56o APPENDIX B 



Order LEPIDOPTERA 

 p. 300 Family Bombycidje 



Bombyx mori, Linn. Silkworm 



As already stated at p. 300, Mr T. C. Batchelor introduced silkworms 

 into Nelson in 1863. Seven years later he urged on the Government the 

 importance of fostering the silk industry in New Zealand, stating that he 

 had imported Tuscan mulberries, and had about 1800 trees ready to plant 

 out. In the following year Mr Batchelor had two varieties of silkworms, 

 viz. Lombardy Buffs and Japanese, and from these he reared two broods 

 of cocoons, the latest forming in November. At the same time, and as an 

 outcome of his action, the Government offered a bonus for the encourage- 

 ment of the industry. Apparently a certain number, both of colonists and 

 natives, commenced the cultivation of silkworms, but no one secured the 

 bonus, and it was allowed to lapse. 



In 1879 ^ ^^^ °f crude silk from Auckland was shown at the Sydney 

 Exhibition, but I have not been able to find out by whom it was grown. 



In 1886-87 another effort to start sericulture was made by Mr G. A. 

 Schoch of Auckland. He found that between 19,000 and 20,000 white 

 mulberry trees suitable for silkworm-food were in the country. He ordered 

 fresh seed from Italy, and this was distributed gratis. The Auckland 

 Domain Board planted (in 1886) 1 100 trees in the domain for distribution 

 to silk-raisers. On December 9th, 1886, a shipment of silkworm eggs 

 arrived from Italy, and about 600,000 were distributed gratis. Towards 

 the end of January a further batch of eggs arrived from Japan — rather late 

 in the season — and about two-thirds of these were distributed. Samples 

 of Italian and Japanese cocoons, and skeins of both kinds of silk were later 

 on forwarded to the Manchester Jubilee Exhibition. Mr Schoch was 

 confident of success in his efforts, but the matter was not taken up seriously 

 by others, and ultimately nothing came of it. 



In times of agricultural depression and low prices, schemes for estab- 

 lishing sericulture as one of the industries of the Dominion are brought 

 forward and command some attention, but whenever other primary in- 

 dustries are making good headway, the interest dies out. 



Silkworms are still commonly reared about Auckland and other centres 

 on a small scale, but not as commercial ventures. 



Mr G. Howes informs me that in the neighbourhood of Sydney, New 

 South Wales, silkworm escapes have established themselves in a wild state. 



p. 327 Order HEMIPTERA 



The insects of this order have not been at all commonly collected in 

 New Zealand. As increasing attention is given to them, very many more 

 species than are at present known will be recognised, and this applies to 

 both native and introduced species. Since this work went to press, nine 

 of the latter have been reported to me. 



Sub-order HETEROPTERA 

 p. 328 Family Capsid^ 



Oncognathus binotatus, Fabr. 

 Mr D. Miller states that this European species, which feeds chiefly on 



