SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 129 



[Mercantile Gazette, December 18, 1866.] 

 SILK AND SILKWORMS IN CALIFORNIA. 



L. Prevost, the persevering pioneer of silk culture 

 in this State, writes from San Jose in part as follows. 



We cannot too much encourage our friends to go 

 into this branch of industry, which is bound to surpass 

 in value, for exportation, all other California products 

 taken together. They can enter into it with more cer- 

 tainty of success than in mining operations, because they 

 have no opposition or failure to fear. The regularity of 

 our fine dry summers, without rain, storms, or elec- 

 tricity, which are the enemies of silk culture, insures 

 regular, good crops every year. The beauty of this new 

 industry for Calfornia is that it cannot be overdone. I 

 say it is the only business in which we need not fear op- 

 position or failure, because if it were possible to plant 

 the whole State next year with- full grown mulberry 

 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 mar- 

 ket. 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 silk 

 culture in their locality with their first silkworm eggs 

 gratis. They will only have to furnish me their address, 

 and the amount of food they have, so as to guide me in 

 .the number of eggs to send. 



The work necessary to raise silkworms in California is 



