SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 135 



OX SILKWORMS AND THE CULTURE OF SILK.*] 



The Committee on these subjects have endeavored to 

 perform the duty designated, but regret their inability 

 to do full justice to the important trust confided to 

 them. 



Their especial attention was called to the exhibition 

 of silkworms and cocoons, by L. Prevost of San Jose*, 

 who has, in the opinion of the Committee, most suc- 

 cessfully demonstrated that California is one of the best, 

 if not the very best silk producing country in the 

 world. They have learned to their own satisfaction, 

 not only from those who know something of Mr. Pre- 

 vost's operations in this line, but, also, from personal 

 observation during a visit to his cocoonery in San Jose*, 

 that Mr. Prevost is justly deserving of the highest 

 premium the Institute can award him, for the commend- 

 able zeal and perseverance he has exhibited under the 

 greatest difficulties, in successfully inaugurating this 

 new branch of industry in our State. The demand, 

 both for silk and silkworm eggs, is so extensive and 

 constantly increasing, that the business cannot be over- 

 done, but its .successful prosecution must, in time, give 

 employment to many thousands of our people, with a 

 net profit of millions of dollars annually. 



Mr. Prevost's simple narrative of his early efforts 

 and drawbacks was exceedingly interesting to the Com- 



* Report of the Committee on this subject to the San Francisco 

 Mechanics' Institute, at their Fifth Industrial Exhibition in 1 865. 



