42 



matised, and many important races, under the influence of careful 

 as well as special treatment, prolonged through several gene- 

 rations, have become freed from the taint of disease, and are now 

 healthy. 



I believe the Government has long entertained a wish to 

 afford our settlers in the interior and more particularly the 

 younger portion instruction, and the means to profit by the 

 same wonderful source of wealth which renders the rural popu- 

 lation in silk-growing countries so prosperous ; but there have 

 been available neither the special knowledge nor the food plants, 

 and not even one single species or variety of profitable silkworm 

 has been established in the Colony until I had the good fortune 

 to succeed in introducing and naturalising them. Now the case 

 is different to what it was some years ago, and I submit for your 

 consideration the expediency of the Government at once adopt- 

 ing measures to impart information, and spread the industry, 

 in such districts of the Colony as may offer a fair prospect of 

 doing well. 



I would urge upon your attention the financial importance of 

 silk. First, the eggs (grain), small as they are, and prolific as is 

 the animal, it is a well-known fact that Europe in one year paid 

 to Japan alone cash to the amount of 1,250,000 ; the next year 

 nearly one million and a-half. The last season in Japan was a 

 failure ; and, notwithstanding the money was there to pay, 

 enough eggs are only found to take the foreigner's money to the 

 extent of half the quantity demanded. In Europe this spring 

 (April and May) ; it is estimated that, to supply the demand in 

 Trance and Italy alone, not less than 7,000,000 ounces of eggs 

 are required, the present money value (an exorbitant one) is 

 nearly 8,000,000 ; and of these seven million ounces required 

 but six millions are forthcoming, so that in this one item there 

 would be a very large opening for a new export from Australia. 

 I ought, however, to say that it would be preposterous for any- 

 one to entertain the idea of supplying such a market without 

 adequate knowledge and the right sort of stock. I may add, as 

 matter of information, that in every country the production of 

 eggs is distinct from the production of silk ; and that the pro- 

 ducers of silk, as a rule, do not use eggs from their own stock, 

 but purchase every season grain grown by others than themselves. 

 The production of good seed is a special craft. 



Cocoons are silk, and in this primitive condition should form 

 a new staple in our exports. It is usually thought necessary to 

 wind or reel the cocoons to render the produce marketable, but 

 such is not the case ; the cocoons thoroughly dried (or, more 

 correctly speaking, desiccated) in a proper manner may be packed 

 and pressed with hydraulic pressure. If properly desiccated (the 

 grub inside being pressed into dust), upon unpacking and immer- 

 sion in water the cocoons resume their original shape uninjured. 



