STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 225 



tains of Syria and Asia to their very summits. Climate habitually stormy 

 is not congenial to the breeding of silkworms, nor those affected by 

 sudden changes of electricity or sudden thunder storms. Places affected 

 with fevers are pernicious to them. The industry is rather an adjunct 

 to a farm than a chief occupation. So, all through Asia and Europe, 

 you see almost every family in the silk region raising or breeding silk- 

 worms and selling their product to the merchants. We commend this 

 to the people of California, rather than the large cocooneries, as the 

 most successful in the end for the State. Always choose the cocoons of 

 the largest size for reproduction. Those are most successfully reared 

 and least affected during development. Regularity of form, roundness 

 of extremities, trueness of grain on surface, solidity, thickness of layers 

 or silky envelop. The color ought to be golden }-ellow, exhibiting no 

 stain or spot of any kind. 



The display of silks and the whole modus operandi of the business in 

 California is before you, from the eggs: Caterpillars in all their stages 

 feeding, and mulberry trees; the spinning, cocoons, butterflies, reeled 

 silk from your own factories, and beautiful figured and flowered work — 

 all instructive, beautiful and encouraging. In visiting the silk nursery 

 of I. N. Iloag, close by, we saw from fifty to sixty acres in plantations, 

 covered with some three hundred thousand trees, feeding about one mil- 

 lion five hundred thousand worms, presenting the exhibition with the 

 complete miniature cocoonery before us. E. Muller, of Nevada, has a 

 fine display, rearing one hundred and five thousand trees of the morus 

 alba, feeding fifty thousand woiwns. Smith Brothers' cocoons are not to 

 be surpassed by any for size and value. Mrs. Weston's fine display is 

 highly creditable and well displayed, while Neumann, the pioneer silk 

 manufacturer, gives you specimens of his success. His silken fleece is 

 before you, while he promises you a silk flag to float in triumph over 

 your enterprise. Snell, with his Japanese workers, in El Dorado, is 

 here, and reports favorably and hopefully. And other exhibitors, whose 

 names we do not know. From these we have the hope and cheer. We 

 have the State, the climate similar, equal and, in some places, better than 

 Asia. We have the mulberry tree, and can raise to an unlimited amount. 

 The largest portion of California is admirably adapted to the whole cul- 

 ture, especially healthy worms. We are accumulating the experience 

 and knowledge of Europe and Japan — of all the silk growers and coun- 

 tries of the world, from whom we may yet learn much. Thus, with land 

 and climate, increase of experience, new recruits to our population from 

 Europe, China, Japan, and the whole world generally — cheapening labor, 

 with talents the most diverse and elastic — capital seeking employment, 

 and laborers bread, homes and comfort; and with the rich smiles and. 

 blessings of Almighty God, we may exclaim " Eureka." 



9Q 



