OF THE 



I "UNIVERSITY 



PREFACE. 



Having been frequently solicited, by the friends of the silk cause, to 

 publish the results of my experience and observation on silk-growing 

 in this State, I have concluded to do so ; that all may be benefited 

 by it, as most of the works already published on the subject are mere 

 compilations from foreign authors, made up of details not at all 

 applicable to what I shall term our California Silk Culture, for such 

 must be the system by which we shall succeed in raising the raw 

 silk, Avhich is bound to be the greatest staple of our State, and by 

 which we shall induce our farmers to turn their attention to its 

 extensive cultivation, as they need pay no further attention to the 

 frequent croakings of short-sighted persons about the high price of 

 labor. It is too late now for such a ridiculous argument, because I 

 have already demonstrated, but will more fully prove it again in this 

 Manual, by facts only, that our advantages are so numerous and 

 everything is so much in our favor here, that we certainly can raise 

 the silk in California for half the cost of many other silk countries. 

 We have the best soil and the best climate to raise silk, and we will 

 soon have a large population to produce it, because I know, that rich 

 culture, which is superior to the mines, as it is surer, will bring a large 

 emigration here from the States, and all parts of the world. I per- 

 sonally know, through my correspondence, of many who are coming 

 already for that culture ; and the publication of our California Manual 

 will determine many more, as they will find in it all the information 

 that they may desire on that important subject. 



We can raise here silk of the very best quality, and I think that I 



