21 
found for all that is f roduced. They are so anxious for the success- 
of silk culture in California that they are willing to pay 25 per cent, 
above the Inchest market price for the next three years for all the 
raw silk of Californian growth that is suitable to their uses. The 
Sun Joe<5silk factory confines its work to dress silks. It is owned 
by two experienced silk workers—A. F, Sauffrignon and H. X. Van 
de Castcele. They are working 10 loans, employ from 10 to 20' 
hands, and are now finishing from 60 to 70 yards of dress goods 
every day. Stores in Sacramento, Marysville, Stcektcn, Los 
Angeles, San Jose, Merced and Salinas, find their goods popular. 
They are building up a reputation for honest silks, giving employ¬ 
ment to our own boys and girls, and believe there is a grand future for 
the silk industry in California. 
A copy of the first out of nine letters that I have 
published in the “Age,” of the 18th April, 1893, 
on the importance of Silk Culture 
SIR GEORGE VERDON AND THE SILK INDUSTRY. 
TO THE EDITOR OP T1IE AGE. 
Sir, — In reading the report of the Wine, Fruit and Grain 
Exhibition, on the 23rd nit., I see that the president, Sir George 
Yerdon, in his address to the Acting-Governor, spoke as follows : 
“ If tlie people will be content to make their homes in the country, 
and if their efforts are wisely directed, there need be no fear for 
the future of Australia: but agreeable and interesting occupation 
seems to be one of the greatest necessities to make rural life 
attractive, as it is in Southern Europe. The ordinary work of 
the farmer who grows nothing but cereals perhaps lacks this 
quality, but if there be added a dairy, an orchard, a garden, and 
the cultivation of silk, there would lie pleasant employment for 
the women and children of the family, while the profit of the 
farmer would be greatly increased.” If you will allow me space 
in your valuable columns, 1 wish to deal with the question of 
the silk industry. My practical experience in serieicuiture dates 
from a tender age. I was born and bred on a farm belonging to 
the family, in Switzerland, whete the silk industry was carried 
on every year. We had mulberry trees to feed abous 4oz. of 
silkworm eggs. In 1S55 I came to this colony, and thence in 
1868 to New Zealand, where I strongly advocated the introduction, 
of this industry since 1S7L On the 8th October, 1SS0, I read a 
paper on serieicuiture at the Christchurch Philosophical Institute, 
when, in criticising, one gentleman stated that it was tried in 
Victoria and in the United States of America, where it ended in 
failure. That I admitted, and gave my reason for it, which I 
will hereafter mention. After some agitation, the Government of 
New Zealand decided to appoint an Italian gentleman with a full 
knowledge of serieicuiture to try the experiment. He procured 
some silkworms from Japan, and also some of the so-callod Italian. 
