SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 121 



other climate than that of California, instead of fifteen 

 thousand cocoons, they would not have made any. 



My ill success at Agricultural Hall should in no 

 manner discourage any one from engaging in the busi- 

 ness of silk culture, as I am well satisfied that all dis- 

 ease can be avoided, and the business made a success 

 in Sacramento and many other parts of the State, as 

 well as at San Jose, where all my trials have been suc- 

 cessful. But to be successful anywhere, fresh leaves 

 right from the mulberry tree, and plenty of them, are 

 absolutely necessary. And here I am very happy to 

 be able to prove my opinion in this matter correct, by a 

 very opportune example. I gave, among others who 

 applied for them when I first came to Sacramento, to 

 Wilson Flint, some worms, and on the twenty-eighth 

 day of June, when Secretary Hoag and myself visited 

 Flint, I was very much pleased to find that he had had 

 excellent success with them, there being no disease 

 among them, and nearly all had made very large and 

 good cocoons. Others, also, have been equally success- 

 ful, and in every case success has attended all who had 

 plenty of fresh leaves to feed them. 



I was not able in Sacramento to follow the California 

 system of feeding. My mode of feeding is with 

 branches containing the leaves, so placed as to cause 

 the worms to climb upon them to get the food^ The 

 advantages of this system are : first, to save labor ; 

 second, the leaves keep fresh much longer ; and, third, 

 to give the worms plenty of fresh air. 



Before closing this letter, I wish to return thanks to 



