac and vitality of insect. 
6. Relation between periods of greatest metabolic activity of 
the plant and of lac production by the insect. Means of artificially 
stimulating the plant’s production of food-stuffs or raw material 
used by the insect. 
Most of this section of the enquiry Would be suitably carried 
out by Forest Officers, and little or no laboratory work is involved. 
B. —Work on Parasites. 
1. The identity of the various parasites and enemies of the 
lac insect. Their geographical distribution, seasonal prevalence, and 
relative importance. 
2. The general life-history of each parasite and its relations 
with the life of the lac insect. The relative amount of loss sustained 
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