In India, lac occurs in Bengal and Assam (abundantly), the N.-W. Provinces and Oudh (sparingly), the Central Provinc,es (abundantly), the Punjab, Bombay, Sind, and Madras (more or leas sparingly), and Burma (abundantly in some places). Lac is also found in aome other countries of S. Asilt,—Siam, Ceylon, some of the islands of the E. Archipelago, China,—Siamese leo being, held in high estimation. In India, the best lac is obtained from A.ssam and Burma. The quantities produced and utilized vary greatly in different provinces, according to circum stances, certain forests being rich in lac, which has hardly been touched, owing to difficulty of access, and cost of carriage to the place of manufacture and port of shipment. In Bengal, lac is produced abundantly in the jungle tracts of Beerbhoom, Chota Nagpore, and Orissa. In varioua places in the forests of Assam, it is also found in large quantities, and forms a regular article of trade. a portion of the production being manufactured at Dacca, and the rest sent to Calcutta.
The lowest average yearly supply from the Pooroolia district in Chota Nagpore is 15,000 memds, the actual yield being considerably more, and capable of great extenaion. From Singh boom, in 1867, about 1250 maunds of lac were exported. In the Gya district, the aupply is estimated at 12,000 ?wands ; in liamroop (Assam), about 5000 maunds, with great capacity for development ; in Hazaribaugh, 2000 maunds. These figures probably do not by any means approximate to the actital yield of the districts named. In Bengal, lac is gathered twice a year— from mid-October to the end of January, and from mid-May to mid-July. In the N.-W. Provinces, leo is obtained in some quantities from the Garhwal foresta ; and, some years ago, was largely exported to the plains. It is probable that most of the lac now brought down from Garhwul is consumed in the local manufacture of toys and omaments, and that very little, if any, is for exportation from Calcutta. In the Punjab, the production of lac is universal, but it is much inferior in quality to tho lac of Central India or Bengal. In Sind, lac is. only found in the forests about Hyderabad, 12 rnilos north and south, but in these abundantly. ln the other forests of the province, it either does nrt exist at all, or in such small quantities that its collection does not pay. The eauso of' its occurrence near Hyderabad is worthy of investigation. It is found on the babool (Acacia arabica), and is gathered from October till April-May. This tree seems while in full vigour to be exempt from tho attacks of the insect ; it is chiefly infested when in the serni-dry state, and is not unfrequontly killed outright. The lac produced in Siud is largely used in the manufacture of the well-known lacquered ware of Hyderabad. In Oudh, lac is gathered in the more wooded parts of tho S.-E. districts (Roy Bareilly and Partabgurh) frotn varioua species of Ficus, especially F. seligiosa. It is exported to the Mirzapore factories and elsewhere. Large
supplies might also be procurable from the N. forests, but the collection might be unprofitable, owing to tho want of manufactories withiu a reasonable distance. Government obtains half the produce in quantity or value from the gatherers. All the districts of the Central Provinces produce lac, but it is particularly abundant in the E. parts. Large quantities are consumed in the towns in the manufacture of bracelots and other articles, but most districts also export it to a g,reater or less extent. These provinces could readily supply 25,000 tons of stick-lac annually. Most of the lac produced in the Jubbulpore district is consumed in a European factory in the town. It also comes to Jubbulpore and Mirzapore in large quantities from Raipore, Bilaspore, Saugor, and Mundla. Iu Mundla, the right of collecting lac from the Government jungles has been leased to the owners of the Jubbulpore factory. In Sumbulpore, a Mirzupore firrn (European) has for a long time practically held the monopoly of lac collection. Boorlianpore and Bombay I eccive supplies, though in small quantities, from the Nerbudda and Nagpore divisions. In the Hoshungabad district of the Central Provinces, the chief mart for lac is at Sobhapore, othera of importance being Hoshungabad and Babai. Into Sobhapore, lac is imported largely from Bankheri, Futteltpore, and some of the hills on the other side of the Nerbudda, and from some of the jungles of the Nursinghpore district. Hoshungahad and Babai receive lac from the malgoozaree jungles and tbe hills beyond the Nerbudda, while it comes to Hurda and Seonee from the jungles of the Hoshungabad and Betul distlicts. The lac-collectors are mostly jungle tribes, who sell the produce in email quantities to Patwas, who again sell it in larger quantities to the regular dealers.
Bluch has been done iu the Centml Provinces of India in the way of propagating or cultivating lac. In forming preserves for this purpose, the first point to be considered is the species of tree which it will be desirable tO utilize for the nurseries. The choice should fall (first) upon that or those found in greatest plenty, assuming they are adapted to the purpose, and (second) upon that which yields the best product. Of the trees previously named, the light-golden resin obtained from the koosum is the finest, as from it the most valuable orange shellac is manufactured; next in quality is that obtained from the palas, which yields the garnet leo of commerce. Wherever Possible, therefore, the koosum tree should be chosen for standards; but as the palas is generally found in much greater numbers, area for area, its produce will nearly compensate in quantity for the reduction in its value.