154 
Indian Forest Records. 
[Vol. vm 
in Bankura is obtained from the districts of the Chota Nagpur 
Division.” During the last decade this industry has almost dis¬ 
appeared. The reasons are probably that the factories at Sonamukhi 
could not compete with the Chota Nagpur factories, that the culti¬ 
vation being near its limit was precarious, and that Palas trees were 
cut down as field cultivation intensified. The district officials are, 
however, hopeful that the industry will revive. 
The principal host-tree is Ber, almost exclusively in Murshidabad 
but mixed with Palas and other species in other districts, and with 
a little Kusum in Bankura. The methods of cultivation are as in the 
Sonthal Parganas and Manbhum, but in Murshidabad and Makda 
the cultivators are of a higher class and are more careful to maintain 
the brood which they also supply in large quantities to the Sonthal 
Parganas. It is probable that the methods of cultivation in the 
Jangaipur sub-division are as good as anywhere else and a proper 
rotation of trees is really attempted. Cultivation is also very intense, 
particularly in Murshidabad, and these Bengal districts supply the 
greater part of the lac in Pakaur market. The following cultivators 
in Murshidabad district are said to produce over ioo maunds each 
annually :— 
Mohammad Bogdad Biswas, Shahebnagore 
Hazi Basti Mandal, Debidaspur 
Rahahak Biswas, Ghaneshyampur 
Hedatulla Biswas, Shutitala 
Ahasadtulla Biswas, Babupur 
Jafar Munsi, Haripur 
Bholai Biswas, Jote Kashi 
Jagir Munshi, Shikdarpur 
Madhusudan Shaha, Kohatpur 
Rajendra Nath Shaha, Kohatpur 
Adhar Shaha, Kakwira 
Hazi Jatra Monim, Chachanda 
Golap Monim, Chachanda 
Umesh Mandal, Basudebpur 
Isan Mandal, Jaladipur 
Kifatulla Mandal, Loharpur 
Moharkhan, Harinandanpur 
Bhaglu Mandal, Harinandanpur 
