SILK CULTUEE. dUU 



TUE rilEfcJEi^lT OUNDITION OF SILK rKODUOTlOI'f IN OALU^'OlvNIA. 



Nor is the present coiiditiou of silk culture iu California satisfactory, 

 but for very different causes, which, though discouraging- now, do not 

 threaten ultimate faUure. A Frenchman by the name of Prevost, 

 who had a practical knowledge of silk culture, settled in the valley 

 of Santa Clara in 1854. Having little capital himself he induced 

 a banker of San Francisco, Mr. Heutsch, to aid him. It was not 

 until 1800 that they succeeded in importing good eggs, and in 1865 

 they had increased them to about 100,000. In 18G8 others had 

 entered into the business, the number of worms had been multiplied 

 to 13,500,000, and the number of mulberry trees to 4,000,000. The 

 fatal epizootic diseases in France and Italy had destroyed the greater 

 part of the silk- worms of those countries, causing a large exportation of 

 eggs from California at very profitable prices. It was this condition of 

 the trade that caused this, what might well be called too rapid, pro- 

 gress in a new pursuit. As an instance of what the profit was, we take 

 the statement of Mr. Garey, of Los Angeles, who, in one year, from one 

 acre, realized over all expenses $2,700 for eggs and cuttings. One thou- 

 sand dollars per acre was regarded as a certain profit. But in Japan, 

 California found a successful competitor in supplying this foreign de- 

 mand for eggs. The French and German war arrested the silk manu- 

 factures of France. The demand for eggs ceased. This temporary 

 prosperity, and this temporary adversity, for such we regard the latter, 

 created expectations not warranted, and a discouragement not well 

 founded. As an instance of the first, we quote from the annual report 

 of this Department for 1868 : 



The breediug of the silk-worm in California has been commenced so extensively, 

 and so profitably, and there is so much probability of its rapid extension, that it is 

 already regarded as one of the most promising industries and? important resources of 

 the State. 



It is probable, from arrangements and preparations that are now bein^ made, and 

 from opinions expressed by silk-growers, that the number of cocoons will double an- 

 uuaUv for several vears to come. This would give 6,000,000 iu 18C9 ; 12,000,000 in 1871, 

 and 24,000,000 in 1872. 



When the demand for eggs ceased, silk culture was regarded as a fail- 

 ure, and one of the California agricultural papers spoke of it as the 

 poorest in its results of all the industries of the State. And yet 

 the only permanent business by which the profits of silk culture 

 should have been judged, the production and reeling of cocoons, 

 had never been tried. The demand for eggs ind mulberry-cuttings was 

 accidental, and could not justify the rapid expansion to which egg pro- 

 duction was hurried, and the extravagant exiDectations based upon it. 

 The evils that have beset silk culture in foreign countries have not been 

 felt in California, and an intelligent pursuit of it may always avoid them. 



But the pendulum, as is natural, having swung from one extreme to 

 the other, is now returning, to settle, as we hox)e and believe, in that me- 

 dium which will more slowly, but surely, develop a great interest, for 

 which much of the climate of California is so admirably adapted. The 

 latest information from that State justifies this hope. The San Fran- 

 cisco Alta, of December 23, after a favorable notice of the condition of 

 many of the largest mulberry plantations, says : 



The past failures in the breeding of silk-worms in California are chargeable mainly 

 to inexperience. Many of those engaged in the business knew nothing of it practi- 

 cally ; others, who had experience in Europe, ventured in beyond their means. Those 

 who proceeded prudently have no reason to regret their investment, and they have no 

 fear lor the future. 



