Edo PeriodColoured woodblock printsilk, manufacturing

Full page of photographs in "The Weekly Times" September 20, 1989 "From "The Weekly Times" December 4, 1915." 6 photographs of Dookie and Longerenong Agricultural Colleges and 5 photographs of a "Sericultural Demonstration at Burnley Horticultural Gardens." the weekly times, dookie agricultural college, longerenong agricultural college, burnley horticultural gardens, sericulture, silk worms, sericultural association, council of victorian sericulture association, lady hennessy

An unsuccessful attempt was made to set up a silkworm industry at Mt Alexander, to be an occupation for ladies of the district as well as to introduce the silk industry to Victoria. An attempt by women to enter the business world was beaten by difficulties: (1). Road access to the property (2). Heavy frost damage to mulberry plants. (3). Disease of silkworms. (4). Lack of quantity of leaves. (5) drought and rabbits. Experiments proved silk harvested and woven was superior to overseas products, but the venture was defeated by the climate and the surviving trees were relocated to Corowa NSWA relic of the far-sighted venture by the Victorian Ladies Sericulture Co, promoted by the charismatic Mrs Bladen Neill , who was anxious to generate employment opportunities for women..A dead branch from a mulberry tree grown at Sericulture Farm, Mt Alexander, in the early 1870s. This long limb's bark has cracked with age, forming a pattern of brown cracks. Remnants of smaller branch axilla are clearly visible. An inscription on paper is pasted around the branch L 74 x W 14 x D 3.5Typed: "Part of a limb of a mulberry tree from the Sericulture Farm on Mt Alexander which was started by Mrs Bladen-Neill in early 1870s, finally closing in 1878. Mrs Bladen-Neill died in September 1884 at the residence of Dr Barker, Melbourne" "Courtesy of Keith Henderson, Harcourt"

Dark green cover, embossed on front 'Department of Agriculture Victoria' enclosed in circular design. Report to the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, 1874 on the proceedings of the Department, 363 pages. Written on front page in black ink "Mr. H.P. Smith, Strathfieldsaye' Includes information on agricultural education, Australian grasses, diseases among stock, orange culture, wood boring beetles, apples meteorology of Victoria, worm diseased in sheep, sericulture, white eyebrowed woodswallow, flax, vines and wine industry, fencing and impounding. Contains information about Strathfieldsaye vigneron Messrs Bruhn and T Strachan of Axedale. Extensive meteorological data for 1873 included; Sandhurst data described in depth.Mr. H. P. Smith Strathfieldsaye in pen on the first three pagesgovernment, state, department of agriculture