SERICULTURE IN AUCKLAND. Why the Local Experiments Failed.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 44, 5 April 1884, Page 3

SERICULTURE IN AUCKLAND. Why the Local Experiments Failed.

(From the Auckland " Star," March 2S.) There 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 thig subject, related to sericulture, olive growing, and

other sub-tropical industries. He was under the impression in 1880 that there was a sufficient number of mulberry trees in Auckland to enable a fair experiment to be made, but he regretted that he was mistaken. Mr Schock had come to New Zealand Avith a capital, prepared to enter upon the industry. The speaker then referred to his own experiments in rearing silkworms at Ohristchurch, 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 Ohristchurch were larger and better than those produced in Victoria. Mr Federli 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 Exhibition and the National Exhibition. On one occasion the thermometer registered SO degrees in the day,and only 56 degrees in the night time. 0 n another day 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 he 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, soon 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 7 id, but an ounce of e^gs was worth from 16s to 2(Js. He believed that it was perfectly feasible, after carrying on sericulture tor a short time, to become exporters of silkworms' eggs. The climate 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 were to undertake 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. She reared her worms upon them, and taking her cocoons to the farmer, he sold them in the market with his own, and gave her half the price which they brought, retaining the remainder in consideration of the food supplied. If the season is fair, the women often make more money in five or six A\ r ecks than their husbands make in a great part of the year. There Avas little expense attached to the rearing for labour. Mr Federli then traced the progress of the silk industry from Constantinople, Sicily, Venice, Milan, and Florence. During the reign of Francis I., King of France, skilled labour Avas obtained from Milan, and Ave should start by importing a feAv hands of skilled labourers. The speaker then referred to the cultivation of vine, olive, fig, lemon, hops, tobacco, castor oil, pulse, and a variety of other things Avhich provide profitable employment ior 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 these industries. The best means of establishing these industries was to start farms and import skilled labourers, say four families. The climate was most suitable. 1 1 c had scon some of the best olives which he had seen anyAvhere, Avhile splendid samples of hops and tobacco had also come undor his notice. It Avas difficult to dispose of small quantities of these articles, and he therefore pointed out that they could be forwarded to a farm. He then proceeded to remark upon disseminating knoAv ledge on the Avork described above, and A\ent on to suggest that Avhen extra labour av as required it should be obtained from the industrial homes. Mr Hoavlaxd, Chairman of the Industrial Association, Christchurch, said he could bear testimony to the energy displayed by Mr Federli since his arrival in Christchurch, especially in inducing people to plant the mulberry tree. It Avas found that there Avcrc about half-a-dozen trees in Canterbury. The Association used all thcirinfluencetoinducethcpeopletoplantmulberries. Last year one nui scry man supplied the public Avith 1,500 plants, and this year he is prepared to supply 2,000. He considered, hoAvever, that the a\ ork should be carried on cheaper than by the method proposed by Mr Federli. If the industrial schools Avere to take up the matter — they had the buildings, the labour, and the land— all that avouIcI be required Avns a foAv skilled hands; they could produce trees, and in time the boys could go out and take charge of farms, and so become useful men. They required more industries in the country, and wanted these boys Avhen they came out of schools to do something for the benefit of the colony. The bo\s should be given an education a\ Inch Avould make them less dependant on pen and ink, and Avhich Avould be of greater use in developing the latent resources of the colony. He suggested that if the people of NeAV Zealand Avere to purchase goods produced in the colony in preference to patronising imported articles, they would be doing much toAvards incouraging these industries. They must establish and support more industries if they hope to make this a prospei'ous nation. Mr Federli said Mr Howland's proposal Avas a very good one, but he saAV objections. They first Avanted to prove that the thing would pay.and therefore should proceed in a business Avay. The schools were in the hands of the Government, and this formed one difficulty. Mr Federli, speaking of grape culture, stated that a Spaniard at Wanganui had 3^ acres under cultivation, Avhich produced beautiful Avine. Good Avine had also been produced from grapes grown in Auckland. The grapes Avere prevented from reaching maturity here because of mildeA\ , but it Avas knoAvn that this Avas prevented by sulphur treatment. Mr Firth said an experiment in sericulture had been made at the Thames, and it had not been a success. Mr McCullough explained that a great many wore convinced that sericulture would pay. Several gentlemen established a company, bought a section of land at ParaAvai, imported 1,000 trees from Sydney at a cost of £100, and planted them. They found when they had paid for land and trees that their funds Avere exhausted. The grounds Avere neglected, and the trees were not taken care of, and he had no doubt that notAvithstanding their failure at the Thames, sericulture would pay in Auckland. He did not consider the establishment of farms advisable on the ground of expense, and recommended that gentlemen having sparo ground should plant say tAventy trees each. When it could be represented that a certain number of trees could be produced, the proper people would find it out, and in this way without any capital. Instead of the Govern-

ment giving a bonus for the production of silk, he thought a bonus should be given to persons for cultivating the mulberry tree. The Thames Company proved unsuccessful merely for want of funds. Referring to the mulberry trees at the Thames, Mr Federli stated that although the soil is very rich, it was too dark, while the right kind of trees had not been chosen. Again,the snails were so numerous that they eat away all the bark. If skilled labour were employed this would not happen, and consequently he considered it unwise 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 the white mulberry and lettuces year after year. In many cases they had collected a great number of cocoons. They 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 years 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. In gardens in this city olive trees had been growing for years. He had one tree which grew with great vigour. When it began to fruit he discovered that it 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 luxuriant manner. Generally, the olives here are not trees producing berries of any commercial 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 great deal of effort in attempting things of which they knew little or nothing. If they wanted to utilise what little strength they had, they should do so under the direction of an expert. The country had suffered loss through this not being found out before. He agreed with Mr Federli as 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. "The way to secure a reasonable prospect of success was to get help from the Government, to secure experts, and to attach them to each of the Industrial Schools, and a small farm attached to each of the schools. That the Government could import mulberry plants at a cost of 25s per thousand and distribute them under the charge of the experts. Only one thing would then require to be done— Mr Federli should be appointed manager. He considered there was a regular 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 thing going. In reply to Colonel Haultain, Mr Federt/t said that there were several ways of propagating the mulberry, the best of which was 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., tho white mulberry. Mr K'cCullough moved, "That in the opinion of thi? meeting it is desirable that an associatir n be formed for the purpose of collecting i lformation on the subject of sericultui ■ md kindred industries, to urge upon the overnment the necessity of aiding the estr.olishment of these industries throughout the colony, and take necessary fcteps 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, McCullough, 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 the proceedings.