SERICULTURE IN AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4326, 28 March 1884, Page 2

SERICULTURE IN AUCKLAND.

Why tho Local Experiments Failed,

Titerk was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen in the rooms of the Auckland Institute last evening to hear the promised lecture by Mr Federli on sericulture in this colony, and also on the establishment of other sub-tropical industries.

Mr H. G. Seth Smith, President of the Auckland Institute, presided. In his opening remarks, the Chairman said that comparatively little was known here on the subject of sericulture, and one of the main objects of the gathering would be to consider whether the matter could be taken up in this part of the colony with advantage. Mr Federli was then introduced to the audience. In his opening remarks he said that both the soil and climate of New Zealand were favourable for the carrying on of the kind of mixed farming prosecuted in the southern part of Europe. A paper which he had addressed to the Chairman of the Royal Commission appointed in 1879 to consider thi3 subject, related to sericulture, olive growing, and other sub-tropical industries. He was under the impression in 18S0 that there wus a sufficient number of mulberry trees in Auckland to enable a fair experiment to be made, but ho regretted that he was mistaken. Mr Schock had come to New Zealand with a capital, prepared to enter upon the industry. The speaker then referred to his own experiments- in rearing silkworms at Christchurcli, and exhibited the practical results in the form of silk spun from cocoons. The opinion of those present appeared to be that the cocoons grown in Christchurch were larger and bettor than those produced in Victoria. Mr Pederli proceeded to say that it had been> stated that the variation of temperature in New Zealand would not be favourable to the growth of the worm. But the facts proved that this was incorrect. With his own crop he found they did exceedingly well, both in the Industrial ExhibitionandthoNational Exhibition. On one occasion the thermometer registered 80 degrees in the day,and only 50 degrees in the night time. On anotherday it registered 90 degrees, and then the mercury fell to 46. But the silkworms thrive very well. A lady had sent him two kinds of healthy worms, and ho found that they did very well. But the truth was, that excessive heat was quite as dangerous to the silkworm as cold. The worm was subjected to disease if neglected. They, however, s6on became acclimatised. That they prospered in New Zealand was proved by the fact that in the first season of last year there was a most remarkable increase in the amount of the crop, and in the last season the increase' was doubled. Electric changes in the atmosphere produced a tremendous effect upon the worm, but on the other hand electricity has been employed with success in hatching the eggs of the silkworm. This had been practised with great results. Mr Federli quoted figures to show the fluctuations that had taken place in the silk trade, and which were attributed to neglect or other causes. Referring to the returns from sericulture, he said one pound weight of cocoons represented an ounce of eggs. A pound weight of cocoons represented a money value of about 4s 7Jd, but an ounce of e«gs was worth from lGs to 2()s, He believed that it was perfectly feasible, after carrying on sericulture for a short time, to becomo oxporters of silkworms' eggs. The climato and soil of this part of the colony were, in his opinion, adapted to the growth of the lemon, orange, olive, castor-oil plant, hops, and tobacco. The speaker then proceeded to show how the labourer could be assisted by his wife, if she wore to undertako silkworm-rearing, even on a small scale. He said it is not uncommon for the wife of a working man in Italy to go to the nearest farm and ask for mulberry leaves, which were readily given her. Sho reared her worms upon them, and taking her cocoons to the farmer, he sold them in the market with his own, and gave hor half the price which they brought, retaining the i-emainder in consideration of the food supplied. If the season is fair, the women often make more money in five or six weeks than their husbands make in a great part of the year. There was littlo expense attached to the rearing for labour. Mr Fedorli then traced the progress of the silk industry from Constantinople, Sicily, Venice, Milan, and Florence. During the reign of Francis 1,, King of Franco, skilled labour was obtained from Milan, and we should start by importing a few hands of skilled labourers. The speaker then referred to the cultivation of vine, olive, h'g, lemon, hops, tobacco, castor oil ; pulse, and a variety of other things which provide profitable employment for South American farmers all the year round. Sericulture necessarily requires some buildings. The Government had simply requested him to bring before the people the importance of those industries. The best means of establishing those industries was to start farms and import skilled labourers, say four families. The climate was most suitable. He had seen some of the best olives which he had seen anywhere, while splendid samples of hops and tobacco had also come under his notice. It was difficult to dispose of small quantities of these articles, and ho therefore pointed out that they could bo forwarded to a farm. He then proceeded to remark upon disseminating knowledge on the work described above, and wont on to suggest that when extra labour was required it should bo obtained from the industrial homes.

