188 TEA AND SILK FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND. 



beckon the enthusiastic chasericulturist and others to this 

 seductive land. 



Tor convenience of comparison we shall now epitomise the 

 forecfoing climatic statistics thus : — 



1. We learn that a fairly accurate register of temperature 

 kept at Shanghai, in China, for a few years showed the highest 

 reading of a Tahrenheit's thermometer to have been 113° in the 

 month of July, and the lowest indication 22° during January ; 

 that the mean of the highest readings was 76-50°, and the lowest 

 42*33° ; that a margin of about 5° should be allowed as the approx- 

 imate correction for the Chinese tea and silk districts ; and that 

 the rainfall there is gentle but frequent, with a salubrious climate. 



2. We find that the mean annual temperature at Canton is 

 70-50° ; that this is the prevailing heat generally along the 

 thirtieth parallel ; and that, according to Dr. Gray, the average 

 annual rainfall is from 68 to 72 inches. 



3. That the spring temperature of the Moyune district may 

 range from about 35° to 70°, with frequent rains, and that it is 

 during the comparatively cool months that the tea and silk 

 harvests are obtained. 



4. We glean that in Ceylon tea is successfully produced at 

 heights of 4600 feet to 7000 feet above the sea-level in a mean 

 temperature at 4600 feet of 66-50° Fahr., where there is neither 

 the great heat nor copious moisture of Assam ; and that at the 

 recent Melbourne Exhibition the tea planters of that island 

 earned a distinguished place for their produce, and a fair per- 

 centaQe of first-class awards for its excellence. 



5. That in India tea is produced in gardens situated from 

 30 feet to 6700 feet above the sea-level under mean temperatures 

 ranging from 53° to 76° Fahr., and with an annual rainfall 

 varying between 42 and 252 inches. 



6. That portions of New Zealand possess a climate resembling 

 that of Greece and the tea and silk districts of China, notably 

 the province of Auckland, the average of whose coldest months 

 is 34°, and whose hottest 90-40° Fahr., with a well-distributed 

 rainfall of 45'50 to 47 inches, spread over from one hundred to 

 one hundred and eighty days of the year. 



Apparently, therefore, as far as general climate, temperature, 

 and rainfall are concerned, a fair theoretical case seems to have 

 been stated in favour of the establishment of chasericulture in 

 parts of New Zealand, especially in the province of Auckland ; a 

 district which promises to be equally suited to produce the hardy 

 and flavoury teas of China, and the less robust, although more 

 astringent, growths of Assam. And as the mulberry, ailanthus, 

 and other shrubs and trees which afibrd food for different races 

 of silkworms are known to grow there luxuriantly, we have evi- 

 dently lighted upon a most desirable silk country also. 



