UC-NBLF

SB 273 SSI

THE ROBERT E. COWAN COLLECTION

PRESENTED TO THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

HY

C. P. HUNTINGTON

cJUNE.. 1897.

Accession Noy 0 J 06 Class No.

CALIFORNIA

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL,

LOUIS PREVOST,

•iVlT.'i TWKI.VK YEABS gXl* ERIK NOB IN KAISIXG THE MUUJKURif ,
AND SIX VKAUS IN K.YJSIXU THE SILKWORM.

SAN FRANCISCO:

H. H. BANCROFT AND COMPANY.

1 8 ("5 7 .

.

Diagrams of the forms in which the branches should be laid for feeding
the silkworm.

CALIFORNIA

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL,

LOUIS PREVOST,

PIONEER SILK CCLTURIST OF THE PACIFIC COAST.

WITH TWELVE YEAES1 EXPERIENCE IN RAISING THE MULBERRY,
AND SIX YEARS IN RAISING THE SILKWORM.

SAN FEANCISCO:

H. H. BANCROFT AND COMPANY.

TOWNE AND BACON, PRINTERS.

1867.

I

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord One Thousand
Eight Hundred and Sixty-Six,

BY LOUIS PREVOST,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of California.

INDEX.

CHAPTER. PAGE.

Preface , 7

Introduction, Letters, etc 11

1. Our Climate, its superiority, and its advantages 143

2. Silk in California 150

3. History of Silk, its antiquity and commerce 155

4. History of the Silkworm 161

5. The Mulberry (Morus) 167

Morus Multicaulis, or Chinese 169

do. Alba, or White 171

do. Moretti 172

6. The Soil 174

Preparation of the Soil 176

7. Mulberry Culture and Propagation 178

Mode for Cuttings in California 181

8. Plantation of the Mulberry for our California Culture. . .184

9. Mulberry Trees everywhere 188

10. Cocoonery, or Maguanerie 192

Importance of a Cocoonery 193

A good Cocoonery is needed on every farm 194

1*

VI INDEX.

CHAPTER. PAGB.

Plan of a California Cocoonery 195

11. Silkworms, the different varieties. 198

12. Modes of Raising Silk in different countries .- . 202

13. Amount of Food 210

14: Observations on feeding and quality of food 213

15. Treatment of the Silkworms according to our climate.. . .217

The feeding with branches 218

Hatching, different ages, care, etc 220

Formation of the Cocoons 225

Gathering of the Cocoons 226

Select your Cocoons for Eggs 228

How to keep the Eggs 231

1 6. Talk with farmers and planters 231

Product per acre 236

Benevolent Societies, Orphans, etc 237

Going into that business with a small capital 240

Persons who have been successful already 242

Our Pioneer Silk manufacture. . . .243

OF THE

I "UNIVERSITY

PREFACE.

Having been frequently solicited, by the friends of the silk cause, to
publish the results of my experience and observation on silk-growing
in this State, I have concluded to do so ; that all may be benefited
by it, as most of the works already published on the subject are mere
compilations from foreign authors, made up of details not at all
applicable to what I shall term our California Silk Culture, for such
must be the system by which we shall succeed in raising the raw
silk, Avhich is bound to be the greatest staple of our State, and by
which we shall induce our farmers to turn their attention to its
extensive cultivation, as they need pay no further attention to the
frequent croakings of short-sighted persons about the high price of
labor. It is too late now for such a ridiculous argument, because I
have already demonstrated, but will more fully prove it again in this
Manual, by facts only, that our advantages are so numerous and
everything is so much in our favor here, that we certainly can raise
the silk in California for half the cost of many other silk countries.
We have the best soil and the best climate to raise silk, and we will
soon have a large population to produce it, because I know, that rich
culture, which is superior to the mines, as it is surer, will bring a large
emigration here from the States, and all parts of the world. I per-
sonally know, through my correspondence, of many who are coming
already for that culture ; and the publication of our California Manual
will determine many more, as they will find in it all the information
that they may desire on that important subject.

We can raise here silk of the very best quality, and I think that I

Vlll PREFACE.

can venture to say here, that China and Bengal will before long feel
the effects of my efforts, which will result in the production of silk
to compete with them. They may produce a low priced article, if
they choose, but the quality of silk, in all cases, decides the question
of preference.

Fine phrases, generally, do not tell anything, and I do not like
them ; some may say, because I cannot make them. It may be so ; but
as my object is to be useful, I think I need offer no apology for the
plain and unadorned pages which I offer, as I put here everything
which I think necessary to be known,, to show California as the best
silk-producing country.

Thousands are inquiring: What work on the subject is best;
where shall we look for information ? As I have said before, all the
published works are translations from foreign authors, or compila-
tions, that are not, and cannot, in my opinion, and in that of all the
reasoning class, be any way adapted to our fine silk growing State ;
we have to experiment and find out what is the best way to raise
silk, according to the climate where we are. This I have done, and
I am offering to-day to our farmers and planters generally, the
results of my experience on the subject. The reason why I recom-
mend my California Silk Culture is, because it is the system
particularly adapted to our own highly favored climate, to our more
serene atmosphere, and perpetual sunshine during summer, and to
the peculiar requirements of our people. The genial climate for silk
is ours, and also the best soil for the mulberry.

It is immense, the millions that are sent out annually for the
importation of that article only. These millions could be retained
among us, as California alone can produce silk, not only enough for
our general consumption, 'but also for exportation. With that staple
only, we would soon be able to pay our national debt, and our own ;
we only need to have a Congress that understands the general
interests of the nation, by keeping the present high tariff on the
article for several years more.

The demand for silk, which is now so great, is continually increas-
ing. Since a short period of years the amount of silk consumed is
more than doubled, and is rising in price every year. I see that, in
1840, the price of raw silks was/ow dollars per pound, and at the
present day, that same raw silk is worth seven dollars per pound,

PREFACE. ix

and more for the best quality. It is bound to keep increasing, as
it is becoming more and more in fashion ; and after all, no matter
how high it sells, if it is of good quality, silk is the cheapest of all the
dresses^ everything considered.

Our advantages are many in California, and, indeed, very great.
To be duly appreciated, they must be estimated singly and individu-
ally ; but how much greater and more striking will they then appear,
if considered collectively. The decisive impulse is already given,
and its mighty influences extending throughout our State ; our people
are awake ; hope dawns auspicious ; the day and its brightness will be
ours, endued as are our people with fortitude, with energy, and
intellectual resources unsurpassed. Is there one American who can
doubt it ?

I have no desire for pecuniary benefit to myself, to grow out of
any knowledge of the silk culture, which it may be in my power to
impart to the public. Anything that may be a benefit to that noble
cause I will publish, as my earnest desire is to be useful, by aiding
the introduction of a culture, which will make our people rich. In
opening for them a field (and also to our country) of unceasing
wealth, I shall feel amply compensated for the years of practical
experience which I have given to silk culture, from the pleasure I
shall receive in the knowledge that my humble efforts were to some
extent the means of introducing and establishing in our State an
industry which will save annually many millions of dollars to. our
people, and make us the largest silk-producing country in the world.

INTRODUCTION.

Last spring, when I agreed to write this Manual, it was not my in-
tention, as an introduction to it, to re-publish all the letters that I had
already written for the different papers on that important and rich
culture, and for some time I thought it would not be necessary ; but
lately, in speaking with some friends, who are also friends of the silk
cause, they requested me to do it, and I have concluded to do so.. I
must confess here, that it was not very hard to determine me, as 1
really feel happy and proud to lay them before my readers ; because,,
in perusing them, they will find by the results to-day that every word
of what I have said about that rich industry in California, even from
the time I began, is true. This will prove to them that my principles
are, not to say or write anything except what I am convinced of.

I had to search for the different papers to cut out my letters from,
and, being in a hurry, I may have omitted some, but I have most of
them.

There are also a great number of very good articles on that sub-
ject in all the principal papers of the State. I will try to collect as
many as possible, and re-publish them also ; but, as it is late in the
season, I will not have time for this first edition : they will be com-
piled for the second.

By these letters, you will observe that my opinion on Silk in Cali-
fornia has been always the same. I have said in early days, and re-
peated it up to the present time, that we are in flie best silk country in
the world, I still maintain the assertion. I have stated my reasons in
my letters, and these reasons were and are the same to-day : because

Xll INTRODUCTION.

we have no rain at the time of feeding, no storms, no shocks of elec-
tricity ; nothing to disturb the worms or create any disease. On the
contrary, we have everything to prevent it ; as you all know, through-
out the summer we have a blue sky, with any amount of sunshine,
from morning till night ; it is just there where our force and superior-
ity is ; because our mulberry trees, growing constantly under the in-
fluence of the sun's rays, produce healthy leaves, and consequently,
healthy food, making healthy worms. But the leaves must be given
fresh to the worms ; otherwise, if they are allowed to remain in heaps,
and get fermented or heated, the mephitic air that they contain in
that state would poison the worms. Therefore, it is very easy to un-
derstand that our superiority is on account of our constant sunshine ;
and as in other countries, their trees are growing nearly without it, in
a damp and wet atmosphere, this cause creates the disease there.

THE

SILE GROWER'S MANUAL.

[From the California Farmer, Nov. 26, 1856.]

EXTRACT FROM THE KEPORT OF THE VISITING COMMITTEE, STATE
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Committee first visited the garden and nursery
of L. Prevost, which is very favorably situated near San
Jose, on the river Guadaloupe, and has quite a large num-
ber of native oaks and other forest trees scattered over its
grounds, giving it a very picturesque appearance. Mr.
Prevost has nearly seventy acres inclosed — a great part
of which is in a high state of cultivation. The soil is
admirably fitted for the purposes of a nursery and gar-
den. Mr. P. has two artesian wells, which enables him
to irrigate his grounds, and every part of his extensive
garden shows care,, industry and skill in its management.
The nursery contains one of the most extensive assort-
ments of fruit trees, flowering plants and ornamental
shrubbery that can be found in the State. He has in
his nursery nearly 14,000 pear trees, of ninety-two
different varieties ; over 8,000 apple trees, of over one
hundred varieties, and nearly 25,000 peaches, apri-

14 THE CALIFORNIA

cots, quinces, plums and cherries, of the choicest
kinds. Over 25,000 mulberry trees are growing very
finely. The Committee cannot pass the garden of Mr.
Prevost without a particular notice of his efforts to in-
troduce into our State the cultivation of the mulberry,
and we may safely say he is the pioneer in this new
work of silk-raising. The Committee most warmly
commend this enterprise, and in noticing his fine planta-
tion of over 25,000 mulberry trees, they feel that at
least a just and appreciating notice of his laudable ex-
ertions is due to him at the hands of the Visiting Com-
mittee. Mr. Prevost assured us that no country in the
world was more favorably adapted to the raising of the
silkworm than California, from the fact of the absence
of electricity, which is peculiarly injurious to the worm ;
and another favorable feature is the dryness of our
atmosphere. From all the facts gathered thus far, wo
may look to a new era by the introduction of the mul-
berry culture, as the certain forerunner of silk culture.
His ornamental trees and shrubbery, such as catal-
pas, locusts, privets, lilacs, honeysuckles, English
walnuts, &c., are all in a most thrifty condition. The
collection of roses amounts to over 17,000, and contain
over eighty varieties. Mr. P. has a small flower gar-
den inclosed with a beautiful willow hedge, and laid
out with great taste and beauty. But few have achieved
or deserved success in their efforts to promote the cause
of Horticulture more than Mr. Prevost.

OF TBK

IVERSITY

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 15

[From the California Farmer, December 25, 1857. J

Mons. Prevost has a large plantation of the mulberry,
of different kinds, for feeding silk worms. There is no
tree that grows so rapid, and the large rich leaves make
the limbs hang pendant like the weeping willow. It is
certainly important that the mulberry should be brought
into extensive cultivation, both for its merits as food of
the silkworm, for fruit, and as an ornamental tree ; for
each the tree is valuable.

Neatness, order, and good taste are manifest in these
gardens. Mons. P. has made a fine entrance to his
grounds over the river, by a new bridge, and it will pay
the purchaser of a quantity to visit this garden — it
will well repay them ; and Mons. P. is truly worthy of
patronage, as one skilled and reliable in his business.

[From the California Farmer, Aug. 17, I860.]
THE TRIUMPH OF THE SILKWORM IN CALIFORNIA.

Nearly seven years since we announced in this jour-
nal that this climate was peculiarly adapted to the grow-
ing of the mulberry and the successful raising of silk-
worms, and the manufacture of silk, and asserted that
in coming years the women of California would wear
garments made of California Silk. Each year since
that time we have called public attention to this very
^portant subject, and we have urged upon our Legis-

16 THE CALIFORNIA

lature the duty they owed the State, to consider the
importance of offering a bounty, independent of the
trifles that we had induced the Agricultural Society to
award ; and within the past year we received from Mr.
Hentsch and Mr. McNulty parcels of silkworms' eggs,
which we offered to those who desired to try the experi-
ment, but for want of due attention on the part of
those who tried, the successful result has not been at-
tained until now ; and to L. Prevost, Esq., of San
Jose, will be awarded the honor of being the first to
show the Chinese silkworms in successful operation.

We are glad to present the following letter from Mr.
Prevost, which we regret was not received till too late
for our last issue ; but now we lay it before our readers,
and hope this new field of labor for thousands of our
people will be improved, and especially for the fair sex,
as this is an easy employment, and will certainly prove
in coming years a profitable one.

SAN JOSE, August 7, 1860.

EDITOE FARMER : For want of time, I am compelled
to write to you a few lines in great haste, to let you
know that we have now the California silk. My silk-
worms began to work last Sunday, and now a large
number of fine cocoons can be seen ; as I have a great
number and of different ages, there will be some at
work every day for several weeks ; then those interested
in that fine culture can come and see them, and ascer-
tain for themselves how easy they are to raise in this

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 17

country. Mr. Hentsch, Mr. Muller, myself, and others
acquainted with the silk culture, always thought that
the California climate was very favorable to such cul-
ture, but this surpasses all our expectations. There
s no disease among them ; I was afraid for the last
period, but the last has been like the others. Now
there will be a fine work for our ladies who should be
very proud to raise their own silk. There is no more
doubt about it ; we are in the very best silk-growing
country in the world. Yours truly,

L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, Sep. 14, I860.]
SILK AND SILKWORMS.

The triumph of the silkworm in California is now
complete. By the very handsome exhibition of cocoons,
floss silk, and reeled silk floss, together with the
silkworms at work, as shown by L. Prevost, Esq., from
San Jose, at the Mechanics' Fair, we think we can con-
fidently say, the triumph is complete.

To Henry Hentsch, Esq., who imported the silk-
worm eggs, and to Monsieur Prevost, who has with .in-
defatigable zeal raised the mulberry tree, warmed into
life the eggs, and set the worm to work upon the leaves,
and finally carried on the work until the reeled silk is
before our eyes — to these gentlemen great praise and
honor are due, and it is not too much to ask of our

18 THE CALIFORNIA

Legislature that a special notice and bounty should be
given for the zeal, labor, and care of Monsieur Prevost,
in bringing to perfection the first silkworms in Califor-
nia ; and we hope that the Legislature will cause a
special Gold Medal to be given to Mr. P. Of course
our Agricultural Societies can do no less than notice and
reward him in the most honorable manner.

" Tall oaks from little acorns grow ; "

So from these WORKING " worms " we know

Labor for thousands soon will show ;

And richest silks of brightest dyes,

Fresh from the looms, shall feast the eyes.

We'll " learn to labor and to wait "

For such grand scenes in this great State.

How few persons of the thousands that visit the Pa-
vilion but will pass these seemingly insignificant worms,
without dreaming that here is the beginning of an en-
terprise that shall count in millions annually in coming
years in this State !

FFrom the California Farmer, Sep. 28, I860.]
SILK CULTURE.

We are pleased to lay before our readers the follow-
ing letter from L. Prevost, Esq., the successful silk-
grower of California. We here present facts from one
fully qualified to speak. Let all now give heed, and
another year let a thousand cocooneries be started,
and ere long we will show California-made silk. We

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 19

now prophesy, that at the next Fair of 1861, sewing-
silk of California-make will be shown.

SAN JOSE, Sept. 21, 1860.

EDITOR FARMER : You requested me to send you a
few lines on the silk culture ; but it has been entirely
impossible for me to do so sooner, and now I am obliged
to do it in a hurry.

I think that the principal object is to show that we
produce silk in California to more advantage than any
other country, notwithstanding the usual cry here, the
price of labor !

We have so many things in California in favor of that
culture, that, in my opinion, they far surpass the dif-
ference in the price of labor. The principal are as
follows.