Mr HowiiAND, Chairman of the Industrial Association, Christchurch, said he could boar testimony to the energy displayed by Mr Federli sinco his arrival in Christchurch, especially in inducing people to plant the mulborry troo. It was found that there were about half-a-dozen tveos in Canterbury. Tho Association used all theirinfluence to induce the people to plant mulberries. Lastyear one nurseryman supplied tho publio with 1,500 plants, and this year ho is prepared to supply 2,000. Ho considered, however, that the work should bo oarried on cheaper than by tho method proposed by Mr Federli. If tho industrial schools were to take up the matter—they hod the buildings, the labour, and the land—all that would be required was a few skilled handsj they could produce trees, and in time tho boys oould go out and tako charge of farms, and so become useful men. Thoy required more industries in the country, and wanted those boys when they came out of schools to do something for the benefitof thecolony. Thoboj sshouldbegiven an education which would* make them less dependant on pen and ink, and which would be of greater use in developing the latent resources of the colony. He suggested that if tho people of New Zealand were to purohase goods produced in the colony in preference to patronising imported articles, they would bo doing much towards incouraging thoso industries. They must establish and support more industries if they hope to make this a prosperous nation. Mr Federli said Mr Howland's proposal was a vory good one, but ho saw objections. They first wantod (a prove that the thing would pay, and therefore should proceed in a business way. Tho schools were in the hands of tho Government, and this formed one difficulty. Mr Federli, speaking of grape culturo, stated that a Spaniard at Wanganui had 8$ aoroß under cultivation, which produced beautiful' wine. Good wine had also been produced from grapes grown in Auckland. Tho grapes wove prevented from reaching maturity liero because of mildew, but it was known that this was prevented by sulphur treatment. Mr Firth said an experiment in sericulture had been made at tho Thames, and it hud not been n success.

Mr MaCuLLOuaii explainsd that a great many wore convinced that sericulture would pay. Several gontlemon established a company, bought a section of land at Parawai, imported 1,000 trees from Sydnoy at a cost of £100, and planted them. They found when they had paid for land and trees that their funds wore oxhausted. The grounds were neglected, and tho trees were not taken care of, and he had no doubt that notwithstanding hteir failure at tho Thames, sericulture would pay in Auckland. He did not consider tho establishment of farms advisable on tho ground of expense, and recommended that gentlemen having spare ground should plant say twenty trees each. When it could bo represented that a certain numborof trees could beproducod, the proper people* would find it out, and in this way without any oapital. Instead of tho Government giving a bonus for the production of silk, he thought a bonus_ should bo given to persons for cultivating tho mulberry treo. Tho Thames Company proved unsuccessful merely for want of funds. Referring to the mulborry trees at the Thames, Mr Foderli stated that although the soil is very rioh, it was too dark, while the right kind of trees had not been chosen. Aga'n.tho snails were so numerous that they eat away all tho bark. If skilled labour were employed this would not happen, and consequently he considered it unwiso to attempt to introduce this industry unless the right stock and skilled labour were imported. Mr Firth said that he had for many years watched the experiments made in silk culture. They had mulberry trees for a long time, and a considerable number of silkworms had been fed by children on tho white mulberry and lettuces

.year after year. In many casea they had collected a great number of cocoons. Ihoy began to ask, What is the value of the silk? and this put an end to their cultivation of the silkworm. In the country, children from five yeara old to ten had been the real cultivators of the silkworm in this colony ; but unfortunately they had not had the right kind of mulberry viz the rose leaf. Jn gardens in this city oliva trees had been growing for years. He had one tree which grew with great vigour When it began to fruit he discovered thatit was a wild olive. This, however, showed that the olive would grow without difficulty He then procured what was said to be a Spanish olive of the right class, which he planted, and it was growing in a very hiv u riant manner. Generally,the olives here are not trees producing berries of any commer cial value. In the mulberry and olive trees they had been entirely wrong in having the wrong kinds. Their experience taught them that they would waste a ereaS deal of effort in attempting things of which they knew little ornothing. If they wanted to utilise what little strength they had, they should do so under the direction of an expert. The country had Buffered loss through this not being found out before He agreed with Mr Federli &t> to the foolish" way of educating children adopted now which was exciting a dislike to work and honest labour. That, however, was not the time to discuss this subject. There was a general agreement that such culture could be carried on profitably, and the question was, whether it should be carried on by Government, by a company, or by private individuals). It would be a blessing to the waifs and strays at the Industrial Schools to place honest labour in ' their hands. The other way was to obtain ' assistance from the Government, and the" Government could no doubt lend great aid • to the progress of silk-culture in this colony, m Tho way to secure a reasonable prospect of success was to get help from the Government, to secure experta,and to attach them I to each of the Industrial Schools.and a small farm attached to each of the schools, That k the Government cdttld import mulberry plants at a cost of 25s per thousand and distribute them under the charge of the ex> perts. Only one thing would then require . to be done—Mr Federli should be appointed manager. He considered there wob a regu- 1 lar mine of wealth lying unworked in this land, and they only wanted the proper men to show them how to set about the work. The Government should be urged to take • the necessary steps to set the thinggoirig. In reply to Colonel Haultain, Mr Fedebli said that there were several ways of propsgating tho mulberry, the best of which was V by cuttings and seeds. The tree should not be removed from the nursery until it was three years old. The year after that two-thirds of its leaves could be used, and in the following year all the leaves could be used. The Thames Company had two kinds of mulberry.one of which was the right kind viz., the white mulberry. Mr McCullouoh moved, "That in the ' opinion of thip meeting it is desirable that an association be formed for the purpose of collecting information on the subject of: sericulture and kindred industries, to urge' upon the Government the necessity of aiding tho establishment of these industries throughout the colony, and take necessary | steps in the matter. The motion was seconded by Professor Brown, and carried unanimously. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to carry out the objects of the Association, Mr McCullough to be convener of the first meeting: —Professor Brown, Dr., Purchas, Messrs Bull, McCullougb, Dignan, Cheeseman, Comisky, Pond, Shera, and Moat.

On the motion of Mr Firth, votes of thanks were passed to Mr Federli and the chairman, Mr Seth Smith, which concluded tho proceedings.