SERICULTURE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1229, 23 January 1872, Page 2

SERICULTURE.

[from thk nelson eyaminer, dec. 9.] A visit to Mr Bachelor's in the Waka puaka-road at this season of the year, will repay any person who takes an interest in the experiment lie is engaged upon. In a large airy room, as well adapted for his purpose as a room could be not specially built for the purpose, standing on a succession of beuches and trays will be seen from 40,000 to 50,000 silkworms in various stages, from half grown down to early infancy. They are of three distinct kinds—Lombardy Buffs, Japanese, and another variety, the name of which we have forgotten. To attend to this numerous family is as much as one person can do; for not only has their food to be gathered, the leaves of the mulberry cut into strips and laid out on their feeding trays, so that all may be consumed without waste, but cleanliness is necessary to secure health, while ihe temperature of the room requires attention, and must be kept within a range of 10 degrees A. few days ago, an Italian miner from the Buller who was well acquainted with sericulture, his father following it as a means of living in Modeaa, paid Mr Batchelor's residence a visit, and stated to us afterwards his approval of the arrangements lie saw there for the rearing and management of the silkworm. There can be no doubt of tjie suitability of our climate for the growth of s ilk—the cocoons obtained last year by Mr Batchelor and oihers in Nelson, are sufficient proof of this ; and what is now wanted is abundance of food for the worms. If the Government would encourage the planting of mulberry trees after some practical fashion, there is good reason to believe that in a few years, the industry of rearing worms would be taken up here on a considerable scale. Mr Batchelor could this year supply all New Zealand with eggs of the silkworm for next season, but there would be no food for any large number to live upon ; and it will require four or five years to grow sufficient food to make the industry possible on a scale which would be beneficial to to the country. If the Colonial Go vernment would vote ,£2,000 a year for trees for five successive years, and distribute them gratuitously throughout the colony amongst those who would plant them, they would lay the foundation of an industry which could not fail to grow into great importance. It would cost our farmers and small cultivators little to give up each a few roods, or an acre or two of ground, to mulberry trees furnished them gratuitously ; and as soon as these would admit of stripped for food for silkworms, which should not be done until the third or fourth year, the cultivator would tbereafter receive from them a steady income. The subject is of real importance, and worthy the attention of Government, both Colonial and Provincial. The expenditure of money in the way we recommend could not fail of giving a large and ever-increasing future return.