97 



berry trees, and everybody engaged in raising silk, it 

 would not lower the price of silk two cents per pound, 

 as we have not only California but the whole world for 

 a market. Therefore it is our duty to encourage and 

 help all who wish to engage in this business. For my 

 part, I intend doing this : I will furnish persons desiring 

 to start silk culture in their locality, with their first silk- 

 worm eggs gratis. They will only have to write me 

 their address and the amount of food they have, so as 

 to guide me what number of eggs to send. 



The work necessary to raise silkworms in California 

 is very little, as our climate is so favorable to that cul- 

 ture that it enabled me to simplify it considerably. In 

 proof of this I need only state that I have this last 

 season raised over one hundred thousand silkworms, 

 every worm making a cocoon ; and all this with my own 

 work alone. This is the work of eight persons in France 

 or Italy. Our California silk culture is so simple, that 

 as soon as it is published extensively, everybody in the 

 State will engage in raising silk as well as any other 

 production. If we consider it a moment, the quantity 

 of silk that could be raised in California is immense ; 

 and it would afford employment to thousands of families, 

 in raising as well as in manufacturing it. It is an easy 

 work that can be done by aged persons, as well as by 

 the young of both sexes. Then our ladies would have 

 a right to feel proud in wearing dresses made of silk 

 raised by their own hands. In France and in Italy 

 silk is raised very extensively, and millions of families 

 are living by this work. The silk exported from Italy 



