592 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
There is apparently no reason why the silkworm industry 
should not be developed and fostered by this means in 
many localities. The white mulberry, upon the leaves of 
which the silkworm feeds, is easily grown, and thrives in 
dry, hilly situations, where little else can be produced. 
There is plenty and to spare of such land in Tasmania; and 
if it could be devoted to sericoculture, the profit that might 
arise from it would, in comparison, probably be "infinitely 
greater than at present. Moreover, it is not a thing that 
would necessitate waiting long years before an ample return 
could be realised, as is the case in most kinds of tree-plant- 
ing, because the mulberry would quickly grow to the di- 
mensions requisite for furnishing a crop of leaves. Many 
families at present in poor circumstances might doubtless 
add to their incomes by the production of raw silk, the 
operations connected with which imvolve no great amount 
of technical knowledge. In a country like Tasmania, where 
conditions mostly favour the small culture system, any 
branch of industry which may be made to work in with the 
latter ought to be encouraged; but there is no doubt, also, 
that silk-raising would pay on the larger scale if tried. 
With reference to new varities of fruit-trees, these cannot 
at present be legally imported by private individuals; but 
there appears to be no reason why they should not be 
brought into the country by the Government, if a State 
nursery existed, where they could be planted under such 
conditions that the introduction or propagation of further 
insect or fungus pests by their means could be absolutely 
prevented. 
The cork oak is a tree which would probably turn out to 
be of great economic value in future years if extensively 
planted, since cork is stated to be getting more and more 
scarce, and no really efficient substitute for it has been yet 
found. The vigorous condition of the young cork-trees 
to be seen at the present time growing in the Hobart 
Botanical Gardens shows that the cork oak is adapted for 
-the soil and climate of the warmer parts of Tasmania. But 
“ork of good quality could not be obtained for about 33 
«years; so that -the planting of this tree on any extensive 
scale cannot be expected on the part: of private individuals. 
' “At the same time, the first stripping of cork-bark takes place 
in about 15 years, and the result of this, and the one made 
.. .some 8 or 10 years later, are of some use for economic pur- 
poses, such as tanning or possibly fruit-packing. The 
adaptability of the cork-tree to grow in dry, hilly situations 
should make it an object of attention in Tasmania, where 