1st. The climate, which is so favorable that no dis-
ease can be observed ; while in Europe, where the silk
is cultivated, it is calculated the very best year when
the losses are only thirty per cent. ; but these losses
vary from thirty to eighty per cent., according to the
quantity of rain that falls, and the storms, with thunder
and lightning, during the time of feeding. Here we
have none of such things, and consequently no reason
to lose a single worm, except by accident. But sup-
pose these accidental losses from four to ten per cent.,
this is a very great difference Avith Europe, and this
is to be considered.

2d. The rent for land in Europe is very high ; in
France, I know, they pay for rent only, double the price

20 THE CALIFORNIA

we have to pay here to buy it. Who can prove that
they have not to take the price of these high rents from
their profits. That item only is enough in itself to
compensate the difference in the price of labor.

3d. The mulberry trees thrive so well here, that
their luxuriance of growth leaves very far behind them
the mulberry trees in Europe ; and they give such fine
leaves, that there is less work in feeding the worms.

4th. The feeding and care, of the worms in the silk-
growing countries is generally done in Europe, by wo-
men and children. Why should we not do it here also ?
We are not obliged for that kind of work to employ men
at twenty-five or thirty dollars a month, when it can be
done with half of the expense and less. The Chinese,
who are used to that work, could be employed, if we
have nothing better.

5th. As everything, climate, etc., are so favorable, I
do not see the necessity of erecting any of those costly
buildings, as they have in Europe, for the worms.
Here, any common adobe building, where you can regu-
late the heat, is sufficient.

6th. As the mulberry grows wild in this country, it
it shows that this is the spot designated by the Great
Master for the silk culture.

Everything being so favorable, I am under the im-
pression that the California Silk must be of superior
quality, and so fine that it will command a price in the
market over any other silk, particularly if- we cul-
tivate only the best varieties of mulberry-trees, well
known to produce the best silk ; and that our cocoon

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 21

will also produce more silk. It requires, generally,
some three hundred cocoons to a pound ; but I should
not be surprised to find that we will need here no more
than about two hundred and fifty.

Any person that will only take into consideration the
'above items must be convinced that we can not only
furnish the silk here as cheap as in Europe, but cheaper.
Truly yours, L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, Oct. 26, I860.]
SILKWORMS.

One of the finest and most important exhibitions,
made at San Jose, was the temple for the silkworms,
their cocoons, and the silk. Mons. Prevost deserves
very great credit for his zeal and energy in carrying on
this great work. A very neat arching temple of ever-
greens and flowers was made, and in these arches were
festoons of white and yellow cocoons, forming a gay
appearance. In the temple stood three pyramids of the
cocoons, as they were made in the group on branches
of the shrub on which they were built. In front of the
temple were the reels of floss, in their shining threads.
The whole thing is now in its infancy, but in coming
years will become a type of various manufactories of
the rich silks and satins that our women of the Golden
State will wear. To Mons. Prevost we shall ever ac-

22 THE CALIFORNIA

cord praise for his energy and desire to promote so
good a work.

[From the California Fanner, Nov. 2, I860.]
THE SILKWORM.

Success ! success ! to our friend, L. Prevost, Esq.,
of San Jose. Before us we have one of those fine
stands or clusters of the " silkworm cocoons," which
were shown at the late Fairs, and which Mons. P. has
kindly presented to us, that we may show at our office
the proof of the success of the silkworm.

We hope that the citizens of California will look to
this subject ; millions of wealth are in store for us, and
an opening for useful and profitable labor for women and
children. As the worms can be well attended and fed,
and the gathering of cocoons and silk-reeling all done
by women and children, let a thousand acres of the mul-
berry be planted this year as preparatory to this great
interest.

As we always desire to give due credit to all origina-
tors of useful inventions, arid to those who introduce
articles of value into our State, we accord to Henry
Hentsch, Esq., banker, the credit of importing the eggs
from various sources, and Mons. L. Prevost the credit of
maturing them, and thus proving the success of the
enterprise.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 2H

[From the California Farmer, Nov. 30, I860.]

SILKWORMS AND MULBERRY TREES.

We are again favored with a very interesting letter
from that zealous friend (Mons. Prevost of San Jose)
of those important enterprises, the raising of silkworms,
the manufacture of silk, and the growing of mulberry
trees ; although intimately linked together, they are
separate enterprises, and should each of them be duly
considered by our citizens as worthy the earnest atten-
tion of all who are so situated as to give the matter seri-
ous thought. That the breeding of silkworms and the
manufacture of silk and silk goods will become an im-
portant branch of industry in our State in coming years,
we have not the least doubt. We believe the amount
will be told in millions of dollars annually ; and it be-
hooves those who have land suitable to the culture of
the mulberry to think of it in season. As is justly said
by Mr. Prevost, the Moms Multicaulis will do for the
worms in their early stages of growth ; then other vari-
eties— Morus Moretti, Morus Alba, and Morus Niyra.

The coming season there will be considerable interest
felt in this enterprise, and a more extended atten-
tion paid to it. We shall give space in our columns for
the information needed for it, and shall record its pro-
gress. We feel that our State is largely indebted to
Mons. Prevost, and to H. Hentsch, Esq., and all others
who have been successful in thus laying the foundation
for this truly great work. We would also accord to
Mons. Prevost due praise for his zeal in past years, and

24 THE CALIFORNIA

his efforts and free offering of time and money to pre-
pare the way for the manufacture of wine, and also of
sugar, from the sugar-beet, to which he refers in his let-
ters, and which we know as true, as we remember well
his untiring efforts then in behalf of both enterprises.
It is such labors and such men that our Legislature
should encourage by a suitable token ; and we hope the
time is not far distant when such labors will be duly
rewarded.

SAN JOSE, November 22, 1860.

EDITOR FARMER — Dear Sir : I have always observed
in your paper the great interest you take in our home
industry •, or in other words, the prosperity of our young
State, by advocating every new production that would
save us from importing. We concur in the same ideas
on that point. My thoughts and efforts always have
been towards that great cause. Besides other things, I
have from the beginning advocated the manufacture of
wine. I also spent time and money to help M. Deles-
sert establish the sugar-beet manufacture, that we are
bound to have also in California.

For the past six or seven years, in observing the na-
ture of our fine climate, and seeing that the enemies of
silkworms were not here, I always said that we were in
the best silk country in the world ; and consulting with
Mr. H. Hentsch, who was exactly of the same opinion,
we then imported the seeds of the best varieties of mul-
berry for the feeding of the worms. I have sown them

25

and raised the mulberry. Afterwards, Mr. H. Hentsch
imported the silkworms' eggs ; but they are of such
delicate nature that when they arrived here they were
dead ; and they met the same fate the following year.
But the third time, last year, he received some from
France in better order, and I succeeded in hatching
them, and the result is now known all over California.
I sent samples of fine silk cocoons to nearly every Fair
of our State.

Every person acquainted with the silk culture, with
whom I conversed on the subject, all agreed that it is
the very best country to raise silk ; among them was
one of my good friends here, Mr. T. J. Muller, who
has been engaged in the silk-culture in Switzerland for
fifteen years. He had so much confidence in the silk-
culture in California, that he offered himself to help me
in the first trial. This he did ; and great praise is also
due him for our success ; and this success far surpassed
our expectations, because I was not certain that the
eggs would hatch. I was not prepared, and had not a
suitable room for the worms ; and to have succeeded
against such disadvantages the only explanation I can
give for it is that we are in California ; and, in fact, it
is so, because elsewhere they would have been all dead,
but here we have not been able to discover any disease.

Now that we have the California silk before us, and
that we also know that it is so easy to raise it here, (as
you have seen in my letter of September 21, published
in No. 5 of your paper) it is of no use for me to reit-
erate these facts.

26 THE CALIFORNIA

Now, I say, we must all do all we can to raise that
important article among us ; and to accomplish it we
must prepare for it. We must first plant the mulberry,
but particularly the varieties that are known to give silk
of good quality. With the Morus Multicaulis which
has been so celebrated since the time of the mulberry
fever in the States, some twenty-four years ago, we will
never see such foolish speculations, because every one
now knows that the mulberry can be obtained as cheap
as any other trees. The mulberry has such a remarka-
ble growth, and is as ornamental as any other trees,
having a fine foliage ; that for these reasons it ought to
be planted everywhere to ornament our streets, avenues,
etc. ; and at any time the leaves may become useful, if
you choose to raise your own silk. Besides this, plan-
tations will also be made for the purpose of raising silk
on a large scale.

I wanted to say about the celebrated Morus Multi-
caulis, that it is very good, but only for the first feed-
ing, that is to say, for the two or three first periods ;
while after that, the other should be used, because we
must have in view to raise silk of the very best quality.

The coming season I will have my worms in a better
room, and will not have half of the trouble I had the
first time. I must close this long letter.

Truly yours, L. PREVOST.

27

[From the California Farmer, Feb. 15, 1861.]
THE SILKWORM AND SILK CULTURE.

We are pleased to learn of the increasing interest
manifested for this branch of industry, which to our
State in its future years, will be one of great mag-
nitude.

The demand for mulberry trees has taken all from
the nurseries that were for sale. It has generally been
supposed that the Morus Multicaulis is the chief variety
for the silkworm ; this is not so. The cocoons are
much superior (so we are informed by the best authori-
ities) when the worms are fed upon the Morus Alba,
and the Morus Moretti. These, with a small portion
of the Multicaulis^ will be the food of silk-worms in this
State.

As we have often said, we are confident of the suc-
cess of silk manufactures in California, and ere ten
years from this date, the wives, daughters and sisters
of the Golden State will be clothed in robes of silk,
manufactured in our own State.

We trust, if our Chief Magistrate cannot find time
or opportunities to look after the manufacturing inter-
ests of our State, that some of our legislators will,
and that there may be such legislation for these interests
as they demand.

In the present condition of this matter — now while
many persons are beginning to look round and see what
can be done, while many are planting the seed of the
mulberry and the tree also, we ask, would it not be a

28 THE CALIFORNIA

wise act on the part of the Legislature for them to offer
a noble bounty for the successful produce of the first
five pounds of sewing-silk made in the State.

We feel confident, that if a bounty of $1,000, or
$5,000, or even $10,000 should be offered, it would bring
back into the State Treasury ten dollars for one, by
reason of the improvements and buildings, etc., which
would be under way for the purpose. The taxable
property in the State would be increased enough to pay
the bounty. We hope such an interest as this will
not be slighted. We learn, with much regret, that L.
Prevost, Esq., the zealous friend and promoter of this
valuable industry, has never received any just reward
for his untiring efforts to bring this business to a suc-
cessful issue, and although he has exhibited the silk-
worms, the' cocoons and the reeled silk, in a highly
creditable manner, at the District Fair at Marysville,
Stockton, San Francisco, and at the State Fair, no re-
ward of a medal, or even a just report has been ten-
dered him or made of this interest, except at the Fair
at Stockton, where a diploma was awarded him, to the
credit of San Joaquin District, be it said.

We respectfully ask, shall so great an interest as that
of silk culture, which will be millions annually, be
passed by at our Fairs, while Guinea hens, lop-eared
rabbits and white swans, have prizes from five to twenty
dollars each ; and gold and silver goblets and cups are
given for articles that never can advance the interest of
the State. We hope our legislators will think of these
things.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 29

[From the California Fanner, March 28, 1862.]

SILK PRODUCTION" IN CALIFORNIA— FAVORABLE PROS-
PECTS—A NEW SYSTEM.

We are truly glad to receive the following letter from
one who is so earnest in the cause of silk culture. As
Mons. Prevost says, the culture of the mulberry, the
rearing of silkworms, and the manufacture of silk, will
be one of the great branches of our industrial labor in
coming years, and we would fain hope that the Com-
mittee on Agriculture may see the importance of giving
attention to the subject this session of the Legislature,
and offering a just bounty to this valuable jnterest. We
hope they will make due inquiry, and not forget that
Mons. Prevost has done much to advance this interest,
and deserves an honorable mention. The many new
productions here named by our correspondent demand
a liberal bounty direct from the Legislature (the State)
before they can be securely introduced into a large and
successful cultivation.

SAN JOSE, Feb. 24, 1862.

EDITOR FARMER : In your valuable paper, under the
head of " New Productions," you ask for information
on "hemp, canary, seed, hops, flax, Chinese sugar-cane,
and West India sugar-cane, dioscorea batatas, true
Carolina potato, the cork-bark oak, tea and coffee."
I regret to see that you forget to mention the silk.
Knowing your opinion on that culture, I consider it as
an involuntary omission. This induced me to write you
a few lines, to bring your attention again to that subject,

30 THE CALIFORNIA

which is also very important to our State, as it would
save her many millions of dollars for imported silk.
Please tell me why should we send all that money
away, when we can keep it here, in raising our own
silk?

Since my arrival in California, it has always been my
opinion that we were in the best country in the world !
But the first attempt I made, the season before last,
has surpassed all my expectations. The finest and best
silk has been exhibited all over the State, and thousands
have seen it ; but many think that silk cannot be raised
in California, to any advantage, on account of the price
of labor. That question I consider solved, and I wish
to say a few words to prove it.

The first silk ever produced in California was in 1860.
I obtained it, assisted by my friend, Mr. Muller. We
have proceeded according to the system adopted in
Europe for the silk culture ; but this is too much work for
California to compete with other countries where the
price of labor is not so high. What have we, then, to
do, to avoid such an obstacle ? To simplify that work
and to reduce it to less than half of what it is there.
And I have turned all my attention toward that point,
knowing that it was the only way to insure the success
of silk culture in California. Then, in reflecting on all
the advantages of our soil and fine climate, so well
adapted for the silk culture, and combining all my
observations, and all the remarks I could get on the
nature of the worms, I found what I will call The Cal-
ifornia Silk Culture. It is entirely different from the

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 31

system followed in France or Italy. According to the
latter system, it requires volumes to explain and give
all the particulars pertaining to the culture. But the
California culture is so that I can give all the particu-
lars about it in a small pamphlet of three or four pages,
and this new system is so simplified that every one will
understand it, and find it no more difficult than any
other culture.

I intend to try the California silk culture for one or
two seasons more, so as to perfect it, and after that, if
properly encouraged, I will publish it for the benefit of
the State ; and this branch, only, will be a great addi-
tion to our home industry.

Everything seems to be in favor of the silk culture in
California. Besides so favorable a climate, the mul-
berry trees thrive so well here that I have never seen
such a growth in any other country. And while the
mulberry tree is thus useful for the feeding of silk-
worms, it is also one of our best ornamental trees.
Yours respectfully,

L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, Aug. 22, 1862.]
THE SILKQUESTION SETTLED.

SAN JOSE, August 13, 1862.

EDITOR FARMER : As I stated in my letter on the
silk culture, of the 24th of February last, I have tried

32 THE CALIFORNIA

again my California silk culture, and exceeded beyond
my expectations. The worms this season have taught
me another lesson themselves, and shown me another
point to save labor.

In my last letter on this subject, above mentioned, to
insure the success of the silk culture in California, I
said that it was necessary " to simplify the work, and
reduce it more than half of what is required in Eu-
rope." I now say, that according to the California
culture, one man (or lady, no matter) can raise and
take care of more worms than six or eight could ac-
cording to the system followed in France and Italy.
The climate is so very favorable here, that we have very
little to do to raise our own silk. The great objection,
the price of labor, does not exist any more. Now it
will devolve on our representatives to have this impor;
tant branch of industry extended all over our State. I
will pledge myself to prove what I have said, and will
write a description of that culture in a small pamphlet
of very few pages ; it is so simple that every one will
understand- it. And more, if any rich man that has
plenty of land would make a large plantation of mul-
berry trees, I would go and turn all his leaves into silk
before any quantity of persons that would like to come
and see the California silk culture. I have certificates
and letters from Europe, that the California silk has
been acknowledged there to be of the first quality.

Now, Mr. Editor, several years ago you predicted
the success of silk culture in your paper ; but I am
sure that you were very far from thinking that it would

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 33

be so easily raised. I am very happy to be able to
prove that your opinion was well founded. Persevere,
and continue to do all you can to induce the people of
California to raise their own material, and keep their
money. They can do it, because we canproduce every-
thing in this country ; there is no other like it.
It is under that impression that I remain,

Yours truly, v L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, Sep. 9, 1864.]
THE SILK WORM ENTERPRISE.

SAN JOSE, August 28, 1864.
EDITOR CALIFORNIA FARMER :

Your favor of yesterday is just received, and accord-
ing to your wishes I answer it immediately. You ask
me for some hundreds of ounces of silkworms' eggs, for
a gentleman in Mexico. I am sorry that I can not fur-
nish so many ounces. I only have a few ounces of my
last crop — say three or four — to dispose of, as I only
had raised a small lot this year, to keep up a supply of
fresh eggs. Last year I had several orders for silk-
worm eggs, and I sold all I could dispose of, keeping
only .a small lot for myself.

