SILKWORM CULTURE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 578, 27 January 1882, Page 2

SILKWORM CULTURE.

To the Editor.

Sir,—Mr Federli has now been here a week for the purpose of bringing under the notice of the residents of the Peninsula the advantages of the introduction of a new industry—sericiculture—or the rearing of silkworms. Of the desirability of fostering new industries, whether big or little, there can be no doubt; for yearly we find other parts of the colony treading on our heels in pursuits which had almost come to be looked upon as permanent monopolies. Take our two chief exports for example—cheese and grass seed. The first of these is now made from one end of the colony to the other—from the Waikato in the North to Invercargill in the South; and grass seed, which but a few years ago was produced exclusively in this district, is now largely grown in several parts of both Islands. Gisborne has, to within tho last season or two, been one of our best customers. A letter received from there yesterday says:—"Sending cocksfoot and rye to this district is out of the question, it is the one production in which we excel. Our export this year will be probably 100,000 bushels." Here, then, one of our best customers has not only ceased to be a customer, but has, in the course of a few seasons, become a formidable rival. It is evident from this,, and other examples which could be adduced,' that year by year we may look for keener competition in pursuits hitherto considered as peculiarly our own. My object, then, is to awaken attention to the real necessity which exists for opening up new local industries ; and it is to be hoped that residents generally will go heart and soul into sericiculture, and so lay the foundation of another industry, which, from the suitability of our climate, may prove not only a permanent, but likewise a prosperous one.

It is our extreme good fortune that of all parts of the colony, preference has been given to Bank's Peninsula as the one be3t adapted for sericiculture; and the Government having gone to the expense of sending Mr Federli amongst us to give instructions therein, it is sincerely to be hoped that residents of all parts of the Peninsula will hasten to pay Mr Federli a visit. Yours, etc.,

W. H. HENNING. Akaroa, January 26, 1882.