SERICULTURE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 204, 30 August 1870, Page 4

SERICULTURE.

{From the Evening Post.')

The inauguration of every industry which promises to increase our products, and consequently our wealth, must be deemed to be of the utmost importance, and consequently some, papers relating to sericulture in New Zealand, which have been presented to Parliament, will bo rpad with peculiar interest. We learn from a contemporary that the returns of the silk trade of England some years since were £14.000,000 sterling, of France £21,300,000; of ilieZullverein, £4,105,000 sterling ;of Switzeiland, £4,000,000; of the Austrian slates, £7,200,000 ; and £5.000,000 sterling for Spain, Italy, and Turkey. This amounted to a grand total of £55.005.000 sterling per annum. No words of ours are necessary to show the importance of preserving the source from which flows such a stream of wealth ; hut of late years, in soite of every care, whether arisinjr from, tbe practice of artificially hatching and feeding, or from other causes, a disease has spread among the European worms, the ravages of which liave become serious and alarming. It is found impossible to supply from the European worms the quantity of silk requisite to keep the manufacturers in employment, aud, both in England and on the Coutiueut, the industry has become materially crippled. Efforts have been nifide to supply the deficiency from the old source — Asia — but both in China and India the disease has been felt, and there is only Japan which has remained intact ; the Japanese have, consequently, driven a most lucrative business in supplying the European market, but the quantity they produce is inadequate to the demand. France ami Italy alone requiring 7,000,000 ounces of e?gs, the value of which ia £8,000,000 sterling, while not more than two-thirds of the quantity can be supplied. In these circumstances those interested in silk look around for fresh fields for its production, and it seems to be admitted that these colonies are extremely favorable for the purpose. The Parliamentary paper to which we have referred contaius a report by Mr. Batchelor, of Nelson, a gentleman who seems carefully to have studied the subject, which assures us that portions of NewZealand are eminently adapted for the growth of the white mulbery tree, and wherever this tree will nourish there the growth of silk can be made productive. Mr. Batchelor also says that unlike some other countries, otherwise well suited for the growth of silk, there would be no danger of the worm being scorched up in the middle of the season by blighting winds, and the whole of the crop of silk, if not destroyed, being seriously injured. The short supply of silk in England has led to the formation of a Silk Supply Association, whose object is to foster and entourage the growth of silk in suitable countries, with a view of supplying the present deficiency. This association would, no doubt, lend a helping hand to any efforts we might make towards acquiring for ourselves such a source of wealth; nnd, as it seems that in this as in other respects Nature has been bounteous to us, it is to he hoped that the Legislature will not, remain satisfied with merely knowing that successful sericulture is possible in New Zealand, but. will take steps to add it to oui other industries.