January i, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



591 



SERICULTURK IN CEYLON. 



A oorreepoufleut sends us two very nice-looUing 

 cocoons, to shew what is being done in Galle, and 

 he writes : — 



We .ire indeed very glad in being able to say that 

 Father Palla has experienced considerable success in 

 the culture of bilkworms in this country. The suc- 

 cessful results which have attended his efforts in 

 this industry for the last three years convince us, 

 despite the adverse views of some as to its suc- 

 cess, that the culture of the silkworm can be carried 

 out, beyond a doubt, to such a great advantage in 

 this country, as to be made a very remunerative 

 and profitable industry, if conducted with due atten- 

 tion and care. Father Palla's object in attempting 

 this enlerprize was, as we see, for no other reason 

 than that of proving to the c i.ouy that silk pro- 

 duction can be carried to undoubted success in this 

 country ; and his successful experience for upwards of 

 three years in this enterprize, we dare say, warrants 

 him in saying that he has realized the object he aimed 

 at. Although it was said by some, whose experience 

 in this industry falls short of the mark, that the 

 mulberry plant, the chief aliment of the silkworm, 

 does not grow freely in Ceylon, jet we have no hesita- 

 tion in saying that Father Palla's successful exper- 

 ience in the cultivation of the plant, jjlaoes us beyond 

 the shadow of a doubt that the milberry plant grows 

 very freely in any place in Ceylon. Mr. Geddesalso 

 concurs in this opinion, but it must be conceded 

 that it does not thrive so luxuriantly as it other- 

 wise would in somewhat colder climates than Ceylon ; 

 but however this may be, it thrives so luxuriantly 

 in Ceylon, as to ensure success in the culture of 

 the silkworm, aud Father Palla's mulberry plautation 

 in Galle is a proof of this. It was also said that the 

 silkworm eggs of the second production become spoilt 

 and useless, and that a fiesh supply of eggs is re- 

 quired to be imported from Japan or elsewhere. 

 But we have seen the eggs of the fifth pro- 

 duction, and from our own personal observation, we 

 can say that they appenr to be of a superior quality 

 to those of the primary production, ana moreover 

 we learn from letters received by Father Palla from 

 Geriuauy, Italy, Eugland, etc., that the cocoons sent 

 by him from Ceylon were so much appreciated and 

 admired, as to render it desirable for them to apply 

 to him for eggs. 



First, it is essentially necessary before the 

 rearing of silkworms in sufficient quantity for com- 

 mercial purposes can be successfully attempted, to 

 have a good plantation of mulberry. This is of para- 

 mount importance to ensure success in the enterprize. 



Secondly, an apartment or room as in India is much 

 needed to keep the worms safe from being exposed 

 to the dauger of easily falling victims to lizards, 

 scorpions, ants, and such other plagues. This we say, 

 as it h.as been said to us from Father Palla, who 

 has experienced such destruction. 



Thirdly, it must be also one of the main con- 

 siderations with the serioulturist to secure the services 

 of an expert in the rearing of the silk worm, i. e., 

 one who has especial knowledge in the culture of the 

 worm — " education '' as it is called of the worm; for 

 practical knowledge is more m eded than theory for 

 carrying on the business successliilly. It is therefore 

 no wonder that those who liave overlooked these 

 precautions have met witli ill-success in : he enterprize. 



We are glad to hear that several persons, follow- 

 ing in the wake of Father Palla, are devoting mue- 

 tinie and care to this pursuit. We wish them every 

 success in their endeavours, as with a little experience 

 it can be made a very profitable industry for the 

 natives of this country. It w ill also give great pleasure 

 and satisfaction to Father Pa'la to hear of their suc- 

 cess, and to know that his endeavours to give the 



natives of this country the benefits of an industry so 

 long overlooked hiive not been fruitless. 



[There can be no doubt that the mulberry fl lurishes 

 in Ceylon, and Father Palla's experiments prove that 

 the silkworm cin be propagated liere to the fifth 

 generation. The commercial question then hinges ou 

 an abundance of cheap labour. In the great silk- 

 producing countries, Italy, Japan, China, &c. , much 

 of the work is done by the women and children of 

 families. It would be a great step in advance if 

 women and children in native families here would 

 devote themselves to the pursuit. — EUi] 

 (See page 593.) 



♦ 



ORANGES AND THE ORANGE TR.-iDE. 



There is a s>^ason for all things, aud that for oranges, 

 perhaps the most popular fruit eaten among us, has 

 just commenced. Some years ago, when not as many 

 or.inges came to this country in a month as are now 

 sold at three or four of the chief ports of their im- 

 portation in a single day, hardly an orange was to be 

 seen during the months of July, August,- September, 

 and October; but now we are Hardly ever without 

 them, though during September and the 'first half of 

 October they are very scarce. Hence the new se.-vson 

 may bo said to begin with October, and pheasants 

 walnuts, and oranges are pretty nearly contemporaneous 

 as regards their advent to our tables. Already con- 

 signments have arrived from Palermo, Valencia, the 

 West Indies, and Brazil ; but it may be noted that " real 

 St. Michaels" will not arrive ia this country till about 

 a mouth hence, and tlierefore any ticketed with or cried 

 by the familiar name before that time may be put down 

 as impostors. This orange is pre-eminently the pre- 

 Christmas orange, and i^ at its best towards the end 

 of the year, though its iniportatiou goes on till the end 

 of May. Connoisseurs in the matter of oranges will be 

 sorry to hear that the St. Michael's crop is said to be 

 almost a total failure this year in consequence of a dis- 

 ease among the trees, caused, it is supposed, by s 'Uie 

 insect; and it seems not improbable that before long 

 the supply from the islaud will almost cease, as it has 

 from othi'r islands of the Azores group, such as Terceiia, 

 Fayal, and St. George's, which once produced a large 

 quantity of fruit. It is from Valencia and other n- igh- 

 bouring Spanish ports we now derive the great bulk, 

 perhaps more than one-half, of our orange supply, and 

 the trade from these ports has been constantly increas- 

 ing for the last ten years. The first steamer exclusively 

 devoted to the orange trade was run in 1S67, and 

 before that date it not unfrequently happened that 

 London was without an orange eupply for three or four 

 weeks in the winter mouths. The large number of 

 st»am vessels now employed on it renders euch a contin- 

 gency in the future almost impossible. Among veget- 

 able growths few are more beautiful than the orange 

 trees, and a most interesting, and probably unique, 

 feature of it is the fact that it bears at one time what 

 may be called three crops in different stages— the 

 blossom, the immature fruit, .and ripe oranges. Our 

 chief orange supply comes, as already stated, from 

 Valencia and other Spanish seaports ; but Lisbon, Villa 

 Real, Aviero, and Oporto also contribute their quota ; 

 while other consignments hail from the Azores, Brazil, 

 Palermo, Malta, and other Mediterranean ports. St. 

 Michael oranges, as also most Brazilian, are separately 

 wrapped, in the packages, in the leaves of Indian corn, 

 while oranges from all oiher parts are wrapped in thin 

 paper. The "blood" orauges, as they are called, come 

 mostly from Valencia, but a few from Malta. The 

 aromatic and delicious Tangierenes hail from St. 

 Michael's, and also from Lisbon, anil vary considerably 

 in price, according to the supply. Seville oranges come 

 fro'ii the place of that name, and, :ib most people know, 

 are used almost exclusively fur making marmalade and 

 orange wine. For both these purposes, however, the 



