SERICULTURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1843, 29 April 1884, Page 2

SERICULTURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir — I .see by the papers that Mr Fedprli is advocating seiieultuie and other subtropical productions as local industries. I know nothing of the other production*, but should ceitainly piefer them as being mote likely to give a return in the shape of profit for the tune and labour spent upon them by men— if the pi esent \ alue of labour is to continue, but if it is intended that sericulture should be pursued by women and childicn as a lecreation or to fill up spare time, then I would suggest its being followed by all who can do so ; but if any peiaon not possessed of a large share of patience and perseverance try it they will fail, as the worms are liable to disease and death by rot, especially if overcrowded, and Mr Federli says that thunderstorms cause the cut leaves of the mulberiv tiee to ferment, thus making their, unfit food for the worms. There is one point in Mr Federli'a lectuie reads (as printed) rather strange : he is made to say that one pound of cocoons represents one ounce of eggs, and that a pound weight of cocoons represents a money value of 4s 7W, but an ounce of eggs was worth lGs to 20a. Then comes the question, where are we to get this 10s to 20s for the egrgs ?; surely no one will take the trouble to hatch the egg*, feed the worms, and let them spin the one pound of cocoons for 4s 7-W, when the esrgs aie worth from lGs to 20s. If that be a printer's mistake, and it should be that we can get more money value for the cocoons, why stop at the production of cocoons; why not reel the silk which would then be what is called raw silk, and ready for the throwster to make into singles, tram, or oiganzine? One would naturally suppose that raw silk will h<we its fair value in the silk market, because the buyer can then judge its value much better than he can in the cocoon, and it is well known that silk from Bengal, China and Italy all differ in value and quality, and that those values vary considerably is certain, I have known China organzine sold at 15s to Jfo per Ib, and at other seasons the same quality of organzino to be sold at 28s to 30s per lb ; as a natural result, if the price of thrown silks vary so must the price of eggs ; also cocoons. When cocoons are pierced by the worms they are of little value, as they are carded and made into spun silk, which bears a low value in the market. I have seen a pair of stockings made with silk produced by worms bred in England. I should like to know the time and labour the lady who exhibited them spent to rear the worms, reel the silk, and knit the stockings, and venture to say that she could have bought two or three pairs of silk stockings equal to her own for less value than her time and labour was worth, if it had to be paid for in money, and where labour is of any value that is the proper way to put it. Labour in Bengal, China, and Italy is very rriuch lower th*n it Js in Uqgjand. or New Zealand. The white mulberry Is the proper sort for silkworms, and the timber is useful for furniture, but if any person plant it in New Zealand with the hope of reaping a large annual return by the leaves, I fear they will have a small income from that source. Perhaps Mr Federli will introduce the Ailanto silkworm -or Attacus cynthia'. ' It feeds on the leaves, of Ailanthus Glandulosa or Tree of Heaven, ajid. I fancy }fc hap been Been feeding on the 1 leaves of the common oak tree.— l am, &C, Warts Nqyi<