Last year, I had an order from Italy, for one hundred
pounds, but it was impossible for me to do anything
toward that big order. If I could have had so many it
would have been a little fortune for me. Only think of

34 THE CALIFORNIA

such a quantity ; at 40,000 eggs per ounce it would
only be sixty-four millions of eggs. The reason there
is such a demand for eggs for Europe, is because they
are diseased there, and they know that in California
they are not, the climate being unexceptionably favora-
ble to their culture. For these reasons, the business
would be one of the most profitable, to raise silk-worms
on a large scale for their eggs only, so as to supply Eu-
rope and some other parts of the world, whose interest is
to get their eggs from the best sources and free from dis-
ease. Now, what would make the business more profit-
able, is, that taking advantage of our fine climate ; and
according to California culture, one man can take care
of as many silk-worms as six or eight would in Europe,
according to the old system, which they are obliged to
follow, as the nature of the atmosphere did not allow
them to do as we can here. My repeated experiments,
every year — or the last several years — convinces me
that my system is the best, and the only one to be
adopted in California, or any other country, that would
possess a similar climate.

I remember that I had promised to write you a series
of articles on the " Silk Culture," but for want of time
I have not been able to do it yet ; but I will write them
as soon as my occupations will allow me a little leisure
— have patience.

Every time I have been in San Francisco I called

at your office, but had not the pleasure to find you. I

will try it again, next time — that will not be very long,

if I conclude to take some silk and cocoons to the Fair.

Respectfully yours, L. PREVOST.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 35

[From the California Farmer, Oct. 28, 1864.]

SILK CULTURE.

SILKWORMS, SILK CULTURE, SILKWORM EGGS, ETC.

We are happy to lay before our readers the very in-
teresting and valuable letter of L. Prevost, Esq., of San
Jose, the pioneer silkworm grower and silk culturist of
our State.

We call special attention of all who feel an interest
in the upbuilding of our State, to the facts here pre-
sented. Not only have we received one order for 500
ounces of the eggs named, (which, at the price of $12
per ounce, would have been $6,000) but many other
orders, and we agree fully with Mr. Prevost that silk
culture will be one of the "greatest interests " of our
State.

The CALIFORNIA FARMER has been an earnest advo-
cate of this branch of home industry from the very first
number that was issued, in January, 1854, to the
present time.

In another column we publish, from the FARMER, our
views of some past dates, and often at that early date
these views were looked upon almost with contempt, as
being the vagaries of wild enthusiasm.

We have ever found Mons. Prevost an earnest, zeal-
ous and scientific worker in this enterprise, and our
State owes him a great debt for what he has done to
bring the enterprise into so successful an issue. We
are glad, indeed, to herald the success of other coworkers
with him.

36 THE CALIFORNIA

A few years more, and we shall see, in our growing
State, silk manufactories as flourishing as our woolen
factories.

SAN JOSE, October 21, 1864.
EDITOR CALIFORNIA FARMER :

As I am receiving orders for silkworms' eggs, through
the post office, or otherwise, so often, I thought to write
you a few lines in a great hurry on that subject, think-
ing that they would be of great benefit to many of
your readers. Facts always need to be known, and I
will state nothing but facts that I can prove any time.

In 1860, when I raised silk for the first time, in Cali-
fornia, I sent specimens of it and cocoons to all the
Fairs of the State, and the press spoke very highly about
it, but I heard a great many persons express thoughts
that it could not be done in this State, on account of
the price of labor. As here, in California, the price of
buying three or four acres of good land does not exceed
the price" of renting one acre in Europe, I thought this,
and employing Chinamen to do the work, would com-
pensate for the difference in the price of labor ; but,
besides that, I had so much t confidence in the culture
of silk in this State, that I have been thinking very
much about it, and, by taking advantage of our fine
climate, so much in favor of that culture, I changed
the old way of cultivating the silk-worm, and adopted a
system of cultivation that reduces the labor considera-
bly, and is so simplified that one man can cultivate as

37

many worms as eight men could in Europe, with the
old system. I have repeated it these last three years,
and succeeded always beyond my expectations.

Last year I had an order from a house here, for one
hundred pounds of silkworms' eggs, for Italy ; it was
impossible for me to do anything toward filling such an
order, and I sold all I could dispose of at $12 per ounce,
and kept about half an ounce for my own use, so as to
have fresh eggs for this year. If I had enough eggs
for that order of one hundred pounds, it would have
been, even in reducing the price at wholesale, something
about $12,000. I do not know of any other culture
that the benefits derived could come near it, as you
have to work only two months at it, in all.

I am very sorry that I kept such a small lot of eggs,
because I see that the demand for eggs continues — as
you know I had, through you, an order from Mexico
for five hundred ounces, lately. A few days after I
had another order for five pounds, from Italy ; also two
other smaller orders, and we are only at the beginning
of the season, because these orders only come, generally
during the winter, as it is the proper season for them to
travel. I will certainly receive many other private or-
ders soon, but I will not be able to fill any, as I have
concluded to keep all the eggs on hand, so as to have a
good lot for next year. I am very glad to see that in
Europe they will have to draw on California for good
eggs, because their wet atmosphere is the cause that
their silkworms are diseased, and they will consequently
lose most of their crop in using domestic eggs, and thev
3

38 THE CALIFORNIA

secure a good crop by using sound eggs, imported from
countries, as in California, where they cannot be dis-
eased. The dryhcss of our climate protects them from
the disease, which proves that California is about the
very best spot on this globe to raise silk, which can be
made very profitable by following what I may call the
" California Silk Culture," which is extremely simple.
This process would enable us to compete with any
other nation, and help to retain, in our State, many
millions of dollars, besides being a great profit to
raise the worm for silk only ; but we see now that it
would be still a greater profit to raise them to supply
the Old Country, or any other part of the world where
they have a wet climate.

I consider, now, the silk question settled in this State.
Only consider : five or ten acres planted in mulberry
trees, the quantity of worms that could be fed from
them, in view of the luxurious growth of the mulberry
in this country. I am happy to be able to say that
some gentlemen have started it already on a pretty
large scale. I will name here two in Santa Barbara —
they are Mr. A. Packard, and also Mr. E. Goux, who
have planted, two years ago, three thousand mulberry
trees ; that notwithstanding the dryness of the season,
and the trees being very young, yet made two pounds
of eggs without any trouble ; I also received a letter
from Mr. Goux, two days ago, which confirms the state-
ment. This is very gratifying, because these gentlemen
expect to have a large quantity of eggs next year, if we
have plenty of rain this winter to make the trees grow.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 39

Only think of this and you may form some idea of it, as
one female lays about one hundred eggs, and there are
about forty thousand eggs to the ounce.

In 1860, when I raised silk for the first time, I also
sent cocoons to our highest Seriate Societies in Europe,
especially to Paris and Lyons, to have them tested, and
I have received certificates from both cities, that the
California silk is of the first quality. What do we
want more ?

I am for home industry, and I feel very happy, now,
to know that I will succeed in having that culture estab-
lished, which will be of great benefit to our State. In
order to encourage this useful, pleasant and profitable
pursuit, all over the State, I will occasionally give,
through the columns of the CALIFORNIA FARMER, any
information that may be desired, in regard to the mode
of planting and treating the mulberry tree, for the Cali-
fornia Silk Culture.

Yours truly, L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, Dec. 2, 1864.]

SILK CULTURE.

TJiK RAINS CHEERFUL PROSPECTS MULBERRY CULTIVATION PLANTING

AND PROPAGATING VARIETIES OF TREKS, ETC.

SAN JOSE, November 30, 1864.
Editor California Farmer :

On the 18th, 19th, and 20th inst., we had the heavi-
est frosts in San Jose for some years ; I measured some

40 THE CALIFORNIA

ice that was nearly half an inch thick on the water.
We all expected after such a frost to have good rain,
and this time we have not been deceived ; it began on
Friday last in the afternoon, and continued on Saturday,
pouring down all day and night all over our mountains,
and in our now blessed valley. We had it also on Mon-
day, heavy and wet, and our rivers and creeks have
raised. Yesterday, we had but very little, and we dug
some black locust trees and found that the ground was
not wet all through.

It has been raining again last night, and also all day
to-day, and you have no idea of the effect it has on every-
body ; you can see the joy on every face, and in fact
we must all rejoice and thank the Great Master for
having not forgotten us. We are all right, now, and I
hope that it is so all over our cherished State. Now, as
soon as the rain stops a little, every one can go to work,
plow, sow grain, and plant trees — the sooner the better.

In this important moment, I thought that it was neces-
sary to make your readers remember that the advant-
ages of the silk culture in California have been fully
demonstrated in the columns of the FARMER — that as
time for action and preparation is at hand, if they wish
success they must get ready during the good season.

Some of your readers may think that I am writing in
order to sell mulberry trees ; I wish to tell them that
the last drought destroyed nearly all my young trees, and
what I have left is hardly worth mentioning. But in or-
der to show them that I am not moved by any specula-
tive motive, but only by the general good, I will give

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 41

them here the varieties and the culture of the mulberry
tree, so that everybody can raise and cultivate his own
trees. It is a well known fact that the mulberry has a
very luxuriant growth in California — does well in nearly
every kind of soil, but has a kind of preference for a
good loamy soil. We can show shoots here of one year,
having from five to seven and more feet in length ; this
is, I suppose, enough. The mulberry besides furnish-
ing the best food for silkworms, could be made one of
our best ornamental trees ; but at present we have not
to consider it under that point of view ; we have to con-
sider it as to its value for feeding and raising silkworms.
Here are the best varieties :

1st. — The White Mulberry (morus alba). This is
the best variety for the culture of silk, it produces the
very best quality.

2d. — Another very good variety is the Morus Mo-
retti, which has a little wider leaf ; this kind is a variety
of the above. These two varieties are easily propaga-
ted from seed, which you have to sow in drills some
time in February or March. To succeed you must have
fresh seeds, and for that you must get them from a good
reliable store.

3d. — Morus Multicaulis has a still larger leaf, but
is tender to frost; this variety is very good for feed-
ing the silkworm when young, suppose about for the
first two ages. This variety is easily propagated by
cuttings.

After the cuttings and seedlings have been growing
one year, it will be very well to have them replanted

42 THE CALIFORNIA

in nursery rows, and leave them to grow that way one
year, and then transplant them. But to avoid this last
work, I think they would do very well, if the best cut-
tings and seedlings were planted so as to do the work
but once ; for that you must have a field well and deeply
plowed up before planting, as large as necessary to con-
tain the quantity of trees you wish to plant ; one acre
would hold four hundred and thirty-five trees, in plant-
ing them ten feet apart which is about a fair distance
for the California silk culture — and for that culture, also,
they must be headed at about four feet high.

When any other information shall be needed, I will
always be ready to give it. But let us produce our
own silk and supply other countries by all means.
Yours respectfully,

L. PREVOST.

P. S. — In my letter published in the FARMER, Octo-
ber 28th, (No. 14) you make me say that a female lays
about one hundred eggs, when, in the letter I wrote
" three hundred eggs." L. P.

[From the California Farmer, Doc. 2, 18G4.]

RAISING SILKWORMS IN CALIFORNIA.

Steadily facts begin to develop the adaptability of our
State as peculiarly fitted' to the raising of silkworms
and the manufacturing of silk, and there is 'no reason

43

in the world why California should not bo eminently
successful in this business, almost immediately, only the
public mind has not seized upon it strongly enough to
make a morus multicauUs fever ; but when it does
come, it will have its run, like every other speculation,
and then settle down into a quiet and prosperous busi-
ness.

Some weeks since we published an interesting letter
from Mons. Prevost, of San Jose, upon the silkworm,
in which he spoke of his success, and of others who
had been successful, showing also the demand already
for the eggs, both for home use and for France and
Italy, the fact being now established that California
can rear a healthier silkworm than most other parts of
the world, and orders have come to our State for a very
large amount of eggs the past year.

Recently, a vessel from Japan brought to our city
sixty-four cases silkworms' eggs, the value being some-
thing like $20,000. These were imported here to
order, to be immediately reshipped to France via Pan-
ama, thence to Southampton and to Havre.

There can be no doubt but that the raising of the
silkworm and the preparing of the eggs for sale will be
a profitable business for this State, as it is a well known
fact, that of late years a fatal disease has made havoc
with the silkworm of France and Italy, and they will
become purchasers of all we have to spare.

With these facts before us, would it not be well to
plant the mulberry, and begin the work ? Little girls
and misses, and young women, will find it a pleas-

44 . THE CALIFORNIA

task to feed these pretty worms, and it will be not only
a pleasant but a profitable way to spend time ; to rear the
worms, reel the delicate thread, and spin the silk, will be
more honorable employment than spinning street yarn.

We hope attention will be given to this matter im-
mediately.

After the above was in type we were favored with
another valuable letter from L. Prevost, Esq., which we
publish.

[From the California Farmer, Nov. 17, 1865.]
TO READERS AND CORRKSPONDENTS.

We ask the attention of our readers to the very valu-
able letter of the pioneer silk cultivator of the Pacific.
L. Prevost, Esq., of San Jose. This letter speaks
volumes, and we rejoice at his success, and feel happy
with him at the fulfillment of our own sanguine prophe-
sies in years past. We hope croakers against such en-
terprises will now stop their throats and learn wisdom.

SAN JOSE, Nov. 12, 1865.
COLONEL WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR : For want of time, and other circumstan-
ces that you know, it has been impossible for me to
write anything to you about silk culture in our State

BSITY

45

Notwithstanding the great success obtained this year,
and the great pleasure I had in seeing it earnestly ap-
preciated wherever I have exhibited the silk and silk,
cocoons, and to have received from the Societies the
highest testimonials, in the shape of gold medals, etc.,
I cannot make you understand how happy I am to see
my efforts are at last appreciated, and to see that the
people of California begin to understand and look to
their true interests, for I can predict to them that in
future this branch of industry will bring more to the
State than all the other productions together. I think
I can take the mines in, as they are nothing but a lot-
tery, where very few have a chance ; but with the silk
there is no deception. Our regular, dry summers,
without rain, storm, or electricity, insure you regular,
good crops, and the beauty of such an enterprise is that
we do not fear any opposition. Any thinking man can
understand it, and, as [ have said many times, if it was
possible, by a miracle, that the whole State be planted
next year with full grown mulberry trees, and most of
the people engaged in raising silk, you could not con-
vince me that it would lower the price of silk two cents
per pound, as we have not only California for a market,
but we have the whole world. Silk at the present time
is bound to raise in price. It has raised this year
twenty-five per cent. ; then it is our interest to encour-
age as many as possible to go into raising it, as it can-
not be but a great benefit to the State, and as we
live in the State we will all feel the good of it.

I have sold my silkworm eggs for France, and all I

46 THE CALIFORNIA

can furnish for the coining year, but I will keep always
what I think I need for California, and to those who will
raise and plant mulberry trees, I will furnish them gratis
their first eggs ; they will only have to let me know the
quantity of food they have, to guide me for the eggs to
send, and that for several years. This shows how I
wish to see competition all over our blessed State.

The cultivation of silk is nothing, under our fine silk
climate, and, as you know, and your readers know, I
have been able ,to simplify it so much that as soon as
I will have the " California Silk Culture " published,
everybody will be able to raise silk as well as other pro-
ducts. I have written already that my " California
Silk Culture " will reduce the work on the old system
followed in France and Italy, considerably. I have to
say now in regard to that point, that I have raised this
last season, myself alone, over one hundred thousand
silkworms, and each worm making a cocoon, and this is
the work of eight persons in France or Italy, where silk
is raised so extensively, and where millions and millions
of families are living off this work. In Italy the pro-
duct of exported silk exceeds in value two-thirds of all
other exportations together.

Everything is in favor of silk culture in California,
and this shows that Nature always does everything right,
and is never forgetful ; because if the climate is so fa-
vorable to the silkworms, it is also extremely favorable
with our good virgin soil, to the growth of mulberry trees,
which grow very well everywhere in this State, but of
course, like everything else, prefer certain soils. When

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 47

at Sacramento I noticed the very best of soil that I
ever saw for the mulberry tree, and I have been in-
formed that most of the whole valley is like it. I have
observed trees there of six years' growth that surpass
very far anything I have ever seen.

In order to enable everybody to raise their own mul-
berry trees, I have, as you know, published in your
valuable paper, about a year ago, the culture of that
tree, either by seeds or cuttings, but I wish to mention
here, that if any of your readers wish any more infor-
mation about that culture, or any information pertaining
to the silk cause, on any point that I may have omitted,
I wish them, for the benefit of the public, to ask me the
question through the CALIFORNIA FARMER, and I will
do my best to answer and satisfy them in the same
manner.

