MR FEDERLI AT THE EXHIBITION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 603, 25 April 1882, Page 2

MR FEDERLI AT THE EXHIBITION.

For many reasons the special Government exhibit, under the caro ot MrFederli is of very great interest. Not only be- , causes a layman in such matters may gather much information, in the course ol a single visit to tins bay in the Australian avenue, on tho whole process of rearing and keeping silkworms, but also for another cause. In it lie the germs of a vast and profitable industry, for which New Zealand has peculiar advantages of soil and climate. Sam Slick solemnly warns men, " never prophecy without you know ; " so it will be better to refrain from telling of tho wealth made in this particulr'.r way that will be gathered by our great grandchildren, or possibly by their parents. But there is no manner of doubt that "there's millions in it," if tnkon in hand ivith a little energy and care. Countiy visitors and cottagers should, of all people, be the ones to profit by an examination of this corner of the Exhibition. A few minutcii' talk with .Mr Fu.-.trli who is rcadyness and obligingness itself, will, if they know anything of the matter, soon convince them that they might do ;

far worse than take up silkworm culture. As he will tell them, it is a ready way of adding to the store in the long stocking belonging to all well-conducted and careful folk, against that rainy day which comes sooner or later even to them. Tho matter needs little demonstration; it has passed the stage where proof in necessary. Twenty years ago the value of silk raised annually in the north of Italy was nearly £10,000,000 ; in Austria about the same. ! These figures are given to show the hidden riches that lurk in a form of industry that has hitherto not met with the attention it deserves. It is not necessary to refer to the enormous extent of the French trade in silk ; it is so well known that mention of figures and statistics is superfluous. The great mistake in the minds of most people is that, for the starting of the industry, capital is necessary. In New South Wales, where sericiculture has had a home for a long period already, com panics were even formed to carry it on. Such a course is more than extravagant; it i; absolutely foolish. A private person, if at all an enthusiast and determined to bucceed, will be perfectly able to give all the attention to his " flock " that they need. As for expense, that is trifling.

Stii'iciculinre in New Zealand lias no long period of ancient history to look bnck upon. In New South Wales, through the determination of a lady, Mrs Blnddon Neil, it has made some progress. Among us it is quite a novelty. Its introduction on any scale dates from two years ago. Mr Feder'i brought the subject before Government, together with the cultivation of the olive, in a paper written for the Royal Industrial Commission appointed about that time. The chief difficulty lies in the feeding of the worms. Hearing that there were mulberry trees in Auckland, where silkworms have, we believe, been played with for some years, he offered :o go there and start the industry as an experiment. His information turned out to be bad, and then he discovered that there were 500 trees at the Lunatic Asylum here, and so the trial was made in Canterbury instead of the North. For 4000 years, or possibly more—their history makes light of centuries—the Chinese have practised the culture of the worm on the most elaborate scale. Their neighbors, the Japanese, are little if anything behind them, and to Japan the Government sent for " grain," as the eggs are technically termed in the latter part of 1881. " Grain " was duly received from the agent, and duly distributed. A supply was sent to Mr Spencer, of Tauranga, and to the Secretary of the Auckland Acclimntisition Society. Unfortunately, neither of these attempts in the North have met with great success. There was a slight difficulty with the " ova." They were received in December. Coming from the Northern Hemisphere they would naturally hatch out about April. Jα April, as all the world knows, the loaves are beginning to fall in New Zealand. No mulberry leaves, no live worms, thought Mr Federli, and pondered the matter. The eggs must be made to hatch out then and there. But how to do it ? The happy thought came— Electricity ! How it was managed would niako a long story, bi.t in one word Professor Bickerton and Mr Federli managed it between them. What will not an enthusiast and the vril force accomplish when in alliance ! There in the bay is the whole story of the silkworm's lil'fi, frein the egg through all the stages of cocoon chrysalis, moth, the egg again. The Akiroa experiment has succeeded notably, and the sanguine worm-master declares with pride that such a display as the one he has in the Exhibition would bo totally impossible in the corresponding season of the year in Europe. There is the real card of grain from Japan—no deception, ladies and gentlemen, if you doubt you may turn it and read all about it on the back ! —then come the worms, as •' lively little cusses " as Artemus Ward's kangaroo itself. Unlike Shakespeare's man the silkworms have four stages in their lives. At each of them they cast a skin, and at the fifth change of vesture, sleepy and old, begin to spin their three weeks' shroud. Up to this point their life is one of bliss and quietness. But knowing that if left to their own devices for the time mentioned, they will speedily eat a way out of their silken house ; those wanted for silk are boiled or stewed ruthlessly. In the long glass case they may bo seen in every stage, up to the moth saved from death to propagate the race of silk spinners. Very pretty are the delicate greys of the females with their gauzy wings, most of them busily engaged in laying their tiny yellow eggs. These in time will turn as grey as those on the Japanese "grain " card. The wholo exhibit is very instructive. And more than that, it is a very unusual one. These Japanese worms are what are known as " annuals." That is tiiey breed but once a year, the " bivoltini"' hatching out twice. It is, therefore, seldom that s.-ch an opportuity is offered of peeing tho course of life of the " annual from " grain "to "grain " with such distinctness.

