Observations. 
f HE world products annually about £70,000,000 worth of silk, 
the principal silk-producing countries being China, Italy, 
France, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, Russia, America, India, 
Persia and Austria. Considering the climate and condition of the 
above countries, there is no excuse whatever why the Australian 
colonies should not undertake the industry, having equal, if not 
superior, natural advantages of any of the above countries. 
Au attempt was made in 1876 for the introduction of silk culture 
into this colony, in which ihe principal mover was a lady by the 
name of Mrs. Bladon-Neill, who nobly worked hard, and the Govern¬ 
ment gave her substantial assistance, besides public sympathy and 
money but unfortunately it ended in failure, for the simple 
reason that instead of adopting and advocating the cottage silk- 
culture system, for its introduction iuto a new country, Mrs. Neill 
formed a joint-stock company, which besides wasting large sums of 
money on salaries and on useless formalities, silk-worms were 
actually introduced before the planting of the necessary mulberry 
trees, and this bad result had the effect of retarding the industry 
ever since. A similar mistake was made many years ago in the- 
United States, and had a deterrent effect for about -10 years. 
If Mrs. Neill had adopted the cottage system in the same 
manner as the American Women’s Silk Culture Association, that 
was formed in 1880, and recommended by myself lor this colony 
through The Age columns, I have no doubt that her name with 
success would have been handed down to the present day. 
For the last 17 years I am not aware of any attempt having been 
made for the introduction of silk-culture into Victoria, till men¬ 
tioned by Sir George Verdon, President of the Fruit, Wine and 
Grain Exhibition, held on 23rd May, 1893, who in his opening 
address said " If the people will be content to make their homes 
in the country, and if their efforts are wisely directed, there need be 
no fear for the future of Australia; hut an agreeable and inter¬ 
esting occupation seems to be one of the greatest necessities to make 
rural life attractive—as it is in Southern Europe. The ordinary 
work of the farmers, who grow nothing but cereals, perhaps lacks 
this quality ; but if there be added a dairy, an orchard, a garden 
and the cultivation of silk, there would be pleasant employment for 
women and the growing family, while the profit of the farm would 
be greatly increased.” That expression of Sir George Verdon gave 
me the opportunity of making a starting point to expand my prac¬ 
tical knowledgj of the silk-culture ; cunsisting of from the propa¬ 
gation of tlie mulberry trees up to the production of the cocoons, 
and silk-worm eggs for the following season. On the 18th of 
April, 1893, I published my first letter on this subject, which ap¬ 
peared in The Age ; putting forward my conviction of the 
importance of silk-culture for this colony, and suggesting 
the most economical and best method to be adopted—that 
is, the cottage silk-culture method. The great success of 
the United States has been obtained by adopting the same method. 
