20 THE CALIFORNIA 



we have to pay here to buy it. Who can prove that 

 they have not to take the price of these high rents from 

 their profits. That item only is enough in itself to 

 compensate the difference in the price of labor. 



3d. The mulberry trees thrive so well here, that 

 their luxuriance of growth leaves very far behind them 

 the mulberry trees in Europe ; and they give such fine 

 leaves, that there is less work in feeding the worms. 



4th. The feeding and care, of the worms in the silk- 

 growing countries is generally done in Europe, by wo- 

 men and children. Why should we not do it here also ? 

 We are not obliged for that kind of work to employ men 

 at twenty-five or thirty dollars a month, when it can be 

 done with half of the expense and less. The Chinese, 

 who are used to that work, could be employed, if we 

 have nothing better. 



5th. As everything, climate, etc., are so favorable, I 

 do not see the necessity of erecting any of those costly 

 buildings, as they have in Europe, for the worms. 

 Here, any common adobe building, where you can regu- 

 late the heat, is sufficient. 



6th. As the mulberry grows wild in this country, it 

 it shows that this is the spot designated by the Great 

 Master for the silk culture. 



Everything being so favorable, I am under the im- 

 pression that the California Silk must be of superior 

 quality, and so fine that it will command a price in the 

 market over any other silk, particularly if- we cul- 

 tivate only the best varieties of mulberry-trees, well 

 known to produce the best silk ; and that our cocoon 



