Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1884. Sub-Tropical Industries

Feilding Star, Issue 71, 27 May 1884, Page 2

Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1884. Sub-Tropical Industries

Mr Federli, who is employed by the Government to lecture on the subject of " Sub-tropical Industries," will probably be able to visit Feilding in order that our residents and the surrounding settlers may have an opportunity of hearing what can be said on this very interesting subject. His Worship the Mayor has written to the Government asking that Mr Federli be instructed to lecture in Feilding. The Government will be glad to receive an application of this kind, as in certain quarters the employment of Mr Federli as a lecturer, has been characterised as a waste of public money when the colony can ill afford extravagance of any kind. It will therefore be in some slight degree a justification of the appointment, and as such, very likely the request will be acceded to. Assuming such to be the result, we suggest that the members ol the Feilding Horticultural Society be invited to attend the lecture, for the reason that among them are a number of experienced persons who have a thorough knowledge of tbe qualities of the soil in every part of this distxict. One gentleman, Mr Knight, of Awahuri, lias already been at some pains to inaugurate silk worm culture, and his experience would prove very valuable, and assist even Mr Fedebli in forming an opinion as to the possibilities of future success in this particular industry in the Manawatu. In his lecture delivered in Wanganui he said " Sericulture was an industry which could be adopted by any person in whatever state of life. In his own country, by co-operation the poorest person in the land made considerable sums yearly, and in some families where the father worked out of doors, the housewife, by a few weeks labor, obtained as much for her silkworms as the husband for his whole year's work." The great difficulty was in the beginning from a want of practical knowledge. The industry has the advantage of providing employment for children, who take a great interest m it as an amusement, and afterwards turn it to a profitable means of hvlihood. Owing to the decadence of the silkworm in China from disease, and a consequent falling off in tlie silk trade, a market was opened for silk from New Zealand. The mulberry tree has several other advantages : it provides capital fodder for sheep, the fruit is good for preserves, and even wine, the timber is suitable for casks, and the tree could take the place of the blue gum for protective purposes. There are other benefits to be derived, which we hope to hear expatiated upon by the lecturer at no

I distant date.