146 THE CALIFORNIA 



bj first employing Chinese to do the work, as it is 

 labor to which they are accustomed. 



Second That the price of buying two or three acres 

 of land in California does not exceed the price of renting 

 one acre in France or Italy, where silk is raised largely ; 

 because if any one goes into the silk culture with the 

 intention of making it a business, he is not obliged to do 

 so in the neighborhood of cities where land is high ; he 

 can do it where land is cheap and can be had for a mere 

 trifle. It does not necessarily lie near a railroad or a 

 fine wagon-road, because in this branch of industry 

 there is no teaming, as a man can carry on his back or 

 on a mule many thousand dollars' worth of silk. The 

 most important point is to find the soil more suitable 

 for the growth of the mulberry tree, no matter where the 

 place is. This will render very valuable some very fine 

 rich little valleys that happen to be between the moun- 

 tains. 



It is very important to understand that in France and 

 Italy the silk-grower has to deduct every year, from 

 his profits, the large rent he has to pay. ' It was my 

 intention to have the question of labor settled at the 

 first start. Now, any thinking man reflecting and con- 

 sidering these two facts will see, at once, that not only 

 they make up for the difference of price of labor in case 

 we should be obliged to raise silk with as much work 

 as they have to bestow in the above named countries, 

 but leave a good balance in our favor ; and what I have 

 to say now will all be proof in favor of silk culture in 

 California, and show that we can raise silk here cheaper 