The enumeration of facts in favor of the silk culture
in California are many, and they will be the subject of
another letter, as soon as possible ; but I will write to
you probably next week about the premiums offered by
the State on silk. It was not my intention to exhibit
anything this year, so I was not prepared, but I intend
to prepare for next year, so as to make everybody stop
to look at my exhibit. It was only through the sug-
gestion of my friend, Mr. H. F. Williams, that I ex-
hibited at the Mechanics' Fair, and the State and Stock-
ton Fairs. I am very glad that I did so now. It has
attracted the attention of the public, so that now we
can consider that the impulse is given. But there is
one thing that you do not know, which will do a great

48 THE CALIFORNIA

deal towards engaging a large number in this sure and
profitable business, and I shall have the pleasure of
detailing to you and your readers to-day, what it is.
These are the facts :

I had lately the pleasure to have the visit of two
representatives of the two largest silk houses in Europe,
on their return from China, where they bought a very
large quantity of silkworm eggs. They are on their
way back to France. They took the cars to see me,
and get information about the silk culture in California.
These gentlemen are scientific and practical silk-grow-
ers and manufacturers. I told them everything about
our climate and the silk in California. I have shown
them my silk cocoons, and where I have raised them ;
the mulberry trees, etc. I gave them cocoons and
eggs as a present for their houses, and they gave me a
fine lot of a very good variety of silkworm eggs from
China. Knowing the silk business thoroughly, they
were apt to understand and appreciate everything per-
taining to it. They were so very well pleased with
what they have learned in their visit to San Jose, that
they are coming back next summer, each of them with
the necessary capital to buy something like one hundred
acres each, to raise silk and silkworm eggs on a large
scale ; and they very likely will be the cause of several
other silk-growers to come from Europe.

What do you think, Colonel ? Is it not your opinion
also, that after 'this the silk business will be fairly
started in California ? All this gives me the idea to
write to France, to some of the leading papers, about

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 49

silk in California. This I think would induce a good
many French and Italian silk-growers to come out and
establish themselves here,- as we can very easily demon-
strate to them the superiority of our climate over theirs.
Let me know your opinion about my idea.

I learn that the mulberry plantations of our friends,
Messrs. Packard & Goux, of Santa Barbara, are doing
finely, and that they will be able to raise the coming
season a very large quantity of silk cocoons.

By what I can guess, my presence at Sacramento
will be the cause of the planting of very near a million
of mulberry trees. I have not been able to learn to
what extent they will be planted in San Joaquin valley,
but we already have from last year quite a plantation
there by Mr. Glessing.

Now, Colonel, you ought to be proud for having been
in favor of that culture, now that the results are known.
At first your readers would hardly notice your remarks
on it; but they will find that the culture in California
will leave far behind all other culture or industry as to
product. Only look at it for a moment in the future.
Let us look and consider the thousands upon thousands
of people to which this new industry will give employ-
ment, and consider also that it is an easy work, that
can be done by aged persons, as well as by the young
folks of both sexes, to raise and to manufacture it ; let
us consider these rich goods that our ladies are so
happy to wear, coming out of our numerous manufac-
tories ; let us look to the immense quantity of goods
that will be shipped on board of our vessels, to be car-

50 THE CALIFORNIA

ried away to every part of the world ! Oh ! how happy
should I be if I could live long enough to see all that.
I have made my home in California, and nothing now in
the world could induce me to leave her — we cannot be
separated, except by death.

I cannot close this letter without letting you know an
important point that I have learned in the company of
those experienced silk-growers, to whom I refer above,
and this could be headed — " California . Silk a Superior
Article." Their opinion is that our climate and soil
being so superior, that by selecting every year the very
best cocoons for the eggs, for our own use, we will
obtain a California variety that will surpass everything
known elsewhere, as to size and quality. We must not
forget this.

Now I will close this letter, with the hope that your
numerous readers will be pleased to know all these facts.
They will find me always ready to tell them everything
I know that pertains to the prosperity of our beloved
State. Yours truly,

L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, April 19, 1866.]

SILK CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA.

[We lay before our readers another interesting and
valuable letter from the Pioneer Silk Culturist, L.
Prevost, Esq., of San Jose, whose earnest zeal for the
cause he has espoused, is worthy of all praise, and

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 51

whose devotion to the best interests of our State over
and above his own self aggrandizement, deserves all
honor.

Had Mr. Prevost been like some parties who were
fierce for great bounties by the State, he would have
secured a large sum to himself; but he labored hard
and was successful in changing these bounties, and
now they will be widely scattered in small sums. May
success and honor crown such men.

SAN JOSE, April 16, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR : In sending you last week the Cerratonia
seed, I wrote you in a great hurry — a few lines only —
telling you that the news about silk culture was cheering.
I am not through yet answering all the letters that came,
during my absence, from different parts of the State,
and also several from France, on the silk question. I
conclude to stop a minute and write you a few lines, to
let your readers know what is going on about that im-
portant branch of industry. They will excuse me for
being obliged to write in such a hurry. I hope to have
occasion to talk more with them on the subject.

It appears from my silk letters, that we have in our
State all the men for every branch— in fact all the
elements among us, from the planting of the mulberry
up to the manufactured silk, in all shapes, ready for
our ladies.

In the letters from France I see that we will have
quite a number of silk-growers, spinners, and manufac-

52 THE CALIFORNIA

turers. I wish to remark to you that one of them had '
my name through the columns of the CALIFORNIA FAR-
MER, and that in the south part of France. I wish also to
inform you of a very important fact, and that is, in a
few months we shall have our pioneer silk manufactory.
A friend sailed last Tuesday on the steamer to Panama,
on his way to New York, to buy all the necessary ma-
chinery, and I hope at our next Fair we will have the
first California Manufactured Silk. This will be an
inducement for many to go into this fine and profitable
business, because we are assured of a market at home
for our silk cocoons. I think that we will be able to
furnish that manufacturer with four or five hundred
thousand this year.

You have already published in your columns the
encouragement offered by the State. It is very impor-
tant to see that that bill has passed in that shape — that
it is an encouragement for all that will go into it, all
over,, our blessed State, and that for four years, this
culture being properly encouraged, will induce a great
many to go into it, and the culture will be well started,
after which it will not need to be encouraged, as it will
pay itself such profits that we will soon have silk man-
ufacturies in all the principal cities of the State. Now
that such an encouragmeent by the State is given I will
give another ; I will part with the California silk culture
and give to everybody all that I know about it. I hope
in a week or twelve days to begin to write the California
Silk Manual, in which I will give first the culture of

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 53

the mulberry tree, and its propagation by seed and by
cuttings ; after the mulberry our California silk cul-
ture, or the management of silkworms.

Besides writing the California Silk Manual, I will do
two public feedings or treatment of worms, from eggs
to eggs, or the whole process — the first iji one of our
halls in San Josd, beginning the 15th of May next, and
the second in the Agricultural Hall at Sacramento,
beginning on the 10th of July. In that way our
people who need information, will get it. I will do all
in my power to make them understand. All those who
take an interest in it will have a good opportunity to
learn, and when they find that it is so simple under our
fine climate, and that it is a work that can be done by
ladies and young folks, and also aged persons not fit for
harder labor, they will thus be enabled to go into it,
and particularly when I will give them the means to do
it with a very small capital. This work can be under-
taken by all. As to the advantages of our climate
over the other countries, I have fully demonstrated in
my previous letters. I wish particularly to remark
that the beauty of that culture is, that we do not fear
any competition ; on the contrary, we need it, because
our market for that article is the whole world, and our
climate being so superior, our silk is of the first quality,
arid consequently we will get the highest price for it.

Instead of sending seven millions of dollars out of
the country for imported silk, we must all go to work
and do all in our power to retain that amount among

54 THE CALIFORNIA

us, and make the millions sent out come back with a
compound interest. Let us do it — we can ! !

Respectfully yours, L. PIIEVOST.

[From the Califorffia Farmer, Slay 10, 1866.]
SILKWORMS— FEEDING AND CARE.

SAN JOSE, May 8, 1866.
Editor California Farmer :

MY DEAR SIR : A few days after I started to Sacra-
mento, where I have been nearly two months, my wife
sold some silkworm eggs to a party from Santa Barbara,
and afterwards left my two boxes of eggs in my office,
when they should have been kept constantly in the coolest
part of the cellar. On my return, I put them back
immediately into the cellar ; but it was too late ; they
were prepared to hatch — having been so long a time
under the influence of hatching heat, and the other day
in going to visit them I found them mostly hatched out
and the balance hatching. I have now between eight
hundred thousand and a million of them, and as, in
and about San Jose there is food for hardly one hun-
dred thousand at present, I am obliged to go to Sacra-
mento, where I have food for them. Thus it will be
seen that it will be impossible for me to do the " public
feeding " at San Jose this season, as anticipated. It
will be reserved for next season.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 55

I will leave some worms with my wife to take care of,
in case anybody wishes to see them there.

I will have a grand exhibition of silk and silk co-
coons at our Santa Clara Fair, on the 18th of Sep-
tember, next, and will give there all the information
needed on that important subject. I will see that in
the future such an accident will not occur again. It
has never before occurred with me during the five
years that I have been raising the silk in California.
Yours Truly, L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, May 17, 1866.]
SILK CULTURE.

SACRAMENTO, May 14, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR : I arrived at Sacramento with my large
family of silkworms. We are, I suppose, about two mil-
lions altogether, those hatched and those hatching now.
They are doing finely, and seem to be very comfort-
able ; they will soon, fill up the whole room. I will do
every day all in my power, to show and tell everything
about silk culture to all who wish information, so as to
enable every one that will attend the whole process, to
conduct the business successfully themselves. It is
very important for the country that the knowledge of
silk culture should be spread all over it, and this would

56 THE CALIFORNIA

be attained if every locality would take steps to appoint
a person (gentleman or lady) to be here present during
the whole process, and thus they would be able to learn
it to all those of their own locality, and in doing this,
with very little trouble and expense, silk culture would
soon be known all over the State, and thus the whole
people would be benefitted. Our women will find in it
an agreeable and profitable employment. In France it
is a part of the education of young women ; they
every one of them receive a small lot of eggs, they
hatch them, feed the worms and raise the cocoons ;
thus they are familiar with a work that may be very
useful to them afterwards.

Respectfully yours, L. PREVOST.

[From the California Farmer, Juno 7, 186fi.]
THE SILKWORMS AT SACRAMENTO.

We give our readers the following note from Mons.
Prevost, from Agricultural Hall, Sacramento, relative
to the condition of his " silkworms," and thus keep our
readers posted as to their progress.

It will be seen that our pioneer is at the " post of
duty," doing all he can, and promises our readers some
interesting letters soon, relative to the superiority of
his " silkworm system."

We can also inform our friend that the eggs he kindly
gave us (which were also hatching) the day he passed
through this city to Sacramento, are doing nobly with

IVERSITY

57

us, and our little band of a few thousand are growing
finely, and we shall try and show him some splendid
cocoons, as we have a liberal supply of mulberry leaves
in our garden, and our daily feeding is very interest-
ing to us.

Will our friend Prevost please see the letter of in-
quiries about silk culture in another column, and ren-
der us such aid as the cause needs.

Mons. Prevost, as a Florist, will also read with
pleasure, the letter from Mr. Hogg, from Yokohama,
Japan.

SACRAMENTO, June 6, 1866.
Editor California Farmer :

MY DEAR SIR : I see in your last issue that you have
been visiting the silkworms at San Jose, and you say that
the little trouble and care under my system, will soon
bring that important branch of business into notice. You
have said a great truth, because the superiority of my
system is now fully demonstrated. A letter from my
wife, dated May 31st, says that her worms are making
their cocoons ; while my worms, of the same age of
those I left with my wife, have only begun yesterday.
She is then seven days ahead of us here at Sacra-
mento. The reason is, here I cannot follow my system,
as we have to depend on others to get the food, they
will not allow us to cut the branches. This will be the
subject of a letter when I will have time. I have not the
time at present, because this way of feeding with the
leaves only gives us ten times more work, and it is not
half so good. In great haste,

Yours truly, L. PREVOST.

58 THE CALIFORNIA

[From the California Farmer, June 14, 1866.]

SILK CULTURE.

SACRAMENTO, June 11, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR: I have read with great pleasure the
letter in your last number from your correspondent H.
If I had a little time, all his questions could be an-
swered, as I see he is right, and has a true idea of the
subject. In regard to the cocoonery, I can show you
at any time a full plan of those in France, but we do
not need here such expensive ones, as we have to do a
very little of what they have to do there. It is my
intention to write a special letter on that important sub-
ject, and give my plans and views on a California
cocoonery. I have received the leading French papers
on silk, giving information on silk all over the globe,
prices, etc., etc., and containing my letter on Silk in
California. I have also very important documents on
silk, enough to have two or three columns in your pa-
per every week.

Our million of worms here are doing very well so
far. Please excuse me for writing to you in such a
hurry. The letter from my old neighbor and friend,
Mr. Hogg, pleased me very much.

Yours truly, L. PREVOST.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 59

[From the California Fanner, July 12, 1866.]

SILK CULTURE.
LETTER FROM MONS. PKEVOST ABOUT SILKWORMS AT SACRAMENTO.

BRANNAN RANCH, July 7, 1866.

Editor Farmer — DEAR SIR : I have been so much
in a hurry all the time at Sacramento that I have not
been able to find a minute to write to you before.

As the silk culture is before the people, and as it is
important to all to know something about it, the public
has a right to know how and why we had the disease
on the worms at Sacramento. It will be seen that it is
not owing to climatic circumstances but to a combina-
tion of a great many unforeseen difficulties that I have
been laboring under there and could not avoid.

During the five years that I have been raising the
silkworm in California, previous to this year, I have
never observed any disease among the worms because I
had fresh mulberry feed to give them, but in the Agri-
cultural Hall what had I to contend with ?

1st. In the beginning, when I was in need of very
tender leaves for my young worms, I was receiving old
dusty leaves that worms three weeks old would hardly
have been strong enough to eat, so that it is very easy
to see that they have been suffering right at the start.

2d. With the exception of a few days, we had con-
stont cold weather from time to time, the Sacramentans
say they never saw the like of it before.

3d. I have been obliged many times to feed with

60 THE CALIFORNIA

wet leaves, which was enough to make any worms
sickly.

4th. As I had to depend on a great many persons
for the food ; we were requiring it all from the vicinity
of Sacramento, Marysville, Nicolaus, Lincoln, New-
castle, Folsom, etc., etc. The leaves coming in bags
were withered and nearly all the time heated — this last
condition was sufficient to kill them all.

5th. I have never been able while there to have
-them fed regularly or full fed. Sometimes fed but
twice and other times three times, when they ought to
have been fed four or five times a day. It is very
extraordinary that under such bad treatment they kept
looking and doing well for nearly six weeks, until the
17th of June.

6th. On that day all the mulberry food was exhausted
and we had no more to give them, so we were obliged
to give them " Osage Orange." This forced change
from their natural food, the mulberry, started the dis-
ease, and they commenced dying by large numbers
every day ; some of them started to make their cocoons
to the number of fifteen thousand.

I feel certain that you and the public, who can judge
correctly, will all agree with me, that to have so many
cocoons, under a combination of so many bad circum-
stances, and call that a success, it certainly speaks
very highly in favor of our climate for silk culture,
because elsewhere one of these reasons would have
been enough to have killed them all. I have told many
persons that this is no reason to think that Sacramento

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 61

is not as good a place as San Jose* for silk worms. Let
us but feed them properly with fresh food, and we will
have everywhere the same grand result. Some time
after our loss, I was very glad to hear from different
persons to whom worms have been given, after my
arrival here, and all those whoJaave fresh food on hand,
write that the worms have done well and made fine
cocoons. This is the confirmation of all I had said
before about silk culture in Sacramento Valley. My
opinion is that most of our State is generally adapted
to silk culture.

By the information I receive, Santa Barbara is also
as good as Sacramento and San Jose* valleys. During
my stay at Sacramento, I have not been able to show
the California silk culture as I wished. I had to ex-
plain our trouble, because my way of feeding is with
branches, and this is the best for California, for three
very good reasons : 1st, it is a great labor-saving ; 2d,
the leaves on them keep fresh a longer time, and allow
the worms to eat them all; 3d, it keeps the worms
properly ventilated, and this contributes largely to im-
prove their health.

