40 THE CALIFORNIA 



ice that was nearly half an inch thick on the water. 

 We all expected after such a frost to have good rain, 

 and this time we have not been deceived ; it began on 

 Friday last in the afternoon, and continued on Saturday, 

 pouring down all day and night all over our mountains, 

 and in our now blessed valley. We had it also on Mon- 

 day, heavy and wet, and our rivers and creeks have 

 raised. Yesterday, we had but very little, and we dug 

 some black locust trees and found that the ground was 

 not wet all through. 



It has been raining again last night, and also all day 

 to-day, and you have no idea of the effect it has on every- 

 body ; you can see the joy on every face, and in fact 

 we must all rejoice and thank the Great Master for 

 having not forgotten us. We are all right, now, and I 

 hope that it is so all over our cherished State. Now, as 

 soon as the rain stops a little, every one can go to work, 

 plow, sow grain, and plant trees the sooner the better. 



In this important moment, I thought that it was neces- 

 sary to make your readers remember that the advant- 

 ages of the silk culture in California have been fully 

 demonstrated in the columns of the FARMER that as 

 time for action and preparation is at hand, if they wish 

 success they must get ready during the good season. 



Some of your readers may think that I am writing in 

 order to sell mulberry trees ; I wish to tell them that 

 the last drought destroyed nearly all my young trees, and 

 what I have left is hardly worth mentioning. But in or- 

 der to show them that I am not moved by any specula- 

 tive motive, but only by the general good, I will give 



