142 THE CALIFORNIA 



May, June, and July, which, prevailing in Europe, kill 

 millions and millions of silkworms annually. 



The second point is, that it does not require any cap- 

 ital or, at least, very little merely the purchase of 

 the mulberry trees, which may be planted around the 

 farms, cottages, and country residences. 



The shade of the mulberry tree is as good as the 

 shade of the cotton-wood tree, and the fruit is very 

 good for poultry. When the trees have grown up, the 

 children and women may start in the silk trade, as it 

 requires only the labor of gathering leaves to feed the 

 worms, and that occupation takes only six weeks. It 

 would be useless to go into further detail, as the prac- 

 tice is ten times more valuable than the theory. There 

 are in California a great number of Italians and French- 

 men who understand the silk-raising business, and it 

 will be very easy to have information and directions 

 when wanted. 



The point to be first attended to is the planting of 

 mulberry trees, which involves but a trifling expense for 

 the present, and may prove of very great value in a 

 few years. 



HENRY F. WILLIAMS, 

 SAMUEL TYLER, 



Committee. 