The reason that I have not been able to show the
success of California silk culture, is, that everybody
wished to keep every part of. their trees so as to make
cuttings the coming season, they would allow us to take
nothing but the leaves. I am very glad to see the
dispositions taken by our people to propagate, but it
gave us ten times more work.

In regard to cuttings, I found one way to make a

62 THE CALIFORNIA

great many more, and have every one to grow. I have
stated it to a great many persons ; but I will publish it
in time for the coming season, in order that every one
may be benefited by it.

In going to Sacramento I left a lot of the same
worms with my wife, ^.n taking care of them she had
to follow my system, knowing no other. She wrote me
that she had none sick, and they made their cocoons
just seven days ahead of those of the same lot that I
had in the hall. This is another item of the California
silk culture. When kept vigorous they go to work at
their time, and when suffering it keeps them back.

As I had agreed to come and do a feeding in the
Agricultural Hall, I came to fulfill my promises, and
made up my mind to let the public know everything —
the good and bad circumstances — so now every one can
see and judge for themselves ; and, knowing the facts,
they will see very well that there is nothing to discour-
age any, or injure the cause in any way. Let us plant
mulberry trees everywhere, and have plenty of fresh
food at our doors, and every thing will be all right ;
but we cannot expect to do anything without the proper
food.

I feel it my duty to state here, before closing my
letter, that the officers of the State Agricultural Society
have done for me all they possibly could do, and the
Secretary, Mr. Hoag, in particular. Without his aid I
should have had to give it up, because anything I could
say would be below the level of his courage, energy,
and devotion to the noble cause.

Truly yours, ' L. PREVOST.

[ From the California Farmer, August 9, 186(5. ]
SILK CULTURE— NEW SERIES.

LETTER NUMBEH ONE — BY L. PREVOST.

SAN JOSE, Aug. 7, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR : In a previous letter, from Sacramento, I
told you that I had plenty of documents upon the
important question of silk. I will begin to lay some
before the public, and will take from these documents
everything that can advance the cause ; and arrange
every part of them as may apply to California, or any
of our States, where the climate is favorable to silk
culture. I will begin with a very remarkable address,
here before me, delivered by the Rev. D. 0. McLean,
before the American Silk Society, in the Hall of the
House of Representatives, at Washington, December
12, 1839.

IMPORTANCE OF SILK CULTURE.

Rev. Mr. McLean begins thus :

' Mr. President — The Committee appointed to make
arrangements for the exercises of the evening, have
requested me to accompany the resolutions read by
your Secretary, with some remarks. Conscious of my
inability to meet the just expectations of this Society,
owing to the shortness of the time allowed for prepara-
tion, I nevertheless consented to perform the service to
the best of my ability. Were my ability but half equal

64 THE CALIFORNIA

to my zeal, in the noble cause in which we are engaged,
I might then hope to present you something worthy of
the occasion. ^That our country is experiencing great
and perplexing embarrassments ; and that wo are far
from enjoying, as a nation, the plenty and prosperity
which our almost boundless resources lead us justly to
expect, is painfully felt by all our citizens. We may
blame our Government or our banks, but whatever
agency they may have in our difficulties, they do not
directly produce them. Such are our real or imaginary
wants, that we consume more than we produce ; and as
long as this is the case, neither our Government nor
our banks can furnish us effectual and permanent
relief. Our imports have exceeded our exports ; our
consumption has gone beyond our production, for years,
in an alarming degree. The commercial balance against
us, this year, will probably fall little short of fifty mill-
ions of dollars ; added to which is the annual interest
on State loans amounting to full twelve millions of dol-
lars more. That is, we are this moment in debt to the
amount of upwards sixty millions of dollars, besides a
debt on time for somewhere near two hundred millions
of dollars, and this debt must be paid. Our creditors
are themselves embarrassed at home, and they must
and will have their money. Here is the cause of the
melancholy prostration of business in our whole country,
the stoppage of banks, the ruin of merchants, and the
downward tendency in the price of all the products of
our soil. Look where we will, no permanent relief can
be found, but in the actual products of that which will

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 65

liquidate our present debt, and the possession of which
will diminish our importations in time to come, or serve
as a valuable export in exchange for foreign products.
But what can we produce that will promise these
desired results ?

'Shall it be breadstuff's, the staff* of life ? That we
have an immense territory adapted to the production of
grain, to an almost unlimited extent, is undoubtedly
true ; but where shall we find a market for anything
like the quantity of grain that would be necessary to
meet the annual balance against us, and at a price that
would be an adequate return to the grower ? The
corn laws of England, framed with great wisdom for
the development of her own agricultural resources,
amount to an actual prohibition of our breadstuff's. Her
ports are never open to the introduction of foreign
grain, until by reason of actual scarcity, or monopoly,
the price reaches a certain maximum measure ; then
free ingress is allowed to the whole world, when the
price falls below the maximum, and her ports close.
Other nations of Europe, in most cases, either produce
their own breadstuff's, or can procure them nearer home
and to better advantage than from us.

Shall we rely, then, for relief on the production of
grain ? This we cannot do — at least until our national
legislature, by wise countervailing regulations, open for
us a more certain and steady market than is now fur-
nished in any part of the world. Millions of bushels of
wheat are at this moment on hand in the single States
of Indiana and Michigan, which would quickly go to

GG THE CALIFORNIA

Europe as a remittance if there was there an open and
ready market.

Shall we turn to cotton, the great staple of our nation ?
Even this, in all its magnitude, is unequal to produce
the desired results. The supply of cotton already c«juals
the demand at remunerating prices. Other nations, as
well as our own, produce this article, and will undoubt-
edly continue to produce it in an increasing quantity as
long as it will command adequate returns. India,
China, Asia, Turkey, several of .the islands of the In-
dian Ocean, Egypt, Mexico, Brazil, and Texas, all pro-
duce cotton ; and all will continue to produce it while
remunerating prices continue. If we therefore labor to
swell the production of cotton further, the result must
be such a reduction in the price that it must entirely
oease to be a valuable product at all. The cost of pro-
duction will equal or exceed the price obtained ; besides,
when more than one quarter of a large and rapidly in-
creasing section is devoted to this article, it is at least
questionable whether the principles of political economy
do not forbid other portions of our country to depend on
cotton, while they continue destitute of any valuable ex-
ports.

Indeed, it may be "fairly' questioned whether the rela-
tion between the demand and the supply of cotton is
not at this moment such that the individual interest of
cotton growing, as well as the interests of the whole
country would be promoted, if one-third less cotton were
produced, and the labor necessary to produce this third
was devoted to the production of other valuable articles
of export.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 67

What, then, I ask again, shall meet the balance
against us? Shall we turn to our rice and tobacco
fields ? These, indeed, form a respectable item in our
annual exports, but they are utterly inadequate to ac-
complish the result desired ; and neither can be materi-
ally increased to advantage. Where, then, shall we seek
for relief? Is it answered, diminish our imports ? True ;
but where shall we begin ? What do we import now to
any considerable extent that is not absolutely necessary
to the real or imaginary wants of a great and rapidly
growing nation ? Will a prosperous people, with unlim-
ited resources, submit to real or imaginary privations
because we read to them homilies on political economy ?
Is it not morally certain, that as our nation increases our
consumption must also increase, and our importations in
a corresponding degree ? The only hope of a diminution
of imports, is home production. We must produce, for
home consumption, some important article, and in this
way lessen importations, or we must produce something
largely for export that will balance our account current
with other nations. Once more, I ask, where shall we
turn for relief? What shall we produce? Plainly,
whatever it is, it ought to be something which we largely
consume, which will 'command a high and certain market
abroad, and which our country can produce. And what
article, I ask, is this ? You anticipate my answer. I
fearlessly affirm, in my deliberate judgment, the produc-
tion of silk alone will meet the exigency of the case.
Silk must become a great national staple in America,
if we would secure and perpetuate individual and n.a-

6B THE CALIFORNIA

tional prosperity. When this becomes the case, and sir,
I honestly fear, not till then, under the smiles of a
gracious Providence, and the benign influence of a pa-
ternal government, we may walk abroad with proud in-
dependence— secure from the vexations and embarrass-
ments which, to a greater or less extent, invariably
attend a debtor nation.

Here is an article which we largely consume, an arti-
cle which we cannot dispense with, which the nation must
and will have, either produced or imported, in annually
increasing quantities.

[From the California Farm or, August 16, 18€6.]

. SILK CULTURE— NEW SERIES.

LETTER NUMBER TWO. — DY L. PRKVOST.

SAN JOSE, August 7, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR : — Next to food, the chief want of man in
every state of society, is clothing. This, in all civilized
countries is produced from wool, flax, cotton, and silk.
The increasing: extent to which the silk enters into the

clothing of the civilized world is amazing ! In our own
country it pervades every class of society, and enters
largely into the holiday and even daily habiliments of
12,000,000 of people. The average annual importation
of silk into the United States, during the last five years,

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 69

was 813,273,114, In the year 1836 it rose to the enor-
mous sum of between $25,000,000 and $26,000,000.
Now the mere abstraction of such an enormous item from
our indebtedness would almost render us independent.
(This data was made for the year 1839. — ED. F.)

But should we even produce this article to twice over
the extent of our own wants, a ready foreign market is
open for all that we can produce of the raw material, at
most liberal prices. England alone, where lies most of
our indebtedness, manufactures silk probably to a great-
er extent than any other nation. Her manufactured silks
amounted last year to the enormous sum of $72,000,000.
What a splendid prize is this for which to contend. And
of the raw article she consumed nearly or quite
$17,000,000 worth ; and the whole of this large supply
must be drawn from abroad. England cannot produce
the raw silk ; she has made repeated attempts, but owing
to the humidity of her atmosphere, or to some other
cause, she has always failed, until she has given it up in
despair. She must, then, rely entirely on other nations
for the vast amount necessary to carry on her extensive
manufactures. She draws her supplies now mainly from
India and Italy, but would unquestionably draw it main-
ly from us, could we produce it, because we furnish a
better article than she can elsewhere procure, as she her-
self acknowledges. England alone would therefore fur-
nish a ready market at fair prices for all the raw silk
which we can possibly produce, even if our productions
should far exceed the most sanguine hopes or desires we
have ever dared to indulge in ; because consumption

70 TUB CALIFORNIA

will yet increase in proportion to the increase of produc-
tion.

During the last four or five years the consumption of
the raw material has actually increased about 2,000,000
Ibs.

France, too, produces less of the raw material than
she requires for her manufactories. In 1835 she ex-
ported some $22,700,000 of manufactured silks, and.
imported some four or five million dollars worth of the
raw material ; foreign demand, then, does actually exist
to an almost unlimited extent ; a wide door invites us
to enter and occupy.

You may swell the product even beyond the exports
of cotton, which the last year amounted to the enor-
mous sum of $61,000,000, and not sensibly affect the
price of raw silk, certainly not so as to prevent adequate
returns for the costs of production. If our embarrass-
ments then are measured by millions, here is an article
the home consumption and the foreign demand for which
will also count by millions — will meet the exigency of
our case. Every State in our Union may remit the
annual interest on its foreign loans, in bales of raw
silk, aye, and may ultimately remit the principal, too,
without exceeding the demand.

Here, then, certainly is an article which we largely
consume at home, and which will command a ready
market in any quantities abroad. But can we produce
it ? Why, I ask in reply, can we not ? Nature has
surely thrown no insurmountable obstacles in our way ;
we are nearly or quite on the same parallel of latitude

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 71

with the principal silk-growing countries of the world ;
the mulberry which furnishes food for the silkworms we
know will flourish here, because in very many portions
of our country it is of spontaneous growth, and even
the more valuable kinds which have of late years been
introduced into our country, which have been supposed
incapable of enduring the rigors of our Northern win-
ters, are found by actual experiments everything that
their warmest friends could desire. In the actual pro-
duction of silky experiments have been made in every
period of our colonial as well as national existence,
which have uniformly resulted in the production of silk
of as beautiful a texture and luster and as strong a
fiber as is produced in any country; especially have
experiments been made during the last few years
from Maine to Florida, which have triumphantly set-
tled the practicability of producing silk in our country.
There is something in the dryness and elasticity of our
summers which seems to adapt our country to a peculiar
degree to the production of silk ; we can produce it,.
therefore, just as certainly as we can produce corn or
wheat. But can we produce it to a profit ? Are not
the circumstances of our country such that the cost of
production will equal if not exceed the value of the
article produced ? ' Here-, it must be confessed, is the
consideration which must be decisive on the whole sub-
ject, both in an individual and national point of view.
Individuals will not embark in any kind of business, or
having embarked, will not pursue it, if found to be un-
profitable. Now, can the introduction of any business

72 THE CALIFORNIA

benefit the nation which does not benefit individuals ?
The great reason why it is thought it cannot be profitably
produced in this country is the fact that labor is here so
much higher than in any silk-growing country in the
world. How can we produce it as cheap as we can buy
it, when the labor necessary to produce it costs three or
four times as much as the labor in the silk-growing
countries ?

There is much plausibility in these objections, I will
acknowledge, and there was a time when it perplexed
me greatly. There are facts, however, on this subject
which seem to me triumphantly to meet all objec-
tions to this business drawn from the comparative prices
of labor ; and I love to deal in facts.

Is it not a fact that manufactured cotton goods are
furnished cheaper and better by England than any other
part of Europe ? Are not the manufactured silks of
England furnished as good and as cheap, if not cheaper
and better, than the silks of other countries where labor
is much lower ?

I might instance the production of our finest; linens ;
they are furnished cheaper and better by Holland and
Belgium than by any other powers where labor is
cheaper. France can and actually does furnish fine
woolens cheaper and better than they can be furnished
by Spain, although the price of labor is much in the
favor of Spain.

One great reason why the price of labor is neutralized,
so to speak, is a fact which the history of the world will
prove : that a decided superiority and skill is usually

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 73

obtained in the production of a given article by those
with whom the price of labor is dearer than with their
rivals.

We know the price of labor in any country, other
things being equal, is usually according to the skill and
industry of those who perform it.

We do not pay a mechanic or laborer a high price
for his labor merely because he chooses to ask it, but
because we know that the product of his labor will fur-
nish us with that which we know we can sell to a good
profit after paying him his wages. Suppose that the
daily wages of the East Indian is but a few cents per
day: will this advantage counterbalance his want of
skill and his destitution of the labor-saving machinery,
which pervades every branch of business in our own
free and happy country.

The inventive genius of Americans is proverbial, and
who can doubt the application of skill and genius to
the production of silk ? Improvements made here, we
know will almost simultaneously pervade our whole coun-
try, and will quickly pass to England ; but to introduce
them into other silk-growing countries requires years,
if not generations. France, even polished France, has
been talking about internal improvements longer than
any other nation, and to this hour she has now consid-
erably little railroad in her whole dominions ; even the
little kingdom of Belgium far surpasses her in this
respect.

In Italy and India it is almost impossible to introduce
improvements in any valuable degree ; indeed I appre-

74 THE CALIFORNIA

hend that the low price of labor is in no small degree
accountable for this ; and therefore the fact that the low
price of labor among those nations who will be our chief
competitors in the production of silk will make that
production more profitable to us.

Is it not a fact that in England and our own country,
where labor is high, the capitalist is enabled to live well
and rapidly increase his means ; while in India, France,
and Italy, where labor is low, the very reverse of this
is the fact ; the accumulation of wealth is very slow ?
What do we care for the competition of India or the
nations along the Baltic in maritime trade ; while that
of England, where labor is nearly as high as in our own
country, we fear.

The whaling trade furnishes a striking evidence on
this subject. This trade is open to the whole world ;
yet with all the low prices of labor, even among power-
ful and enlightened nations, this trade with us has con-
stantly increased, and our merchants have grown rich
on the profits of their ships, while with them it has uni-
formly declined, and the proprietors of the sluggish
ships of the North of Europe are scarcely able to live.

But again. How can the price of labor operate to
our disadvantage when the silk-growing countries of
Europe generally, either owing to their negligence or
their climate, are in all cases obliged to make large de-
ductions for disease and death among their silkworms ;
while our attention, and the balmy nature of our climate,
render it unnecessary for us to make any such deduc-
tions. Some writers assert that even fifty per cent, is a

75

reasonable allowance for the large percentage which they
lose. Should it, however, be but one-quarter of this,
this consideration alone more than balances the differ-
ence in the price of labor.

If they can lose such a percentage and still make a
profit on their low price labor, how much greater profit
can we make, even if our labor is higher, when no loss
is sustained. But again, I ask, how can the price of
labor operate to our disadvantage, when we are entirely
free from everything like excise duties on trees and silk ;
a burden which is borne heavily indeed by European
silk-growing countries ? We have it, on the best au-
thority, that in the Neapolitan territory every mulberry
tree pays to the government an annual tax of about
sixteen cents, and every pound of silk about thirty-
three cents. Even the refuse and unprofitable part of
the silk and cocoons pay about one per cent, to the
government. Surely if labor costs even nothing there,
and it is still profitable to produce silk, it may be vastly
more profitable here, with all the high price of our
labor.

