TEA AND SILK FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND. 227 



white mulberry leaves, showing a gross value, after deduction of 

 66 per cent, for desiccation, of probably £33,624, being the likely 

 return from 600 ounces of eggs costing in Europe about £450. 

 These figures are of course based on the assumption that the 

 ladies of the establishment have not yet learned the art of reeling 

 silk, and that it is obligatory to export to Europe all the cocoons 

 produced. But at some future date, when this delicate branch 

 of sericiculture shall have become understood and be in practice 

 among them, the gross proceeds from the mulberry area, as at 

 first obtained, will probably be quadrupled. Even this estimate 

 is perhaps destined to be exceeded when the economical lesson 

 already alluded to as taught in Syria has been mastered, as there, 

 cocoons which are smartly unwound before the developed moths 

 have had time to perforate their silken prisons, yield 50 per 

 cent, more silk than after the little creatares have been stifled. 

 But the climax of economical sericiculture will have been 

 reached when a curious device, now under consideration, of 

 obtaining silk direct from the spinnerets of the worm, without 

 the intermediate form of a cocoon and without compromising the 

 comfort and safety of the little creature during its transformation 

 shall have been perfected. As soon as this grand triumph has 

 been achieved, it is scarcely necessary to say that further solici- 

 tude as to the difficulties of reeling after the method now in use 

 will disappear, for the process will no longer be required. In 

 place of only a very small percentage of the moths being saved, 

 the whole hatching would become available to complete their 

 natural functions and term of life, the yield of silk would soon 

 be so startingly augmented as almost to rival that of cotton 

 itself, and the quantity of eggs produced so enormous, that the 

 disease-ridden magnaneries of Europe might annually be fully 

 rejdenished from the New Zealand Chasericultural Company's 

 nurseries alone. 



It is unnecessary, perhaps, to add another word in illustration 

 of the numerous lucrative, honourable, and attractive openings 

 which await the applications of educated although reduced 

 women and girls once the proposed company has fairly been 

 launched ; so we shall now turn to another of the philanthropic 

 features embraced in the enterprise, which may be explained in 

 a few sentences. 



There can be very little doubt that, in consequence of the 

 keen and annually increasing competition "of Continental and 

 American farmers, united to the uncertainty of our climate, 

 the position of the homo agriculturist does not im])rove, but 

 rather seems to get worse as the century advances. That rents 

 have in many cases been excessive probal)ly few will question, 

 and that even no rent at all in some localities may have left 

 the farmer a loser during late years. At the same time it is 



