A Priliminary Note on the Use of Acacia Catechu (Khair) as a Host Alternative with Schleichera Trijuga (Kusum) for the Cultivation of Tachardia Lacca (Lac)

Acacia Catechu of the family Leguminosae has been shown to be an excellent host for Tachordio latca in Rancni District for the following reasons:- I. It germinates well from seed. 2. It is an extremely rapid grower and Is capable of taking an infection two years after being sown as seed. 3. It responds very well to pruning and trees pruned in April-May put forth excellent succulent shoots, often as long as 10-12 ft., for infection in the followjng July. 4. Brood lac obtained trom it alternates well with that from Schleichera triJuga. 5. Lac produced as the result of this alternation is pale in colour and both as stick lac and as brood lac now fetches the same price in the local markets as pure Schleichera trijuga lac. 6. Incrustations are good both as regards thickness and length. 7. As far as trials have proceeded yield figures have been extremely good, and compare well with those obtained for Sehlticketa trijuga, 8. The lac obtained on Acacia Catechu is brittle on the stick and little soaping is required. This; however, is a disadvantage when using as brood and it is therefore better to lace lac-bearing branches into the tree to be infected rather than tie in the usual manner _ As Acacia Catechu is a thorny tree the lacing method is quite suitable. 9. Acacia Catechu, using the above alternation of broods, only gives one good crop per year, that is to say the one obtained in February as the result of a July infection. It has so far been impossible to get it to produce shoots suitable for an infection in February.