Turning to the other side of the room, we find a complete little collection of various sorts of cocoons, and the silk that comes from them. There is the complete skein, the floss silk (the outside covering of the cocoon, the entangled threads), and some cocoons which have been burst by the chryalis, and boiled to improve them. The exhibits include specimens of the beautiful Japan sulphur annuals with firm, compact, cocoons, the siik of which is wortli eight or nine shillings per pound, and near this the softer and larger cocoons of green and white bivoltini worth about the same number of pencei for the same \vei»ht.(?) The " bivoltini' variety attracts many growers on account of the double hatching, but is not to be named in the same breath for quality. The very ingenious machine designed by Mr FtiVlerli, and made at Anderson's Can terbury Foundry, next claims attention. The o l )]ect was to produce a simple machine wlii'di would enable one person to do the work of softening the cocoons in water and wind off the silk. Thie usually employed two people. But by an application of the treadle, in combination with a crank action, a machine has been obtained which saves one pair of hands.

It is simplicity itself, and could be worked by a child. Tlie economy of labor and space so much sought for in the Colony has heen completely obtained. With the same intention .Mr Federli shows a set of racks, specially devised to demonstrate the very small space that is needed for the keeping of even a large number of worms. Perforated paper used for lifting them, for

the purpose of cleaning their trays, is also shown. The process is to cover the

animals with it and strew the mulberry leaves above. When they liavo crawled

through the holes to feed, they may easily be shifted on the paper to wherever they are wanted. I'his, of course, is not possible when f,he worms are in very largo quantities—netting is then used instead. Other noticeable features of the exhibit, are the blocks of mulberry wool and the young specimens of Morus Alba in pots at the entrance of the bay. These latter are placed on view to show the rapidity of growth made by the mulberry in this climate. They came from New South Wales last spring, sickly and weakly plants: the vigorous way in which they have shot up must be seun to be appreciated. At the back of the room, Mr Federli shows two slabs of mulberry wood, taken from a tree belonging to M. Burrieau, of Akaroa. It was 25 years old and 2ft in diameter at the ground. The blocks take a very fair polish, and are of a rich yellow, indicating the worth of the tree for other purposes than affording grazing ground for silkworm stock. Below may be seen a very ne>it little wine cask, made from the same wood. In the north of Italy, great store is set by casks of mulberry \vood. Wine placed in them is vastly improved in flavour. Specimens too, of Moras Rosaefolia and Multi Caulis also illustrate the various kinds of pasture needed by the worm, and their merits or the reverso. In conclusion, we cannot do better than invite v those who wish to spend a very profitable?? half-hour, to turn their attention to Mr Federli's bay with the silkworms. They will be instructed and amused.— Lyttelton Times.