IN NEW ZEALAND.

21

D.—No. 8.

been found favourable to its growth; but I think, in a climate like New Zealand's, where the moisture is greater than in this country, the drier hilly lands would answer better for planting; aud from the experience I have acquired since my arrival in California, I am quite satisfied there are many Provinces in New Zealand where the culture of the silk can bo carried on successfully and profitably. As a rule, any soil where fruit trees thrive well answers also for the mulberry; but tho successful culture of the peach is the surest test. The peach tree is very sensitive, its foliage being very subject to atmospheric influences ; and its healthiness and production of fine-flavoured fruit seem to indicate the soil and temperature where the mulberry flourishes and the silkworm thrives. The Mulberry Tree — its Propagation and Treatment. '■ The different varieties of mulberry trees are very numerous, but in this State three kinds only are used in the culture of silk, and it will therefore be unnecessary for me to refer to any other than those in this report. The varieties referred to are, the Morus Multicaulis, tho Morus Alba, and the Morus Moretti. The Morus Multicaulis, or Chinese mulberry, is a very rapid-growing tree, producing a great quantity of large, soft, tender leaves, which have hitherto been most commonly used here for feeding the worms until the third age; but, as I shall hereafter explain, experiments made by the manager of the plantation I have recently visited seem to show that even for this purpose it is inferior to the other two varieties. It produces, however, a larger quantity of leaves than either the Morus Alba, or the Morus Moretti, and it possesses this advantage also, that it grows readily from cuttings; but its leaves absorb water more readily, and for this reason it is less adapted for moist climates. The Morus Alba, or white mulberry, is the tree principally used in European countries and India, ■where, it is said, tho worms fed upon its leaves produce the best quality of silk. The experience of California, however, goes to prove, that the third variety, the Morus Moretti, is better adapted to its climate and soil, growing, as it does, stronger and hardier, and producing larger leaves and with more sustenance than the Morus Alba. But the habits and appearance of the Alba and Moretti are somewhat similar, the former bearing white and tho latter purple berries however. In most of the large mulberry cultivations I have seen in the State, all three varieties are planted in about equal numbers, the trees making very rapid growth, some of the cuttings of the Multicaulis being eight or ten feet high within the twelve months. It is said that three years' growth of the trees in California is as much as five years' in European countries. The Propagation of the Mulberry is by Seeds, Cuttings, and Layers. —Before attempting the propagation of the mulberry it is, of course, absolutely necessary that the ground should have been properly prepared beforehand. The soil must be thoroughly loosened by the spade or plough, as the case may be, and to a considerable depth, for the roots of the mulberry strike downwards, and therefore require a greater depth of loosened soil than do most trees. When the soil is finely pulverized and'subsoiled or trenched, the seed is dropped into drills, say two feet and a-half apart, so as to admit of working between them, and in distances along the drill of about an inch. Tho seeds are then covered about half an inch deep, and the soil pressed slightly upon them. An ounce of seed generally produces eight or nine thousand young plants. Before planting, however, tho seeds are soaked in lukewarm water for twenty-four hours ; they are then mixed with a little fine sand, and kept in a warm place until they commence to sprout. But tho propagation of the mulberry from seeds is both precarious and difficult, and but a very small proportion of the amount sown ever comes to anything. The young seedlings are very tender, and easily killed by the frost or the rays of the sun. They must, therefore, be protected from both, and constantly watered for the first six weeks after making their appearance above ground. It is necessanr, also, to have them carefully hoed and kept free from weeds. Cuttings. —This is the easiest and surest way to propagate tho mulberry. I doubt, however, very much if the three different varieties can bo all produced in this way. A great diversity of opinion, I find, exists upon tho subject. That the Multicaulis grows, and grows well too, from cuttings, is 'admitted; but that the other two varieties —the Alba and Moretti —do is very problematical. Mr. Provost says they do; but whilst this gentleman's memory is deservedly respected throughout tho State, his opinions are thought of little worth. Indeed, his theories have proved very injurious in 'many instances. Others who have published their Opinions upon the subject say, that all three grow from cuttings, but there is a difficulty in raising the Alba and Moretti in this way. I have, however' been informed by experienced practical gardeners and silk-growers that these two varieties cannot ba propagated from cuttings at all. Tho conclusion I have arrived at is that all three grow from cuttings; but tho difficulty of rearing tho Alba and Moretti is so very great that, for all practical purposes, it is 'useless to attempt it. For cuttings, the shoots should be about eight inches loug, and contain two eyes or buds, aud put into the ground so far that their tops should be covered over with half an inch of soil. This serves to protect them from the sun. In California tho planting of cuttings is generally 'performed in December and January. Producing Trees. —But tho surest plan of producing trees is by layers. Here the method adopted is this : —The treo is first cut down to within a few inches of the ground, in the autumn or early 'winter. The young shoots springing up from the stump are then bent down, laid along the ground, and covered over, all but the extreme ends, with three inches of clay. From these layers young trees supplied with roots grow up. Hitherto, to avoid labour, the trees have been pruned and kept low; but'it is now said that the too frequent application of the knife is injurious, and, when necessary, 'should bo as sparingly as possible carried out in the winter. The leaves from cuttings twelve months old aro used to feed the worms in this state ; but experienced silk-growers say they should not be used until the tree is two years old, when it will supply from 5 lbs. to 7 lbs. of leaves. Hatching the Eggs and Raising the Worms. Tho eggs laid by the " Miller" or female moth, in the manner hereafter described, having been preserved in the paper on which they were laid, in a cellar or other dry place where there is no danger >of mildew and tho thermometer never rises above 45°, when the proper time for hatching arrives, -.they are gradually exposed to the warmth of the atmosphere. May is the month usually found best