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On the 26th March I forwarded a sample of pierced cocoons, which I asked you to be good enough to forward to Mr. Richards, a silk-spinner in Yorkshire, in order to ascertain the market value of this kind of produce. ... , By the last direct mail steamer I sent a box to my friends in Italy, containing a large sample of dry" cocoons produced by me in Auckland, as also about eighty thousand silkworm-eggs. I instructed my friends to have the cocoons and eggs thoroughly tested by practical people m the trade, and to furnish me with a report. The rest of the eggs produced were deposited on the Bth instant in a cool chamber of the local freezing company, which kindly granted me permission to leave them there till next season. I flatter myself that my experiments put the practicability of establishing silk-culture as a permanent industry beyond all question of doubt. Two things remain to be done : increase the number of mulberry trees; induce a sufficient number of people to take the matter up to enable me to establish an export trade. For the latter purpose I intend shortly to visit most of the schools m this provincial district, as also those settlers who have been raising cocoons last season. I have lately sent a circular to all persons who raised cocoons this year, but the papers are returned so slowly that I am not yet in a position to give the result of the season. Mr. W. H. Bishop, R.M. at Mangonui, writes : " I regard the experiment, so far as I was concerned, as eminently satisfactory ; and I am quite assured of the thorough success of the industry if once properly established." In the United States very great importance is attached to the establishment ot the silk-mdustry. In 1885 and 1886 Congress appropriated £3,000 each year for the encouragement of the industry, and large amounts of money have been devoted to experiments in silk-reeling, with very satisfactory results. I beg to submit two estimates as to the profitability of the industry. Raising Cocoons. One ounce of graine, equal to 40,000 worms. Average yield of loz. graine, 1001b. fresh cocoons. Two adults can manage 30z., = 3001b. fresh cocoons. 31b. fresh cocoons =to lib. dry. 3001b. fresh cocoons = to 1001b. dry. ~,„„, -, -, , . „ n. Average price of dry cocoons in Marseilles, 19fr. per kilo; 19fr. per kilo equal to 7s. per lb. At present prices of silk are very low at Home. In 1876, for instance, dry cocoons were 32fr., equal to 12s per lb. As few persons might have facilities to choke large quantities of cocoons, the cocoons had better be sent in their fresh state to a central establishment, say, in Auckland, and therefore, the growers would mostly have to be paid at the rate for fresh cocoons; 75., dry, equal to about 2s. 4d. fresh. 1001b. dry cocoons at 7s. per lb., or 3001b. fresh, at 2s. 4d. ... £35 0 U Cost of graine, 3oz. at 105.... ••• •■• ••■ Trays, paper _ 3 ° ° Freight, packing, &c. ... ••• ••• ■•• " Commission, 10 per cent. ... ... ••• ••• 310 0 Jjjxtr9jS ... ■•• ••• •** -\o c\ f\ Leaving for six weeks'work for two persons ... ■■• £22 00 Graine would not have to be bought after the first year, because people can raise their own graine. Trays will last for several years if handled carefully. Freight should not be more an This""estimate presupposes raisers to have the necessary number of mulberry trees handy In France mulberry leaves are sold at sfr. to 6fr. per 100 kilo., equal to about 2s. 6d per cwt It requires 15cwt. for the issue of loz. graine, and 45cwt. for the issue of 3oz graine. Mulberry trees three years old should yield 51b. of leaves each ; nine years old, 751b.; and twenty-one years 1501b To raise 3oz.it would require about 900 trees three years old, about 70 trees nine years old, about 3o 6S Mr iTc Haldane in his book on " Subtropical Cultivations and Climates," published last year, gives'the following figures bearing on the subject. "In the south of France full standard trees, the crop being picked yearly, give three years old, 71b. leaves; our years, 251b.; five years 381b ■ six years, 571b.; nine years, 1061b.; twelve years, 1471b.; twenty-one years 2181b of leaves If nicked every second year, on good soil, nine-year old trees give 2201b., and double this quantity at twenty years. Half-standards yield about three-fifths as much as the standards. Dwarf trees, seven years old, bear about 451b. to 501b. of leaf each tree.' Raising Graine. My object in sending silkworm-eggs produced in Auckland to Italy is to ascertain if a regular export trade to that country and France could be established. I feel, confident that could be done, and if the experiment turns out successfully the silk-industry will prove a very profitable one lnde j d apan has for many years past sent annually about one million ounces of silkworm-eggs to Europe. French and Italian cultivators have commenced again to raise their own graine, but a good article will always find a ready sale. ■ . , ~ , In order to raise graine of first-class quality, more care and attention have to be paid to the worms than if only cocoons for reeling purposes are raised. Therefore, let us say, two adults take charge of 2oz. instead of 3oz„ as in the first estimate : 2oz. graine 80,000 worms equal to at least 60 000 cocoons or moths. About half of these are females. Each lays from 300 to 600 eggs-say 400 30,000 by 400 equal to 12,000,000 eggs :by 40,000, equal to 300oz. silkworm-eggs.