SERICULTURE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 126, 27 May 1873, Page 2

SERICULTURE.

To the Editor op the Nelson Evening Mail, Sir, — I have not observed in the public papers any information; on the progress bf this industry.

The time of year ia fast approaching for transplanting trees; my own have just come out in leaf as-in the; spring, from a premature fall of leaf occasioned by the late long drought, but I do not know if this is genorally tho cose. The fact of the man who was the first to, bring this subject forward having given ifc~up7 mighji tend, to thrown damper "on th£ pursuit.' 1 " If ''he had been really in earnest in promoting tho cultivation of silk it might naturally do so, but when it is known that be obtained * the £400 offered by , the Government as au encouragement' for the growth of silk, and since that has done nothing more in the matter, it is easy to see that such was his main object. . As one who has pursued tho growth of silk fori its own sake, it is natural to hope tbat others are doing so. The production of silk for the English market can never attain a footing unless the number of silk producers shall be considerable. There is np doubt whatever that the white mulberry grows here as well as in any other part of the word, and tbe great number of young ladies who are to be found in various families, and who cannot readily turn their work tp a pecuniary profit, makes the winding of silk a very desirable industry. In the last summer I had a very limited supply ;of. eggs,- but the cocoons which I had were wound by a child of 13 years by means of a very simple machine made to work by mean 8 of tbe treadle of a sewing machine,? which I ;should be glad to show to anyone interested who would think it worth while to ask you for my address. The machine cost me seven shillings, and could be. made by. any turner, for that sum or less, and would by practice wind a vast number of. cocoons in a day. :: , , . I ara, &c, ' Morus.