38 THE CALIFORNIA 



secure a good crop by using sound eggs, imported from 

 countries, as in California, where they cannot be dis- 

 eased. The dryhcss of our climate protects them from 

 the disease, which proves that California is about the 

 very best spot on this globe to raise silk, which can be 

 made very profitable by following what I may call the 

 " California Silk Culture," which is extremely simple. 

 This process would enable us to compete with any 

 other nation, and help to retain, in our State, many 

 millions of dollars, besides being a great profit to 

 raise the worm for silk only ; but we see now that it 

 would be still a greater profit to raise them to supply 

 the Old Country, or any other part of the world where 

 they have a wet climate. 



I consider, now, the silk question settled in this State. 

 Only consider : five or ten acres planted in mulberry 

 trees, the quantity of worms that could be fed from 

 them, in view of the luxurious growth of the mulberry 

 in this country. I am happy to be able to say that 

 some gentlemen have started it already on a pretty 

 large scale. I will name here two in Santa Barbara 

 they are Mr. A. Packard, and also Mr. E. Goux, who 

 have planted, two years ago, three thousand mulberry 

 trees ; that notwithstanding the dryness of the season, 

 and the trees being very young, yet made two pounds 

 of eggs without any trouble ; I also received a letter 

 from Mr. Goux, two days ago, which confirms the state- 

 ment. This is very gratifying, because these gentlemen 

 expect to have a large quantity of eggs next year, if we 

 have plenty of rain this winter to make the trees grow. 



