Vlll PREFACE. 



can venture to say here, that China and Bengal will before long feel 

 the effects of my efforts, which will result in the production of silk 

 to compete with them. They may produce a low priced article, if 

 they choose, but the quality of silk, in all cases, decides the question 

 of preference. 



Fine phrases, generally, do not tell anything, and I do not like 

 them ; some may say, because I cannot make them. It may be so ; but 

 as my object is to be useful, I think I need offer no apology for the 

 plain and unadorned pages which I offer, as I put here everything 

 which I think necessary to be known,, to show California as the best 

 silk-producing country. 



Thousands are inquiring: What work on the subject is best; 

 where shall we look for information ? As I have said before, all the 

 published works are translations from foreign authors, or compila- 

 tions, that are not, and cannot, in my opinion, and in that of all the 

 reasoning class, be any way adapted to our fine silk growing State ; 

 we have to experiment and find out what is the best way to raise 

 silk, according to the climate where we are. This I have done, and 

 I am offering to-day to our farmers and planters generally, the 

 results of my experience on the subject. The reason why I recom- 

 mend my California Silk Culture is, because it is the system 

 particularly adapted to our own highly favored climate, to our more 

 serene atmosphere, and perpetual sunshine during summer, and to 

 the peculiar requirements of our people. The genial climate for silk 

 is ours, and also the best soil for the mulberry. 



It is immense, the millions that are sent out annually for the 

 importation of that article only. These millions could be retained 

 among us, as California alone can produce silk, not only enough for 

 our general consumption, 'but also for exportation. With that staple 

 only, we would soon be able to pay our national debt, and our own ; 

 we only need to have a Congress that understands the general 

 interests of the nation, by keeping the present high tariff on the 

 article for several years more. 



The demand for silk, which is now so great, is continually increas- 

 ing. Since a short period of years the amount of silk consumed is 

 more than doubled, and is rising in price every year. I see that, in 

 1840, the price of raw silks was/ow dollars per pound, and at the 

 present day, that same raw silk is worth seven dollars per pound, 