76 THE CALIFORNIA

[From the California Farmer, August 23, 1866.]
SILK CULURE— NEW SERIES.

LETTER NUMBER THREE BY L. PRETOST.

SAN JOSE, August 20, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR — But if we can, if we actually do, grow.
and manufacture cotton, and sell it in India cheaper
than they can produce it, and cheaper than they can
elsewhere grow it, why can we not do the same with silk ?
We know, with all other disadvantages, other nations
produce silk to a profit ; and while in other things we
yield to no nation on earth, why shall we in silk alone ?

But we are not left to such a course of reasoning.
Conclusive as it is, to my mind, to prove that silk
may be profitably produced in our own country, I do
not believe we are warranted, as yet, from actual re-
sults, to speak with absolute certainty as to the amount
of profit, per acre, in the production of -silk ; still, suf-
ficient is known, from actual experiments, to satisfy any
reasonable mind that it can be produced at a profit.

Why should the inhabitants among the inhospitable
rocks and stones in Mansfield, Connecticut, enjoy such
a measure of prosperity, if the production of silk is not
profitable ? There more attention has been paid to the
culture of silk, and for a longer time, than in any other
part of our country, and from personal observation, few
portions of our country have received less from nature
than this town, and few portions, beyond all question,

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 77

have less poverty and want — perhaps, I might say, few
portions are found where the people enjoy more general
competence and comfort — and to silk they are confes-
sedly indebted for much of the competence with which
they are blessed.

But experiments have been made in various sections
of our country during the last few years, expressly
with a view to test the profits of this business, and
feeling obliged, as I do, to believe the statements of
gentlemen who have made such experiments, my only
surprise has been that the results have shown such large
profits. I could name experiments made in Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn-
sylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio ; but
they are familiar to all, and they go to prove that silk
can be produced so as to yield a very large profit.

But on this subject I have other evidence still, that
silk can be produced in our country, notwithstanding
the high price of labor, to a large profit — evidence
which, to me, at least, is perfect demonstration — I ac-
tually produced it myself to a large profit. Last year
I actually produced silk at the rate of $ 104 per acre ;
this year, valuing the raw silk at $4.50 per pound,
at the rate of $108 per acre. The gross product this
year was five hundred and twenty pounds of cocoons,
or forty-eight pounds reeled silk, the cost of producing
which is $2.25 per pound, or the value of one male or
two female hands, twelve weeks each ; which, valuing
the silk as above, leaves the minimum profit $108 per
acre. Now, this I know is no mistake ; the silk before

<0 THE CALIFORNIA

you will speak for itself. Nor were my knowledge, fa-
cilities, or advantages greater than those possessed by
any and every member of the community ; I am
perfectly persuaded that every prudent man may
realize the same result.

Now, in view of the foregoing reasoning and facts,
can I doubt the practicability of our producing silk at a
profit, notwithstanding the high price of labor ; and can
I, as a patriot or philanthropist, refrain from urging my
fellow citizens to embark in this business ? And can any
man, who believes these facts and this reasoning, fail to
urge the-s^me thing on his fellow citizens, by his exam-
ple as well as by his precept, that demonstration which re-
sults from the actual production of the article itself will
convince. It is not to be supposed but that individual
cases of failure will occur ; some may undertake more
than they can accomplish, and fail ; untoward circum-
stances may prevent success with others. The visionary
and the grasping, who expect at once to amass a fortune
in the production of silk, will be disappointed, and will
doubtless abandon the whole thing. Those who engage
in the business, however, intelligently, with common
sense, will, with patience and perseverance, invariably
reap a rich reward, and, at the same time, assist in
adding millions to the wealth of their country. What
more then, I ask, is- necessary to induce this whole
nation to commence the production of silk ?

PROFITABLE WORK FOR LADIES, CHILDREN, ETC.

I advert to two or three considerations which, in my
own view, are of great importance to this subject.

79

The first is, the employment which the production of
silk will furnish to that portion of our community which
are destitute of profitable employment. All the means
of human enjoyment, and all the accumulations of
wealth, are, in one form or other, the product of human
labor. The happiness and wealth of nations are, there-
fore, promoted in exact proportion to the active industry
of the community. In order that readily extended
prosperity exist, it is absolutely necessary that industry
pervade every department of society ; and that industry
should be directed to objects adapted to those who
labor, and are capable of producing wealth, then some-
thing must be produced by all. No community, as a
mass, can grow rich, no large number of families can
permanently thrive, when one, two, three, or more
members in each family are entirely unproductive.
Suppose one quarter of the community devote their
energies to speculation, all they gain is abstracted from
others in some way ; they produce nothing — their
country must grow poorer — they must be sustained by
the labors of the other portion of the community, and
permanent prosperity cannot exist. As nations and
large communities are made up of families and individ-
uals, in order to promote national prosperity, it is abso-
lutely necessary that industry pervade the domestic
circle — that all the members of our families should be
usefully employed. Under the present state of
society and the existing subjects of industry, however,
profitable employment cannot be furnished to the whole

OF THE

80 THE CALIFORNIA

of the domestic circle. In the days of our fathers
there was, indeed, no want of such employment. The
music of the spinning wheel and the noise of the shuttle
and the distaff were heard in all their dwellings. The
numerous labor-saving machinery, the product of the
last preceding age, introduced into almost every depart-
ment of business, has entirely superseded these in domes-
tic life. The circumstances of a very large portion of our
farmers are such, and the state of society is such, that
there is now an absolute want of suitable and profitable
employment for the female members of their families.
They cannot, in consistency with their education and
rank, take hold of the culinary department, and perform
the drudgery of domestic duties ; if there are many
such in the family, even this would not furnish them
employment ; and the actual consequence is, that many
an affectionate, prudent, and laborious father has actu-
ally sunk beneath that dearly cherished but unproduc-
tive part of his charge. Every community, therefore,
that would secure permanent prosperity, must seek
employments on which they can profitably bestow do-
mestic labor; and where, let me ask, is there an
employment that promises so much in this respect as the
production of silk ?

81

[From the California Farmer, August 30, 18B(>.]
SILK CULTURE— NEW SERIES.

LETTER NUMBER FOUR BY L. PREVOST.

SAN JOSE, August 26, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR — The production of silk seems designed
for female hands. It is suited to their ability, and
promises as large returns for the labor bestowed as any
other employment. In every period in the history of
silk it has actually received the fostering encourage-
ment of female influence. Queens and noble ladies
have been its patrons, and the noblest daughters of our
land would be honored by devoting their time to the
production of silk in some of its stages. May we not
hope that an article which enters so largely into the
wardrobe of our wives and our daughters, which more
than other fabrics adorns their persons, will receive
their fostering care ? Indeed, vast as may be the im-
portance of the introduction of silk culture to our coun-
try, I .despair of witnessing its complete success until
our fair countrywomen actually engage in its produc-
tion ; and one of the most cheerful signs of the time is,
that this to some extent, is already the case. When
your daughters shall walk abroad in silks which their
own hands have aided to produce, then the culture of
silk as a source of national wealth will no longer be
doubtful. Is it a fact, that grazing and dairy-making
sections of our country are usually more independent

82 THE CALIFORNIA

than even grain-growing regions ; and where will you
find the reason if not in the fact that in the former case
there is profitable domestic labor, and in the latter there
is not ? If the tenants whose abodes are among the
hills which are covered with bleating flocks and lowing
herds, are found continually making excursions down
and buying up the beautiful valleys beneath them, what
may we not expect to see when portions of these hills
are covered with mulberry trees, and millions of skilled
operators working unceasingly by day and by night,
under the fostering care of female superintendence ?

But there are also other members of the domestic
circle, besides those already referred to, whose labor is
almost utterly unproductive, for want of proper objects
on which to bestow that labor. In almost every family
there are children, and aged and infirm individuals,
whose labor is of little value on the farm, and these are
the persons who can almost entirely take charge of
the cocoonery, with a little direction and superintend-
ence. Even children can do much toward gathering
the leaves and feeding the worms. Even the aged
and decrepid, with the aid of ingenious contrivances
for moving along by the shelves, can perform the work
of the most athletic laborer. Surely that community
cannot but grow rich when the labors of all are made
productive. Other communities may be convulsed with
every fluctuation in trade ; this can smile with compla-
cency in the midst of plenty ; while all are debtors to
them, they to none.

On all plantations of the South, too, there are un-

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 88

doubtedly many children, aged and infirm slaves, and
mothers, who are of little or no value to their own-
ers in the production of sugar and cotton, perhaps it
would be safe to say, on almost every estate, the labors
of one or several able-bodied field hands are consumed
in supporting those whose labor is of no considerable
value on the plantations, who cannot because they are
physically unable, perform the labor which alone is
required. Now if these could be furnished with an
employment by which they could simply support them-
selves, what a vast saving it would be to the planter.
But "how much more would his interest be promoted if
it is demonstrated that the labor of such a class, when
applied to silk, is even more profitable than the labor of
the most athletic field hands ; and that this will be the
case every enterprising planter who will make the ex-
periment will unquestionably find. In the present state
of the cotton trade, this is an aspect of the subject of
the deepest importance to every cotton grower.

I know much mystery hangs around the whole sub-
ject of producing silk, in the minds of most of our farm-
ers; accustomed to deal in the heavier products $f
the soil, the delicacy .of the article causes them to dis-
trust their ability and skill in its production ; they
read or have heard of large and expensive cocooneries
with nicely adjusted shelves, and spinning frames, with
furnaces and flues, with hygrometers and thermome-
ters, and verometers, and hourly feeding by day and
night, and they are actually frightened from the under-
taking, or even from an honest and serious examination

84 THE CALIFORNIA

of its practicability; but these appendages do not belong
to the subject. I can speak at least from some little
practical experience. The production of silk in the
form of the cocoon, is an exceedingly simple thing.
There is not a farmer in our land, who has not sufficient
accommodations either in his house or outbuildings, to
produce from one hundred to thousands of dollars
worth of silk ; and no fixtures in most cases will be
needed but such as he himself, with his hammer and
saw, can furnish. Care and attention are indeed nec-
essary, but these are equally necessary in order to
secure the most successful results in any business.
This is a business concerning which experience alone
can give us our best and most valuable information ;
much undoubtedly may be learned from books and the
experience of others, but we cannot hope for the most
successful results until we have had some little experi-
ence. Some who are engaged in no other employment,
may at once commence large establishments ; may ex-
pend freely in fitting up in the most perfect and con-
venient manner for the accommodation of the worms,
and with care and prudence may entirely succeed even
on a large scale, the very first year, without any pre-
vious practical knowledge. Still, in the general intro-
duction of the business among our farmers, prudence
requires that they should commence cautiously and on
a small scale. A single ounce of eggs will produce a
crop sufficiently large for most persons the first season ;
attention to these will teach much respecting the habits
and peculiarities of the silkworm ; and will enable

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 85

the culturist to make intelligent provision for the wants
and necessities of a large crop the subsequent season.

But is it not a fact, that some portions of our older
States are almost depopulated ? Not only do our youth,
but many of our very best citizens, with heavy hearts,
desert their homes, their comforts, and their friends, to
seek, in new and distant States, the means of subsistence
and support for growing families, which the cultivation
of silk alone might have supplied in abundance at home.

The advocates of silk are far from wishing to see other
products of our soil diminished ; but they do wish, by
their example and their precept, to add another to the
existing list of our productions ; they do wish to develop
our resources, and add to our population an hundred
fold ; they do wish to retain in the possession of our cit-
izens all the millions which are annually paid for foreign
silk ; they do wish to see productive industry pervade
every department of life, and the condition and comforts
of all our citizens improved ; and if ever an enterprise
promised joy and prosperity to the whole community, es-
pecially to the poor, this is that enterprise. How can
the production of a rich and valuable article, the use of
which pervades every class of society, which will give
employment to thousands and tens of thousands of in-
dustrious people, which will pour millions into our treas-
ury, how can this fail to better the condition of the poor
as well as of the rich ?

I know that it is difficult to introduce to the extent of
millions, any new branch of industry among any class
of men— it is not the work of a day ; patience and per-

86 THE CALIFORNIA

severence will alone accomplish it. Do I mistake the
signs of the times, when I predict, as I here publicly do,
the speedy and triumphant success of the silk culture
in our beloved country. To my own mind, the prospect
before us is bright with promise ; I look forward but a
little, and my fondest anticipations are more than real-
ized; I behold this single product flowing to all our
ports through a thousand channels, and peace and plenty
pervading all our borders, with no second in the mag-
nitude of its results.

An eminent senator, on a memorable occasion, prom-
ised all our farmers silken purses filled with gold shining
through their meshes ; but, alas ! the worthy senator
gave us nothing with which to procure either the purses
or the gold ; but here is the silk to make the purses,
and here is the gold — the returns of silk — to fill them.

[The foregoing discussion shows the importance of
silk culture, and its benefit to our nation ; and I hope
it will serve to convince as well as please the greater
portion of your readers.]

Respectfully yours,

L. PREVOST.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 87

[Farmer, September 6, 1866.]
MANUFACTURE AND CULTURE OF SILK— NEW SERIES.

LETTER NUMBER ONE. BY L. PREVOST.

SAN JOSE, Sept. 8, 1866.
COL. WARREN, Editor California Farmer :

DEAR SIR:

PIONEER SILK MANUFACTORY.

It pleased me very much to see in your last number
an article on our " Pioneer Silk Manufactory." I will
avail myself of the opportunity to write to-day on that
important subject, which I consider as a great event for
the silk cause in California, and consequently will ad-
vance greatly the interests of the State. It furnishes us
the means of beginning that great work of retaining
among us these seven millions of dollars sent out annu-
ally for importing silk for our ladies. It settles the ques-
tion, as everybody can see, that we have now at home
a market for all the cocoons we can produce.. Our
friends, Meyer & Newman, in offering to manufacture
our silk, will induce a great many to go into its culture.

SELECTION OF SOIL FOR THE MULBERRY.

To all those who are about to start in that rich in-
dustry, I desire to tell them for their benefit that the
most important point to begin with is the selection of
the soil for the mulberry. It is a fact that it grows
most any where in California, but more or less, a deep
rich, light, loamy soil is needed : in such a case we can

OF T1TTK

JNIVERSITY

88 THE CALIFORNIA

obtain as much food from one acre as from two or three
acres of other soils ; in that mulberry soil, trees seven
years old measure from two to three feet in circumfer-
ence, and shoots one year old, from ten to twelve feet
long ; and we have any amount of such soil in all the
valleys of California. I have remarked a great quan-
tity of it in our beautiful and healthy valley of San
Jose, but have observed it more generally in the Sacra^
mento valley. We can say that we have hundreds of
thousands of acres of such soil in California, and it is
incalculable the quantity of silk we can produce — we
could supply the whole world with this article. But I
must return to the' main subject of this letter.

SILK MANUFACTURE.

The silk manufacture may be divided into two branch-
es : first, the production of the raw silk ; second, its
filature and preparation in the mill for the purposes of
the weaver and other textile artizans. The threads, as
spun by the silk worm and wound up in the cocoon, are
all twins, in consequence of the twin orifice of the nose
of the insect, through which they are projected ; these
two threads are laid parallel to each other, and are
glued more or less evenly together by a kind of glossy
^varnish, which also envelops them, constituting nearly
twenty-five per cent, of their weight. Each ultimate
filament measures about one-twothousandth of an inch
in average, fine silk, and the pair measure fully one-
onethousandth of an inch in the raw silk, as imported
from Italy, France, China, etc. ; several of these twin

89

filaments are slightly twisted and aglutinated to form
one thread called a " single."

The specific gravity of silk is 1,300, water being
1000. It is by far the most tenacious or the strongest
of all textile fibres, a thread of it of a certain diameter
being nearly three times stronger than a thread of flax,
and twice stronger than hemp.

SILK MANUFACTURE IN ENGLAND.

