A FRENCH OCCUPATION

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6442, 24 January 1924, Page 5

A FRENCH OCCUPATION

What must surely be one of the most fascinating industries in the world is “ carried on in Southern France, where > special butterfly farms have been established. Here, under scientific guidance, hundreds of beautiful specimens are bred. * Cross-breeding has been tried' and numerous experiments are conducted to obtain brilliant and original markings on the wings of these insects, which are afterwards sold to collectors or for the adornment of women’s hats and dresses.

The farms are provided with special leafy trees and plants, on which the eggs are hatched. Directly the young appear the branches are cut ofl and taken to a specially ventilated rooyi, where they are placed in vases of water.

As soon as the tiny caterpillars have eaten up this first supply of leaves fresh branches are provided. Having been in an even temperature for about two weeks, the young caterpillars are taken out into the open, where they are placed on plants that are protected from birds by long nets. When they have become fully grown, this protective net is removed, and soon they retire into cocoons or roll themselves up into leaves. These are collected and stored in specially ventilated boxes, where, in a very short time, butterflies of wonderful hues are evolved.