MULBERRY TREES WANTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4098, 9 June 1881, Page 3

MULBERRY TREES WANTED.

♦ In the course of a few weeks, Mr Federli, who has undertaken on behalf of the Government to conduct some experimental work in sericulture, will have taken up his residence in Christchurch. Numerous statements having been made to the effect that the desired kind of white mulberry is obtainable from the local nurseries, Mr Federli is anxious to receive communications from those who have stocks on hand, especially as he has already been applied to by a number of people who are desirous of forming plantations. Independently of the applications made to Mr Federli, a gentleman in this city informs us that he has decided upon forming a mulberry plantation of 500 trees, being fully convinced that the venture must ultimately be attended with marked succoas. This plantation will be in the neighbourhood of Littlo River. During hie short stay in Akaroa, Mr Federli saw one remarkably fine specimen of M. Alba, which waß planted about 40 years ago by M. Borriaud. The kind is that which bears a very small fruit of a reddish colour. It may perhaps be of interest to mention that the white mulberry group includes the following varieties :— M. Alba (China) 5 Columbasea (Columba) ; Italica (Italian) ; maorophylla, large-leaved (China) ; membranacea ; niorettiana; multicaulis (China); nervosa (China) ; pumila (China) ; Romana 5 rosea (China) ; and sinensis (China). We have been requested to say that communications for Mr Federli may for the present be addressed to the care of the Secretary, Industrial Association ; and that nurserymen in sending to him should state which varieties they are prepared to supply, and in what quantities. It is Mr Federli's intention to form an experimental garden, in which the silk-pro-ducing values of the soveral varieties of mulberry may be demonstrated.