Until the year 1826, the English silk manufacturers
in general labored under very grievous fiscal burdens.
Foreign " organzine," or twisted raw silk, paid an import
duty of 14s 7d per pound ; raw Bengal silk, 4s, and
that from other places, 5s 7d; Mr. Huskinson intro-
duced a bill at that time, reducing the duty on organ-
zine to 5s, and the duty on other raw silk to 3d per
pound ; the total prohibition of the importing of French
manufactured silks, which gave rise to so much contra-
band trade, was also converted into a duty of thirty-
three per cent, ad valorem. During the reign of the
prohibitory system, English silk weavers had no variety
of pattern to imitate and no adequate stimulus to excel,
on account of the monopoly which they possessed in the
home market. Also, the inferiority of their production
was a subject of constant pride and congratulation among
the Lyonnais ; and, accordingly, the English could not
stand their competition anywhere. At that time, the
disadvantage on English silk goods, compared to French,
was estimated in foreign markets at forty per cent. ; of
late years, it certainly does not exceed twenty, notwith-

90 THE CALIFORNIA

standing the many peculiar facilities which France en-
joys for this her favorite staple.

THE SILK WORM — HOW IT LIVES", SPINS, DIES, AND ITS
RESURRECTION AND PROPAGATION.

The silk worm is, like its kindred species, subject to
four metamorphoses: the egg, fostered by the genial
warmth of spring, sends forth a caterpillar, which, in
its progressive enlargement, casts its skin either three
or four times, according to the variety of the insect.
Having acquired its full size in the course of thirty or
thirty-four days, and ceasing to eat during the remainder
of its life, it begins to discharge a viscid secretion in
the form of pulpy, twin filaments from its nose, which
harden in the air ; these threads are instinctively coiled
into an oval nest round itself, called a cocoon, which
serves as a defense against living enemies, and the
changes of the temperature. Here it soon changes into
a chrysalis or nymph state, in which it lies swaddled, as
it were, for about fifteen or twenty days ; then it bursts
its cerements and comes forth, furnished with appro-
priate wings, antennae, and feet, for living in its new
element — the atmosphere. The male and female moths
couple together at this time, and after separating, the
female lays the eggs and soon dies, their whole existence
being limited to two months. The cocoons are com-
pletely formed in the course of four days, the finest
being reserved as seed worms. From these cocoons,
after an interval of fifteen or twenty days, the moth
makes its appearance, perforating its tomb by knocking

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 91

with its head against the end of the cocoon, after sof-
tening it with saliva, and thus rendering the filaments
more easily torn asunder by its claws ; such moths, or
orilias, are collected and placed upon a piece of soft
cloth or paper, where they couple and lay their eggs.

HOW TO PRESERVE THE EGGS, ETC.

The eggs, or grains as they are usually termed, are
enveloped in a liquid which causes them to adhere to the
piece of cloth or paper on which the female lays them ;
from this glue they are readily freed by dipping them
in cold water and wiping them dry. They are best
preserved in the egg state at a temperature of about
40° Fahrenheit. If the heat of Spring advances
rapidly in April, it must not be suffered to act on the
eggs, otherwise it might hatch the caterpillars long be-
fore the mulberry has sent forth its leaves to nourish
them. Another reason for keeping back their incuba-
tion is, that they may be hatched together in large
broods and not by numbers in succession. The eggs
are made up into packets of an ounce or somewhat
more, which in the south of France are generally at-
tached to the girdle of the women during the day and
placed under their pillows at night ; they are, of course,
carefully examined from time to time. In large estab-
lishments they are placed in appropriate store-rooms,
where they are exposed to a temperature gradually in-
creased till it reaches the eighty-sixth degree of Fah-
renheit's scale, which term it must not exceed (but in
California we do not need artificial heat). Aided by
the heat, nature completes her mysterious work of

92 THE CALIFORNIA

incubation in three or four days ; the teeming eggs are
then covered with tender mulberry leaves on which the
newly hatched worms creep up instinctively.

TREATMENT OF COCOONS.

The cocoons destined for filature must not be allowed
to remain for many days with the worms alive within
them, for should the chrysalis have leisure to grow, ma-
ture, and come out, the filaments at one end would be
cut through and thus lose half of their value ; it is
therefore necessary to extinguish the life of the animal
by heat, which is done either by exposing the cocoons
for a few days to sunshine, or by placing them in a hot
oven ; a heat of 170° Fahrenheit is sufficient for effect-
ing this purpose.

Eighty pounds French, or eighty-eight English, of
cocoons are the average produce from one ounce of
eggs, or one hundred pounds from an ounce and a
quarter ; but Mr. Cobzer, of Alsace, obtained no less
than one hundred and sixty-five pounds. The silk ob-
tained from a cocoon is from 750 to 1,150 feet long ;
the varnish by which the coils are glued slightly to-
gether is soluble in warm water.

OF SILK HUSBANDRY IN GENERAL.

The silk husbandry, as it may be called, is completed
in France within six weeks from the end of April, and
thus affords the most rapid of agricultural returns, re-
quiring merely a little capital for the purchase of the
leaf. In buying up cocoons and in filature, capital may
be laid out to great advantage.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 93

The most hazardous period in the process of breeding
the- worms is at the third and fourth moul tings ; for upon
the sixth day of the third age and the seventh day of
the fourth, they in general eat nothing at all ; on the
first day of the fourth age the worms proceeding from
one ounce of eggs will, according to Bonafous, consume
upon an average, twenty-three pounds and a quarter of
mulberry leaves ; on the first day of the fifth age, they
will consume forty-two pounds, and on the sixth day of
the same age, they acquire their maximum voracity,
devouring no less than two hundred and twenty- three
pounds ; from this date their appetite continually de-
creases, till on the tenth of this age they consume only
fifty-six pounds. In general, the more food they con-
sume, the more silk will they produce.

There are three denominations of raw silk, viz : or-
ganzine, tram, and floss. ' Organzine serves for the
warp of the best silk stuffs, and is considerably twisted.
Tram is made usually from inferior silk, and is very
slightly twisted in order that it may spread more and
cover better in the weft. Floss, or bourre, consists of
the shorter, broken silk, which is carded and spun like
cotton. Organzine and tram may contain from three
to thirty twin filaments of the worm ; the former pos-
sesses a double twist, the component filaments being
first twisted in one direction and the compound thread
in the opposite ; the latter receives merely a single
slender twist.

Each twin filament gradually diminishes in thickness
and strength from the surface of the cocoon where the

94 THE CALIFORNIA

animal begins its work in a state of vigor, to the center,
where it finishes it in a state of debility and exhaustion,
because it can receive no food from the moment of its
beginning to spin by spouting forth its silky substance.
The winder is attentive to this progressive attenuation,
and introduces the commencement of some cocoons to
compensate for the termination of others. The quality
of raw silk depends therefore very much upon the skill
and care bestowed upon the filature. The softest and
purest water should be used in the cocoon kettle.

The quantity of the raw silk is determined by first
winding off 400 ells of it, equal to 47 metres, round a
drum one ell in circumference, and then weighing that
length ; the weight is expressed in grains, 24 of which
constitute one denier ; 24-deniers constitute one ounce,
and 16 ounces, one pound, poid de marc. This is the
Lyons' rule for valuing silk. The weight of a thread
of silk four hundred ells long is two grains and a half.
When five twin filaments have been reeled and associ-
ated together, raw silk is so absorbent of moisture that
it may be increased ten per cent, in weight by this
means; this property has led to falsifications, which
are detected by including weighed portions of the sus-
pected silk in a wire cloth cage, and exposing it to a
stove heat of about 78° Fahrenheit for twenty-four
hours, with a current of air ; the loss of weight it
thereby undergoes demonstrates the amount of the
fraud. There is an office in Lyons called the " Con-
dition," where this assay is made, and by the report
of which the silk is bought and sold. The laws in

95

France require that all the silk tried by the " condi-
tions " must be worked up into fabrics in that country.

The raw silk as imported into England in hanks from
the filature, requires to be regularly wound upon bob-
bins, twisted, and reeled in their silk mill ; these pro-
cesses are called " throwing " silk, and their proprietors
are called " silk throwsters " — terms probably derived
from the appearance of swinging or tossing which the
silk threads exhibit during their rapid movements among
the machinery of the mills.

As I will have to attend the Fairs, I will have to stop
for a while. I will resume in a few weeks with letters
on silk and its reeling, and other points pertaining to
that important industry.

[Stockton Independent, Nov. 18, 1865.]
SILK CULTUEE.

SAN JOSE, November 14, 1865.
Editors Independent : — In fulfillment of my prom-
ise, I write you a letter on the very important silk ques-
tion. It is not necessary to go back to the important
points in favor of silk culture in California, which I
have already published. I will confine myself to the
present. It is very gratifying to me to see that silk
culture is duly appreciated, and that the public begins
to understand and look to its true interests. The soci-

96 THE CALIFORNIA

eties this year have shown their appreciation of the im-
portance of that culture for California, by giving me
the highest prizes, gold medals, etc., and I feel very
grateful to them for having so well appreciated and re-
warded my efforts. In 1860, when I raised silk for the
first time, I sent silk and silk cocoons to every Fair all
over the State, and though they gave premiums and
diplomas for things of no importance, they did not award
any premium to the first California7raised silk. So, you
see, I was not encouraged at the first start. I say that I
was not encouraged by the societies generally ; but there
was one that did encourage me — the San Joaquin Valley
Agricultural Society, whose name will be recorded in
big letters in the history of silk in California. That
Society gave me a diploma for the first silk produced
in this State. The officers and members of that Society
understood their mission, and I remember it.

We cannot too much encourage our friends to go into
this branch of industry, which is bound to surpass in
value, for exportation, all other California products
taken together. They can enter into it with more cer-
tainty of success than in mining operations, because
they have no opposition or failure to fear. The regu-
larity of our fine, dry summers, without rain, storms, or
electricity, which are the enemies of silk culture, insures
regular, good crops every year. The beauty of this
new industry for California is, that it cannot be over-
done. I say it is the only business in which we need
not fear opposition or failure, because if it were possible
to plant the whole State next year with full grown mul

97

berry trees, and everybody engaged in raising silk, it
would not lower the price of silk two cents per pound,
as we have not only California but the whole world for
a market. Therefore it is our duty to encourage and
help all who wish to engage in this business. For my
part, I intend doing this : I will furnish persons desiring
to start silk culture in their locality, with their first silk-
worm eggs gratis. They will only have to write me
their address and the amount of food they have, so as
to guide me what number of eggs to send.

The work necessary to raise silkworms in California
is very little, as our climate is so favorable to that cul-
ture that it enabled me to simplify it considerably. In
proof of this I need only state that I have this last
season raised over one hundred thousand silkworms,
every worm making a cocoon ; and all this with my own
work alone. This is the work of eight persons in France
or Italy. Our California silk culture is so simple, that
as soon as it is published extensively, everybody in the
State will engage in raising silk as well as any other
production. If we consider it a moment, the quantity
of silk that could be raised in California is immense ;
and it would afford employment to thousands of families,
in raising as well as in manufacturing it. It is an easy
work that can be done by aged persons, as well as by
the young of both sexes. Then our ladies would have
a right to feel proud in wearing dresses made of silk
raised by their own hands. In France and in Italy
silk is raised very extensively, and millions of families
are living by this work. The silk exported from Italy

98 THE CALIFORNIA

surpasses in value by two-thirds, all other exportation
together.

A remarkable fact is, that with our climate so very
favorable to silkworms, we also have a soil well adapted
to the growth of mulberry trees. They thrive almost
everywhere in this State ; but the best soil for them
that I have yet seen is in the bottom lands of the Sac-
ramento valley. A large quantity of those trees will be
planted there the coming season. I suppose that some
will also be planted in the San Joaquin valley, where
there is already quite a large plantation — that of Mr.
Glossing, commenced last year. But the largest planta-
tions in California are those of A. Packard and E.
Goux of Santa Barbara. Those plantations were made
three years ago, and are now in fine condition. These
gentlemen will raise, the coming season, a large quan-
tity of silkworms, and will probably turn them to eggs.
My own exhibit of silk, from five years raising, proves
beyond a doubt that California is the very best spot for
that culture. This, and the testimony which I receive
from others, shows that this new industry for California
is now fairly started.

Two gentlemen, experienced, scientific, and practical
silk growers, on their way back from China, where they
had been to buy a large quantity of silkworms' eggs,
recently came to see me to get information about silk
in California. I told them all the facts, showed them the
cocoons and where I raised them, and also the mulberry
trees. Being gentlemen who understood the silk busi-
ness perfectly, they agreed with me that we have the

99

best silk country in the world, and were so pleased at
learning this fact that they are going to return here next
summer with the necessary capital to buy one hundred
acres of land each, to raise silkworms' eggs and silk
on a large scale. These gentlemen are the representa-
tives of the two largest silk houses in Europe, and are
now on their way back to France. From them I learned
a very important fact, namely, that our climate is so
superior for silk culture, that by selecting our very best
cocoons for eggs, year after year — for our own use
— we could, after a few years, obtain cocoons that would
beat everything known, for size and quality, that is to
say, a superior article. In this opinion I fully concur.
The coming of these gentlemen from France will prob-
ably induce other silk growers to come also, which would
be a great benefit to the State. L. PREVOST.

[Stockton Independent, April 28, 1866.]
SILK CULTURE— LETTER FROM MR. PREYOST.

SAN JOSE, April 19, 1866.

Editors Independent: — I wish to inform you and
your numerous readers of the progress of silk culture
since my last, so that all who wish to take an interest
in that branch of industry may be guided and benefited
thereby. Having been absent from home some seven
weeks, I found, on my return, a great many letters from

100 THE CALIFORNIA

different parts of the State, making inquiries in regard
to silk culture. By these letters I am satisfied that we
have in California all the men necessary to carry on
successfully this new branch of industry, in all its de-
partments, from the planting of the mulberry to the
manufactured silk. In addition to this, in my letters
from Europe, I find that silk growers, silk spinners, and
silk manufacturers are preparing to come to this coun-
try, and I am advising them to bring with them all the
necessary machinery of their trade. I am about to write
all the facts about silk in California to go through the
press in Europe, with the expectation that it will incite
immigration. We have room for millions, and their
presence would be of vast benefit to the State, as in the
pursuit of which I speak, having the whole world for a
market, we have nothing to fear from competition.

A very important matter bearing on this subject, is
the fact that an act has been passed by the last Legis-
lature in such a shape as to give great encouragement
to all who engage in the business, for a term of four
years. At the expiration of that time, the culture of
silk will have been well started, and, resting on a self-
sustaining basis, will need no further outside aid and
encouragement.

Now that the State has given encouragement, I will
do all in my power likewise to foster the business. It
is a well known and admitted fact that what our people
need is information upon this subject. This, while in
Sacramenta, I promised to give, and towards that point,
I will, in a few weeks, write a " California Silk Man-

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 101

ual," in which I propose to give the most approved
and simplified modus operandi of the culture, manage-
ment and propagation, by seed and cuttings, of the
mulberry tree, and afterwards, the culture of silk, and
management of the worms according to the best rules
of experience, in our fine, suitable climate. Besides
the Manual, I will, this coming season, do two public
feedings of the worms, going through the whole process,
and giving the public all the information I can, thereby
enabling those who desire so to do, to go into the busi-
ness with safety. The first feeding will be given in
one of our halls at San Jose*, and will begin the 15th
of May next. It will take six weeks to go through
the whole process. The second feeding will be done
at Sacramento on a larger scale, and will be com-
menced in Agricultural Hall on the 10th of July next.
So you will perceive that, in this way, all those who
wish to study and learn the subject, will have opportu-
nities of so doing.

Another important point which your readers will un-
doubtedly be pleased to learn is, that in a few months
we will have, at San Francisco, a " Pioneer Silk Man-
ufactory." A gentleman sailed by the steamer of the
10th instant for New York, to buy there all the neces-
sary machinery, looms, etc.; and it is anticipated that
at our next Fair, we will exhibit our first California
manufactured silk. They will have several hundred
thousand silk cocoons to begin with, and by another
year we will be able to give them more work to do.
Until the present time the objection has been that, in

102 THE CALIFORNIA

raising silk cocoons, we would have no market for them ;
but that objection does not exist anymore, as every per-
son can now see that we have a market at home. Tak-
ing all these things combined, we may consider the
culture of silk established all over the State, because
it requires but a comparatively small capital to go into
the business. It is a business that can be undertaken
by any one. No farm onght to have less than five,,
ten, or more acres planted to mulberry trees. The
building needed to raise the worms will be an excellent
farm building, to be used for storing anything during
the fall, winter and spring, as the worms need it only
in June.

As I have already stated, the culture of silk is
the only business in which we do not fear competition,
and the more we can engage in it the better, as our
market for the article is the whole wide world. As
the business is so well adapted to our State, it cannot
remain any longer a secret. Every one must become
acquainted with it, and I consider it a duty to tell and
show all we know about it. I think it is the duty of all
who become acquainted with it to teach it to their
neighbors, as, in doing so, everybody, in a few years,
will become familiar with a pleasant and enriching pur-
suit. One merit of it is, that it can be done by ladies,
and young and aged persons. In France it is a part
of the education of young ladies. They each receive
a small lot of silkworms and are required to tend and
feed them, thus learning what may become very use-
ful to them in after life. I hope that we will soon be

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 103

able to return the seven million dollars sent out for the
purpose of importing silk. L. PREVOST.

