220 THE CALIFORNIA 



that Mr. Whitemarsli proposed in 1839 what I have been 

 doing here in California for six years without knowing 

 of the existence of- Mr. Whitemarsh's book ; but I feel 

 really happy to find that good article and to lay it 

 before you, as it corresponds entirely with my views on 

 that subject; it is also an approval and a proof that 

 what I said about the feeding with branches is true, ac- 

 cording to that authority. 



Mr. Whitemarsh values very highly this mode of feed- 

 ing when he says : " When the mulberry brandies 

 cease to be worth six cents an inch ;" but here we don't 

 want to create any mulberry fever, and my principal 

 object in publishing the Manual is to prevent it, by giving 

 every farmer and planter the means of propagating his 

 own mulberry trees ; in that way, within a short time, 

 we will have millions of them, and they will be the 

 cheapest of all the trees produced, as it is my aim that 

 we should be able to raise the best silk and produce it 

 cheaper than in any other silk countries. 



But I must go on with the treatment of silkworms in 

 California. I will just take the eggs, go through the 

 whole process, and leave them when they are eggs 

 again. 



First, Hatching. The eggs of the silkworms are of a 

 pale slate or dark lilac color, and of the size of a pin's 

 head ; those of a yellow color are imperfect. The eggs 

 are generally on paper or on cloth, and kept in a cool, 

 dry place in the cellar, to prevent them from hatching ; 

 but to hatch them, they must be put to the heat. In 

 Europe they have to use artificial heat for their hatch- 



