SILK CULTURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1527, 18 April 1882, Page 4

SILK CULTURE.

'We notice with much ..pleasure _ the proi gress which the Akaroa 'experiments in silk culture are, making. ( Mr,,Federli, ,who seems to liavo entered heart and soul into the solution of the problem whether silk can or cannot be properly and profitably cultivated in New Zealand, continues to report very favourably. The silk worms under his care are thriving as well us could be wished, apd it is confidently expected that he will be able ttf'inake a grand show of cocOoiis at the Christclmrch Exhibition. We understand that it is not at all probable the Government will go to the expense of purchasing the .trees advertised for sale on the Sydney plantation, but they will foster the new industry in every practicable manner. His Excellency the Governor paid a visit to Mr Federli's silkworm establishment about a' fortnight ago, and appeared to take great interest in the woik going on, and the results achieved. In a recent report — not official— Mr Fedevli says: — "My experiments here are very successful, and I have already some cocoons of excellent' quality, and more will be ready very soon. I have distributed several lots of silkworms, and all are doing well. I have every reason to be satisfied with my work as far as the silkworms are concerned ; and am instructing those interested in sericiculture. A very large number of mulberry trees will be planted here in the coming autumn : Ido not overrate when I state about two thousand, but I think that number will be exceeded." In regard to the cultivation of' the mulberry, we observe that the Akaroa Farmer's Club have been advertising for some weeks that all farmers and other gentlemen interested in the progress of silk culture can ]>o supplied with mulberry trees on making application in writing to A. H. Westen ra, lOsq . , on or before the t 3lst March. We also hear that applications have come in from all sides, and that thcic are the clearest indications of a lively concern for the success of the new indubtij. The Mail on this subject says — " It is difficult to imagine a bettor way to spend a few pounds than in the piu chase of those trees, as Mr Federli's experiments heie prove without a doubt that the silkworm will flourish here, and all evidence shows that sericicnlture is one of the most remunerative industries in the world. Suppose evciy farmer were to spend ,-Cl in this" way (and there arc lew in the Peninsula who could not .spend so much), lie would undoubtedly be bowing the seeds of a great future prospciity for himself and the coiinty." It is a singular fact that the "blasting nor'westcres," which are so very injurious to the gi sim and other crops in Canterbury, do not hint the silkworms. The Mail editor htatcs that Mr Fcdcili informed him that during the recent hot weather the bilkwoinib ate ne.u'ly double the usual riiuntity of food, and that consequently they will conic to maturity sooner than expected. The worms aic now fast spinning their cocoons, some of which Mr Fcdcrli says would take a prize in any European Exhibition. It is gratifying to hear that the silkworms already supplied to settlers are doing well. It reference to this, the Mail of the 21st ult. says :—: — " Those on Mr Dawber's farm at German 13ay tire already spinning cocoons, and so ■ire those of Mr Perm, at Akaroa. Mr Fyfes are growing cnoimously, and promise to spin in a few days." Mr Federli at the present time is in Christchurch making preparations for the Exhibition. — Tiuluttrwl Gazette.

Fa^iiiox's VRii ucs are numerous, and, according to an American journal, the latest is for every lady to have her age indicated on her hat-brim — each inch of width represents three years. A teninch brim means that the lady is thirty years old, a twenty-inch brim shows that she is sixty, and so on. Troops Ix Ireland. — Of seven battalions of the Foot Guards three are at this momentin Ireland. This is unprecedented. The unwritten law of the service being that the corps] d'elitc, more particularly assigned to the garrison of the capital and the guardianship of the Sovereign's person and the Royal residences, never leaves England except in caso fof war or imminent war, the inference ought to be that the authorities are in possession of some information of a more direful character concerning what is brewing m 111 1 eland than they care or dare to make public. Rince Wateiloo, the G-nards have only been sent abroad to put down rebellion in Canada, again to fight the Russians in Crimea, again to Canada at the time a rupture with the United States was apprehended, and once previously to li eland, before that pettifogging little Fenian conspiracy burst and disclosed how contemptible it was. Unless an armed insurrection is on the eve of breaking out, it does seem ridiculous to sentence as many of our picked phalanx as biea&ted the heights of Alma to the ingloiions semi-banishment of quartet's in a melancholy isle, where balls are few, racing is on its last legs, hunting is tabooed, and a pauperised gentry can no longer dispense hospitality. California has been in American possassion but 34 years, and its exports and imports are this year more than twice as great a& those of the 27 States aud the two Territories which compose the Mexican Republic, though California's population is loss than one-twelth, and its area not more than one-fifth of hers.