REARING SILKWORMS. 129 



instructors employed, but no charge was made to 

 those who learned to reel. They compiled statis- 

 tics, and showed by them that California could 

 produce millions of dollars' worth of silk every 

 year, if only the people were properly instructed. 

 They show us in their published literature that 

 our nation acted unfairly in supporting training- 

 schools for fitting soldiers and sailors to protect 

 our country, while they so sadly neglected to 

 establish schools of instruction in this great in- 

 dustry, which might prove a very important 

 factor in developing our internal wealth as a 

 nation, for it cannot be denied that wealth is the 

 strength of every nation, state, or association. 

 There was not then, is not now, and never has 

 been, a national school of instruction in the art 

 of silk-culture in the United States. In this one 

 thing our nation falls behind any of the large 

 silk-producing countries of the civilized world. 



This State Board of Silk-culture, while not 

 doing all that a larger and practical experience 

 would have enabled them to do, yet they kept 

 alive a great interest in the silk business for a 

 few years. They offered premiums for the best 

 cocoons, both to children and adults, and in this 

 movement they were joined by the Woman's 

 Silk-culture Association of the United States at 

 Philadelphia, under the able management of 

 Mrs. John Lucas. 



