Indian Forest Records. 
148 
[Vol. IVTII 
Mirzapur. 
Mirzapur is chiefly of importance as the largest lac-manufactur- 
ing centre in India. The bulk of the district produces no lac, but 
the area south of the Sone river produces considerable quantities. 
This area naturally forms part of the Palamau district of Bihar and 
Orissa. In racial and other characteristics both areas are similar, and 
Mirzapur stick-lac finds its way mostly to Garhwa Road station on 
the Daltonganj branch railway, Palamau. In fact it is impossible to 
distinguish Mirzapur lac from that of Palamau. Only a small quan¬ 
tity of the former finds its way to Ahraura station on the East Indian 
Railway main line. 
The system of cultivation in Mirzapur is the usual very primitive 
method. The principal tree is Palas with a little Ber and some other 
trees. The cultivation is generally by individual tenants and not by 
contractors, each tenant cultivating his own few trees in his own inter¬ 
est. A large part of Mirzapur district south of the Sone river is 
Government Estate and the forest is largely Government Protected 
Forest managed by the Revenue staff. Here only lies any possibility 
of improvement of cultivation by Government action, but it is very 
difficult to suggest means. It is an isolated area with a small forest 
staff. It is hardly worth while taking any special action such as the 
formation of brood farms or the appointment of a special scientific 
staff and the area will have to depend for brood and demonstration on 
such action as may be taken by the local authorities in Palamau. 
The chapters relating to manufacture and to the internal trade of 
India describe the ordinary lines of business as conducted at Mirzapur* 
A feature of the trade is the Chapra Vyapar Bardhini Sabha, or 
“ Association for the Improvement of the Shellac Trade,” which has 
existed for some years past at Mirzapur. The membership roll in¬ 
cludes the names of some eighty-four firms in all, representative of 
dealers and brokers, as well as of the fifty odd local manufacturers. The 
principal object of the Association is the decision of disputes between 
members. The executive committee passes orders on such disputes, 
but also refers to a meeting of the general committee any point of 
special importance requiring their decision; naturally, however, such 
references are not numerous. It is also the business of the executive 
committee to draw samples every six months, and to give their official 
sanction to these as standardvsamples of the incoming crop. 
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