286 
“Tt is my intention this year to make an exhibition of the silk business at 
the fairs—everything from the beginning to the end—and. what will attract more 
attention, I am doing all I can to have Mr. Newman and son present with the Cali- 
fornia silk reel, reeling silk from the cocoons before the public, and Mr. New- 
man himself with a loom, manufacturing. The great interest that is now mani- 
fested in our State in silk raising has induced me to agree to be present at the 
State fair, and at the district fair of the San Joaquin valley at Stockton, and 
after these at our own fair at San José. It is also agreed that at every. fair I will 
address the people on the subject; this will afford me great pleasure, as my 
object is to be useful to our country. * 4 
“‘T’now feel very proud to see my humble efforts appreciated, and to know 
that the publication of my manual has determined so many to begin silk raising, 
and especially that all those to whom I have sent eggs in different parts,of the 
State have so completely succeeded, and that none of them have had any disease 
among their worms. I have for along time demonstrated the superiority of our 
climate for silk growing, but the fact that so many persons who never képt worms 
before, and at such great distances from each other, have all succeeded, proves 
beyond possibility of doubt what I have so often said. So great is the interest 
now manifested that a very large number are preparing to engage in this busi- 
ness the next season. 
“ Just a month ago I was in Sacramento, and think how pleased I was to find 
that over three millions of mulberry trees were growing there finely in different 
places. And I found, also, that Mrs. Haynie had a fine crop of cocoons—the 
finest I have ever seen yet. The question is now settled that the mulberry tree 
and the worms succeed finely all over our State; but by what I see Sacramento 
will be the first silk district of California. I think that for the next season they 
will have there food enough for ten millions of silk worms. 
“ Previous to coming to California, in 1849, I lived twelve years in the State 
of New York, and know all about the multicaulis operations there. That was 
merely the work of schemers to make money. It is impossible to raise silk 
there profitably, for several reasons, the principal of which are that the 
climate is not suitable to the worms; and during the time of feeding in the 
summer there is rain from time to time, and the storms of thunder and lightning 
destroy the worms. I was present at an attempt made on Long Island, and 
with great care the worms succeeded very well till a few days before they would 
have made their cocoons, and then came a very heavy storm that in one after- 
noon killed them all. The high price of labor is only a secondary question if 
the climate is suitable, as here, where we have everything favorable, our fine 
climate has enabled me to simplify the culture so completely so that one person 
can raise and take care of as many worms as eight persons would in France or 
Italy. * * * * * * * * * 
“Such are our facilities, and such the adaptation of our climate, that in silk 
growing California need not fear competition from any quarter, and will soon be 
able to produce and manufacture silk to supply all the other States. In fur- 
nishing healthful employment, social comfort, refinement, and personal inde- 
pendence this is superior to every other domestic occupation yet (discovered. 
«L, PREVOST.” 
BROOM-CORN CULTURE. 
A correspondent in Schenectady, New York, gives the following history of 
broom-corn culture in that State: 
« Previous to 1827 the culture and marufacture of broom-corn in this State 
were monopolized by the United Brethren of Shakers, at Miskaynna, in this 
county. In 1827 they induced Mr. Benjamin Willard, of this city, to plant a 
