84 THE CALIFORNIA 



of its practicability; but these appendages do not belong 

 to the subject. I can speak at least from some little 

 practical experience. The production of silk in the 

 form of the cocoon, is an exceedingly simple thing. 

 There is not a farmer in our land, who has not sufficient 

 accommodations either in his house or outbuildings, to 

 produce from one hundred to thousands of dollars 

 worth of silk ; and no fixtures in most cases will be 

 needed but such as he himself, with his hammer and 

 saw, can furnish. Care and attention are indeed nec- 

 essary, but these are equally necessary in order to 

 secure the most successful results in any business. 

 This is a business concerning which experience alone 

 can give us our best and most valuable information ; 

 much undoubtedly may be learned from books and the 

 experience of others, but we cannot hope for the most 

 successful results until we have had some little experi- 

 ence. Some who are engaged in no other employment, 

 may at once commence large establishments ; may ex- 

 pend freely in fitting up in the most perfect and con- 

 venient manner for the accommodation of the worms, 

 and with care and prudence may entirely succeed even 

 on a large scale, the very first year, without any pre- 

 vious practical knowledge. Still, in the general intro- 

 duction of the business among our farmers, prudence 

 requires that they should commence cautiously and on 

 a small scale. A single ounce of eggs will produce a 

 crop sufficiently large for most persons the first season ; 

 attention to these will teach much respecting the habits 

 and peculiarities of the silkworm ; and will enable 



