8 Transactions of the 



silk. 



Although the epidemic disease known as "pebrine" has certainly pre- 

 vailed among our silkworms in eighteen hundred and seventy -four, and 

 it is becoming known that sericulture here can be made more profitable 

 by producing raw silk or cocoons than by preparing eggs to sell abroad, 

 we feel justified in reiterating that our foothills and valleys are capable 

 of producing the best possible food for the worms, and are peculiarly 

 adapted, by reason of climatic conditions, to the production of silk. 

 The continuous study that has been given by our own able and close 

 observers to this exceedingly interesting industry, has already supplied 

 us with a large fund of valuable knowledge, the most of which may be 

 found embodied in the reports of this society. Among the exhibitions 

 of especial interest lately made at the Pavilion, was a large display of 

 various ribbons, manufactured in Alameda County, from silk raised in 

 California. 



FIBROUS PLANTS, 



The ramie plant, flax, jute, and hemp, deserve more attention than they 

 have heretofore received from our cultivators, and we are glad to be 

 able to report an increasing interest throughout our farming community 

 in relation to them. They all flourish well here, are profitable to culti- 

 vate, and are of leading importance to us as a people. The sacking of 

 grain alone has always been a vast expense, and a serious one, to the 

 producer. Probably our system in this respect must remain unchanged, 

 although it may be modified, for many years to come. If we succeed in 

 raising our own raw material therefor — and there is no reason apparent 

 why we should not — and shall work it up at home, the result will be a 

 neighborly exchange of values, instead of a tax paid to India and Scot- 

 land. About six millions of grain sacks were manufactured here in 

 eighteen hundred and seventy-four, yet our producers, probably, sent 

 three millions of dollars abroad to purchase the needed supply of them. 

 A satisfactory showing for foreign manufacturers, but a poor one for us. 



The linen factory recently established will, no doubt, fully succeed as 

 an enterprise. It has long been known that flax grows abundantly and 

 matures well in a variety of localities throughout the State. Hitherto 

 it has been raised for seed and oil purposes alone. We are confident 

 that experiments in utilizing the fibers will prove their excellence, and 

 that linen factories will multiply. 



TOBACCO. 



A large acreage of tobacco was planted in eighteen hundred and sev- 

 enty-four, and in every case a good crop was obtained. Shipments of 

 the raw material for treatment in Kentucky and elsewhere, were made 

 in a few cases, but the great bulk of it was placed in our home market 

 in the manufactured state, so excellent in quality, and so finished in 

 treatment, that both surprise and enthusiasm were created. Plantations 

 have been projected for the coming season that jn'omise a large yield in 

 eighteen hundred and seventy-five. 



