The process of rearing silk-worms and distribution of eri seeds', carried on at the Government Eri Seed Supply Station at Ranchi, and the possibilities that sericulture offers as a cottage or subsidiary industry in Bihar, are described in an article issued by the Information Officer, Bihar.
"Millions of silk-worms are reared at the Government Eri Seed Supply Station at Morhabedi, Ranchi, order to produce disease-free seed' as silk-worm eggs are called, and distributed to rearers", states the article.
"The centre, which was started about two years ago to foster the growth of sericulture in the province, has made good progress during its. brief existence."
Sericulture offers district possibilities as a cottage or subsidiary industry (continues the article), particularly in this province, where an area of about 44,000 acres is under castor Plantation. If advantage is taken to rear silk-worms on castor leaves, the estimated financial benefit to the people will be very great and it would also provide a useful spare time occupation. It has been calculated that from an acre of ordinary land under castor plantation, about 30 seers of dry cocoons valued at Rs. 40 can be obtained. These cocoons, when spun into thread, yield at least 16 seers of silk yarn, Which can be sold for Rs. 80 even at the present low price of silk. Thus the income of an agricultural family growing castor plants on about one acre of land and rearing and spinning "eri" would be not less than Rs. 80 per year, besides about Rs. 20 that they can expect from the sale of castor seeds. If the spun yarn is woven into silk materials, it can fetch as much as Rs. 160.
This does not mean that a cultivator must have at least one acre of land to spare to be able to take up this subsidiary industry, because a petty cultivator can spare even a smaller piece or bari or tar land for this purpose can make an additional income by carrying on this industry on a small scale. The facility which the Industries Department is offering of collecting the cocoons and spun silk produced by the cultivators on payment of cash brings them a ready income without having to take the trouble of marketing the produce. steel products during the first seven months of 1937" totalled 1,831.424 tons, valued at $12,376,553, compared with 653,628 tons, valued at $48,555,- 857, for the corresponding period in 1936.
During July, pig iron continued its lead as the principal iron and steel export, with Japan and the United Kingdom as the outstanding purchasers.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.