34 THE CALIFORNIA 



such a quantity ; at 40,000 eggs per ounce it would 

 only be sixty-four millions of eggs. The reason there 

 is such a demand for eggs for Europe, is because they 

 are diseased there, and they know that in California 

 they are not, the climate being unexceptionably favora- 

 ble to their culture. For these reasons, the business 

 would be one of the most profitable, to raise silk-worms 

 on a large scale for their eggs only, so as to supply Eu- 

 rope and some other parts of the world, whose interest is 

 to get their eggs from the best sources and free from dis- 

 ease. Now, what would make the business more profit- 

 able, is, that taking advantage of our fine climate ; and 

 according to California culture, one man can take care 

 of as many silk-worms as six or eight would in Europe, 

 according to the old system, which they are obliged to 

 follow, as the nature of the atmosphere did not allow 

 them to do as we can here. My repeated experiments, 

 every year or the last several years convinces me 

 that my system is the best, and the only one to be 

 adopted in California, or any other country, that would 

 possess a similar climate. 



I remember that I had promised to write you a series 

 of articles on the " Silk Culture," but for want of time 

 I have not been able to do it yet ; but I will write them 

 as soon as my occupations will allow me a little leisure 

 have patience. 



Every time I have been in San Francisco I called 



at your office, but had not the pleasure to find you. I 



will try it again, next time that will not be very long, 



if I conclude to take some silk and cocoons to the Fair. 



Respectfully yours, L. PREVOST. 



