4 
formed, in order to carry it on a still larger scale. 
Of the foreign agricultural industries, which might be easily 
and profitably imported into this colony, the one which is the 
least influenced by the fluctuations of the market, and, con¬ 
sequently, the most desirable, is (to use the technical appellation) 
the education of the silk worm, or the sericiculture, or the 
sericicole industry. 
To give an idea of its importance, and of the advantages which 
it confers, both on the silk worm breeder and on the community, 
it suffices to say that France produces above £6,000,000, and 
besides imports above £2,000,000, total above £8,000,000 worth 
of raw silk ; and the item of silk in all its different branches 
enters foe the stupendous proportion of one sixth (1) in the total 
figure of the commercial transactions of France. 
Kngland goes farther still; she does not produce raw silk, but 
her imports, which in 1850 were 0,000,000 lbs., reached in 1859 
the figure of 10,000,000 lbs. (I) 
Let us add that the price of raw silk averages from £1 2s. to 
£1 6s. per pound (It), and we shall have the figure of about 
£15,000,000 worth of raw silk imported in one year into 
England. (Ill) 
So far for the advantages derived from the industry by the 
country; let us now see what are the private ones derived in 
France, 1st by the grower of the mulberry tree; 2nd by the 
breeder (educator) of the silk worm, and 3rd by the reeler of 
the cocoons respectively. 
1st. One acre of land planted with mulberry trees in full 
growth, yields 8,000 lbs. of leaves, which are sold at, at least 
2s. 6d. per cwt., so that the farmer may depend upon an annual 
re! urn of £10 per acre (IV) besides the enhanced value accrued to 
his land, which is not less than twice or three times its primitive 
value, so that one acre of agricultural land, averaging from £30 
to £40, when under common crops, will, when planted with 
mulberry trees, be worth £60, £80, and even £100. 
2nd As for the breeder, out of one ounce of seed (V) (out of 
which about 30,000 worms will be hatched), he is expected to 
get 120 lbs. of cocoons, which he sells at the rate of at least 
(I) The export of wrought silk from home to Australia, amounted in 1850 to X‘139,000 
The o. ports of the same from London only, to Victoria, only, wore in tho B«mo year 
exclusive of the silk-woollen and silk^cotton tissues. 
II) Tho figures XI 2 or XI fi represents tho average price of silks of all qu lities, and 
from all countries; bat the orico of French or Italian silks (which might and should be 
produced in Australia),averaged for tlm last three yotir9 above thirty shillings ft pound, 
exclusive of the wow ail extra superior quality, which averaged forty shillings a pound. 
(III) The flos3 and w-iste or damaged silks nro not inolu led in tho foregoing figures. 
(IV) Tho artsruge return of land in Franco is from X3 to XI per aoro. 
V) A. technical appellation for eggs of silk worms. 
