116 THE CALIFORNIA 



when it is impossible for their husbands to come. Silk 

 culture can be undertaken by every one, poor or rich ; 

 and is a business in which we do not fear competition. 

 On the contrary, we need it, and the more who engage 

 in it the better. It will certainly bring a large emi- 

 gration to this country. Yours truly, 



L. PREVOST. 

 SAN JOSE, April 2-4, 1866. 



[San Jose Mercury, May 10, 1866.] 

 SILK CULTURE CHANGE OF PROGRAMME. 



Editor Mercury: A few days after I started for 

 Sacramento, my wife sold some silkworms' eggs to a 

 party from Santa Barbara, and left my two boxes of 

 eggs in my office, when they have to be kept constantly 

 in the cellar. On my return I put them in the cellar, 

 but they were prepared to hatch, having been so long 

 a time under the influence of hatching heat ; and the 

 other day, on going to visit them, I found them mostly 

 hatched out, and the balance hatching. I have between 

 eight hundred thousand and a million ; and as, in and 

 about San Jose, there is hardly food for one hundred 

 thousand, at present, I am obliged to go to Sacra- 

 mento, where I have food for them. Then it will be 

 impossible for me to give a public feeding at San Jose, 

 as anticipated, this season, and I shall have to defer it 

 until next. I will leave some worms with my wife, in 



