To Charles Ligar¹    29 November 1862

Melbourne botanic Garden

29/11/62.

Sir

In accordance with the wish of the honorable the President of the Board of Land & Works I have the honor of submitting my opinion on the proposal made by Mr. John Blackwood of Truxillo to introduce the Cochineal insect for commercial purposes into our colony.

I have not been unmindful to the importance of the subject of instituting experiments, how far the Cochineal-rearing could be advantageously introduced into this country, especially as thereby persons might be employed, who are unable to perform heavy bodily work, and I endeavoured therefore to procure some of the insects from the Mediterranean countries, where this brand of industry was at least for a time cultivated. Unfortunately however my exertions for this purpose have proved hitherto unsuccessful, altho' I may hope to effect the importation of at least a small number of the animals by the aid of scientific men in South Europe.

The Cochineal Insect having thus as yet never reached Australia,² it would no doubt be highly desirable to avail ourselfes of Mr Blackwoods offer, if that Gentleman could prove to the satisfaction of the Victorian Government, that the large reward asked by him for the introduction and rearing of a certain quantity of the Cochineal in our colony would be proportionate to the final advantages likely to arise from this introduction.

In the absense of any detailed statements by Mr Blackwood in reference to the cost of producing the Cochineal under his management in Peru, I would beg to suggest, that Mr Blackwood in first instance may be requested to furnish on the following points information.

1 How many of Cochineal can be produced in Peru within a year on an acre of land, planted with Opuntias?

2 How many days labor are required in the accumulate by persons, attending to the rearing, collecting and preparing of the insects, in order to produce one ctw³ of a good mercantile article?

3 What has been at the London Market the average selling price of the Cochineal produced in Peru?

4 On what precise species of Opuntia is in Peru the Cochineal insect reared?

It seems to me expedient, that on these points distinct and reliable information should be obtained for reasons, which will appear from my subjoined remarks.

Humboldt in the beginning of this century asserted, that only the extreme cheapness of labour in Mexico rendered it possible, to carry out there this branch of industry advantageously, and yet since that period, the price of Cochineal has sunk very considerably, as will be observed from the following quotations of the price current of London Houses in September of this year:

Honduras Black	pr lb	2/6d — 4/2d
" Silver	"—	1/5d — 3/4d
Mexican Black	"—	2/7d — 3/
Mexican Silver	"—	2/5d — 2/6d

These are the prices realized in the London import market. If it is now observed, that about 70,000 female insects are required for a single lb of Cochineal, that the process of collecting the animals by means of Deer or Squirrel tails from the bushes, the process of drying &c involves considerable labour irrespective of the process of rearing the insects & keeping them at least at certain stages under shelter, it will be evident, that in a gold-country, where labour will always realize a fair earning, the Cochineal culture could only be made remunerative as a bye work on farms, for the sake of employing elderly people or children.

I have however no fear, that the Coccineal Insect would thrive at least in many of the milder and sheltered parts of our colony, since it has comparatively recently been introduced into Teneriffe, where it has become of considerable value for commercial exports. It is also but right to observe, that the reproduction of these little animals is rapid, since several thousand eggs are laid by each female, and that the process of rearing is one requiring no more than ordinary care.

The Court of Directors of the East India Company offered, many years ago a reward of £2000 for the introduction of the Cochineal into India, a measure, which had the effect of establishing the insects there at the time. But on the authority of the celebrated Dr. Rob. Wight of Madras the reward was never gained, altho' we are not informed, whether in consequence of the total failure of the experiments, or whether because possibly the conditions, under which the reward was offered, were such as could not be complied with by the Madras experimentators.

One point of serious difficulty required to be brought yet under consideration, namely, that of the particular species of Opuntia-Cacti, which on the best authority are proclaimed as those, on which a superior Cochineal and a large yield is procured, as yet but few individuals are in this country, which, altho' the propagation of the Opuntia by division of joints is an easy one, still requires a considerable time, before a quantity, sufficient for a large number of Cochineal Insects, could be rendered available. The species of Cacti on which the Cochineal in Mexico is reared are Opuntia Tuna and O. coccinellifera. Of the latter the botanic Garden of Melbourne possesses several plants. Not having had an opportunity of visiting a country, where Cochineal is cultivated, I cannot with certainty decide on the somewhat contradictory statements of travellers, whether the allied Opuntia, of which we have O. Ficus Indica & O. grandis now widely and copiously distributed over this country, are or are not equally useful for rearing the Coccus, yielding the Cochineal.

I consider it therefore advisable, that Mr Blackwood, in case his propositions were finally accepted by the Victorian Government, should import also a large quantity of the Cactus most eligible for the purpose, unless he is assured, that the insects will live on any of the Opuntiae. No difficulty could arise in bringing the Cochineal plants from Peru, as these succulents can be packed in dry straw or a similar emballage and require no earth for growth during the shipment.

I would finally beg leave to ask, whether it would not be desirable to obtain also the opinion of the Council of the Acclimation Society on the proposition under consideration.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your very obedient servant,

Ferd. Mueller,

Gov Botanist.

The Surveyor General

&c &c

P.S. In reference to Mr Blackwoods offer, to bring simultaneously with the Cochineal Insects, also Cinchona (or Peruvian Bark) plants, I beg to observe, that these plants are already fully established in various provinces of India & there now extensively propagated, so that they will be available to us from thence, especially as His Excellency, Sir Will. Denison, the Governor of Madras, has kindly promised to send a case of these valuable plants for trial to the Melbourne bot. Garden.⁴

Ferd. Mueller.

Cinchona

Opuntia coccinellifera

Opuntia Ficus Indica

Opuntia grandis

Opuntia Tuna