* •

[Stockton Independent, August 31, 1866.]
SILKWORMS, COCOONS AND SILK.

Mr. Prevost, of San Jose, the pioneer introducer of
silkworms into California, expects to attend our District
Fair, as the following letter received by Dr. Hofden,
President of the San Joaquin Valley District Agricul-
tural Society, from that gentleman, shows.

" SAN JOSE, August 29, 1866.
Dr. E. S. Holden, Stockton.

DEAR SIR : I was just about to write to you when
yours of the 21st instant was handed to me, with a
complimentary ticket, for which I thank you. It was,
and is my positive intention to attend your Fair ; and
I hope to have a good place selected for me — one that
will correspond with the importance of what I propose
to exhibit. I will have a good lot of my silk cocoons ;
also some from other persons, raised in different por-
tions of our silk State. I 'will likewise have reeled
silk, silkworms, and probably bring the first piece of silk
cloth made in California. I will, at the Fair, give all
the information that may be needed about mulberry

104 THE CALIFORNIA

trees, silk, etc. I will be at Sacramento, and perhaps
will have the pleasure of meeting you there.
Yours truly,

L. PREVOST."

[From the Stockton Independent, November 6, 1866.]
SILK CULTURE.

Those who contemplate planting mulberry trees and
the propagation of silkworms, in San Joaquin county,
will find the following letter, written at San Jose*, on
the 3d instant, by L. Prevost, interesting.

Editors Independent : — Since I returned from the
Fair in Stockton, I have been confined to bed quite
sick ; but I am getting better every day, although I
am still very weak. After some work on the part of
the citizens here, and of General Naglee particularly,
we have succeeded in getting the pioneer silk factory lo-
cated here. We have given those engaged in the
enterprise, twenty-five acres of land close to the city,
and in a fine healthy location. I have discovered that
a great number of persons from San Francisco have
been visiting the parties preparing to manufacture silk,
and asking them what price they will pay for cocoons ;
and not having consulted the present prices, they have
put the price too low. I think I can be of some service
to all those who intend to go into the culture of silk,

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 105

in giving them the regular prices, which I translate
from Le Moniteur, (silk monitor) published in Lyons,
France. That paper is considered the standard among
silk raisers. It contains correspondence and transla-
tions, regarding silk, from all parts of the globe.
From its columns I translate the price of cocoons, as
follows :

POUNDS. PER POUND.

3,000

$2 40

" Konka

2 000

1 30

u a

2 000

I 40

n a

..42,000 .

1 50

" Acoulis 2,000 1 50

" Caucassus 4,000 1 30

" Andrianople 2,000 2 50

" Demirdech 2,000 2 40

" « 1,000 2 60

" Greece (yellow) 1,800 240

" " " 3,000 2 30

Receiving two of the best papers printed on silk
culture, I consider it is my duty just now to translate,
from time to time, all the principal articles for the ben-
efit of those engaged in the silk business, and to keep
them posted about anything of interest, and particu-
larly about the prices. Silk is different from many
other articles. The market for silk is the whole world,
and varies but very little in one country from another. It
sells always according to quality. Our climate is so
very favorable to its culture, that I have no doubt but
in time, we will all be so well acquainted with it that
we will raise a quality for which we will obtain the
highest prices. As soon as it is known abroad that

106 THE CALIFORNIA

California produces cocoons in quantity, silk agents will
visit our State, as they do every other silk-producing
part of the world, and buy them up. In the Califor-
nia Silk Manual, that I am preparing, I will put all
my experience, of six years raising in this county, in
its columns, and do my best to assist every one in raising
silk of the best quality.

[From the Contra Costa Times of November 18, 1865.]
THE SILK CULTURE OF CALIFORNIA.

When our State is prepared to fully honor her great-
est benefactors in accordance with their deserts, and
the value of the benefits they have conferred can be
fairly estimated, none, we think, will have precedence of
Prevost, the pioneer silk culturist. We have before re-
ferred to his labors, which have so indisputably demon-
strated the superior advantages which our climate offers
for the prosecution of this branch of industry, but need
not apologize for again urging the matter upon the atten-
tion of our readers, many of whom are favorably situated
to profit by the experience which Mr. Prevost has
gained, and which he is anxious to impart to all who
will aid in extending this culture, which those most
familiar with the subject are confident will be developed
to rank with the greatest industrial interests of the
State, and eventually place California first among the

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 107

silk-producing countries, as she now is among the gold-
producing.

Familiar with the silk culture in Europe, and a prac-
tical horticulturist, Mr. Prevost was early satisfied that
ihe climate of this, his adopted State and home, was
favorable to silk growing, and having tested the problem
of its capacity to furnish food for the worms in the
thrifty growth of the mulberry, he started his plantations
and sent abroad for silkworm eggs, none of which, for
several years, though obtained from various quarters of
the globe, produced any worms. From a lot received
in 1860, however, he succeeded in hatching and raising
a small number, by which he obtained his first cocoons,
samples of which, sent to Europe, attracted attention on
account of their superior quality, due to the peculiarity
of our climate, the advantages of which, so far as the
health of the worms and certainty of crop, and quality
of silk would be concerned, did not fail of appreciation
by those largely interested in the silk business there,
where it was seriously threatened by disease in the
family of silkworms, inevitably incident to all climates
subject to rains during what is termed the " feeding
season." But the economy of labor, which the absence
of rains during this season enables the culturist to effect
here, was not realized by them, and has only been fully
demonstrated by the experience of Mr. Prevost, which
may be thus summed up. The conditions of our climate
are favorable to the growth of the white mulberry (the
best silk food) . It insures healthy worms ; certainty of
crop, both of silk and worms ; silk of superior and even

108 THE CALIFORNIA

quality, and a saving of three fourths of the labor
required in other countries ; and when these advantages
are considered, in connection with the fact of the unlim-
ited market for the product and the trifling cost of ship-
ment, in comparison with its value, to any part of
the globe, it is hardly possible to overestimate the
benefit which the State is destined to realize from the
extension of the culture which Mr. Prevost has so per-
severingly labored to introduce and perfect.

Mr. Prevost might rest easy with the " good thing "
he has secured in European orders for silk eggs, the
monopoly of which he might enjoy for years, at prices
almost equal to their weight in gold ; but, with the spirit
of a real benefactor, he desires that his fellow-citizens
shall know and share the advantages which their climate
offers for the prosecution of this interesting and" profitable
branch of industry, and he is ever ready to impart infor-
mation of value to those who may desire it ; and, as will be
seen by the letter quoted below, he will also furnish gra-
tuitously the eggs required to start with' to all who will,
for a number of years to come, engage in the business,
and provide trees for feeding the worms. And this
offer, if reckoned only at the money value of the eggs,
is larger than any of the liberal premiums which the
State has provided for the encouragement of new
branches of industry.

The following is the letter referred to, written in re-
sponse to inquiries relating to the mode of propagating
the mulberry, with a view to preparing a plantation, or
orchard ; but as we presume the readers of the " Ga-

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 109

zette" are, many of them, equally interested with our-
selves in whatever relates to this matter, we quote it for
their benefit.

CHAS. B. PORTER, ESQ.,

DEAR SIR : On the 19th of October I wrote you a
few lines in great haste, stating that I had not time then
to answer your letter ; but I will try to do it now, and
be as brief as possible.

In regard to mulberry trees, they have to be trans-
planted the same way and at the same season as fruit
trees, that is to say, as early as possible after the first
good rain. They grow almost anywhere, but prefer a
light, deep, and rich soil. The seed can be sown during
the winter in localities where there is no frost ; otherwise
sow it early in the spring. I would give the preference
to cuttings, as they grow faster than from seed ; they
are as easy of propagation as any other tree cuttings ;
they also need to have sufficient moisture to make them
grow well, and be protected, if possible, against the very
hot sun, till they have good roots. If any of your
friends wish some good fresh seeds, they will find them
with Messrs. Francois & Co., seed store, 605 Sansome
street, San Francisco, who are importing them. I have
trees, but not many, most of them being engaged. As
soon as the plants have good roots, either from seed or
cuttings, they can be transplanted during the winter.
The morus alba is the very best for silk worms, but it is
good to have some multicaulis, to feed the worms when
young, as it is tender ; and if the trees are in a good

110 THE CALIFORNIA

soil and well cared for, you can begin to feed from them
the third year ; after which you will have more food
every year, and consequently more silk worms. The
reason that the preference is given to the morus alba
everywhere, where silk is cultivated 4argely, is because
it contains more substantial food and produces a silk of
better quality. So to give you an idea of it, I enclose
you a small sample of what is obtained from its bark ; it.
is almost equal to floss silk, and can be spun the same
way. I believe this answers the questions in your let-
ter, but for the benefit of your readers allow me to add
a few lines.

The fact that California is the best spot on the globe
to raise silk profitably, I have fully demonstrated by my
five years' experience ; and also the fact that the supe-
riority of our climate for the silk culture enabled me so
to arrange the work that one man can do as much
as eight formerly did, cannot be doubted, as I have my-
self, without help, raised over one hundred thousand
silk cocoons. This is the work of eight persons in
France or Italy. I am now very glad to see that the
importance of this branch of industry begins to be un-
derstood, as the highest prizes have been awarded to me,
in the shape of gold medals, etc. The culture of the silk-
worm is bound to be more beneficial and more important
to California than all the others together, taking the
mines in, because those engaging in it will not be exposed
to deception ; and the regularity of our fine, dry sum-
mers, without rain, storm, or electricity, insures regular
good crops. I have a thousand things to tell about the

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. Ill

advantages of silk culture in California, if I had time to
write, but the impulse is given, and as I am posted in
the progress and what is going on about silk culture in
California, I am able to say with assurance that expe-
rienced silk cultivators will come next season from
France, to raise it here on a very large scale. I was
visited by the representatives of two of the largest silk
houses in Europe on their returning from China, where
they purchased hundreds of millions of silkworms' eggs.
Being practical silk growers and manufacturers, they
understood very well the superiority of our climate, and
were extremely pleased with what I have been able
to show and tell them, as they can appreciate the truth
of it. We must do all we can to encourage everybody
to raise silk, because this article is different from many
other products ; it cannot be overdone. We do not fear
any opposition, for if it were possible that by some
miracle the whole State should be covered next year
with full grown mulberry trees, and most of her inhabit-
ants engaged in raising silk, you can not prove to me
that it would lower the price on silk of two cents per
pound, as we have the whole world for a market. This
article, on the contrary, is bound to rise; it advanced
last season twenty-five per cent., on account of the
disease in silkworms in Europe, in consequence of their
wet summers. This is the reason they are obliged to
obtain eggs from countries where the worms are not dis-
eased, so as to keep up the stock and obtain their silk
crops.

I have sold all my eggs for Europe, and they are

112 THE CALIFORNIA

engaged by the same house for the coming years ; but
I reserve what I want, and to encourage our people to
propagate and plant as many mulberry trees as they
can, I will furnish every one in our State their first
silkworm eggs gratis, for several years to come, and
they will only have to let me know what amount of
food they have, to guide me in sending their eggs.

I shall publish my California Silk Culture, and it
is so simple that every one will be able to follow it. I
think, too, that it may be a good plan for me to write
letters to France, to let the facts about silk culture in
our State become as widely known there as possible, so
that silk growers may see the inducement to come
here and prosecute the business. This would be a
great benefit to the State, as the quantity of silk that
can be raised in California is immense, and this would
bring millions to the State, instead of sending our
money abroad to import the article. I am for home
industry, and consequently, against importing. I have
made this my home forever, and I shall die satisfied,
if I can live long enough to see that I have been of
some help for her prosperity ; my time and energy will
always be devoted to this end.

In order that every one will be enabled to raise
their own mulberry trees, I have published the mode of
culture, either from seed or cuttings, in the California
Farmer, some two years ago, and at the same time in
the French paper. But if any point pertaining to that
important branch of industry, that you may think use-

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 113

ful to the public, remains unexplained, I shall feel
great pleasure in answering jour interrogatories.

Yours, etc.

L. PREVOST.

[From the San Jose Mercury, April 26, 1866. ]
SILK CULTURE.

Editor Mercury :

DEAR SIR : In your last issue you have an article
from the daily Union of Sacramento, about silk cul-
ture, stating that I am going, this summer, to establish
a cocoonery or feeding of the worms before the public
in the agricultural hall there.

This is true ; but it is very important to all those
residing nearer to San Josd than Sacramento, to know
that I will give a public exhibition of the process of silk
culture here first, and go to Sacramento after. These
are my arrangements, and what I have agreed to do.

1st. I will write first the " California Silk Manual,"
in which I will give the culture, management, and
propagation by seed and cuttings of the mulberry tree ;
and afterwards the California silk culture, or manage-
ment of the worms, according to my simplified method
for our fine. climate.

2d. I will do two public feedings of the worms, the
first at San Jose, at our City Hall, under the general
supervision of our Santa Clara Valley Agricultural So-

114 THE CALIFORNIA

ciety, commencing on the fifteenth of May next; and
the second at Sacramento in the Agricultural Hall,
under the general supervision of the State Board of
Agriculture, commencing the tenth of July next. It
will take six weeks at each place to go through the
whole process. Thus all those in the State that wish
to learn how to raise silk, will have an opportunity.
Nothing will be neglected on my part towards instruct-
ing them in all I know about the business so as to ena-
ble them to conduct it successfully.

I wish to impart to your numerous readers a few
very important facts that have occurred since my last
letters published about silk culture.

1st. I have been gone some seven weeks to Sacra-
mento, and I have the pleasure to state that "An Act
encouraging Silk Culture in California," has been
passed, and is in such shape, that it is an encouragement
for all those who will engage in that business for the
next four years. This is the best act for the interests
of the State, passed in our last Legislature, because
our climate and soil is so superiorly adapted for silk
culture, that it will bring a large emigration to this
State.

2d. Another important fact is, that within three
months, we will have at San Francisco our California
Pioneer Silk Manufactory. My friend, Mr. New-
mann, has sailed by the steamer of the tenth inst. for
New York, to buy there all the necessary machinery,
looms, etc. He and his brother, who is here also, have
already been in that business ten years. I expect that

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 115

at our next Fairs, this fall, we will be able to show Cal-
ifornia silk of California manufacture. This will insure
a market at home for all the silk cocoons we can raise.

3d. I am receiving, every day, letters on questions
about silk, from all parts of the State. This shows
that our people begin to feel an interest in that rich
branch of industry ; and from these letters I see that
we have in the State all the men necessary to carry it
forward in all its branches. And in my letters from
Europe I see that silk growers, silk spinners, and silk
manufacturers are preparing to come to this State.

In my previous letters on silk, I have fully demon-
strated the superiority of our climate, and our advan-
tages over the other silk countries.

By the above facts it is very easy to see that the
silk culture will be established all over the State
shortly. Already plantations have been made in differ-
ent parts of the State, and particularly last season ;
but we can anticipate that the next " season hundreds
will go into it, because they will know how to do it ;
and also know that they are encouraged by the State.
Hence, within a short time we will be able to retain
among us the seven millions of dollars sent out annu-
ally for the importation of silk only.

As the time is short between now and the time I am
to engage in the enterprise publicly at San Josd, all
the papers in our section of country that take any
interest in the public welfare are earnestly requested
to copy, in order that all may be properly notified of
the fact. As it is a work for ladies, they can come

116 THE CALIFORNIA

when it is impossible for their husbands to come. Silk
culture can be undertaken by every one, poor or rich ;
and is a business in which we do not fear competition.
On the contrary, we need it, and the more who engage
in it the better. It will certainly bring a large emi-
gration to this country. Yours truly,

L. PREVOST.
SAN JOSE, April 2-4, 1866.

[San Jose Mercury, May 10, 1866.]
SILK CULTURE— CHANGE OF PROGRAMME.

Editor Mercury: A few days after I started for
Sacramento, my wife sold some silkworms' eggs to a
party from Santa Barbara, and left my two boxes of
eggs in my office, when they have to be kept constantly
in the cellar. On my return I put them in the cellar,
but they were prepared to hatch, having been so long
a time under the influence of hatching heat ; and the
other day, on going to visit them, I found them mostly
hatched out, and the balance hatching. I have between
eight hundred thousand and a million ; and as, in and
about San Jose, there is hardly food for one hundred
thousand, at present, I am obliged to go to Sacra-
mento, where I have food for them. Then it will be
impossible for me to give a public feeding at San Jose,
as anticipated, this season, and I shall have to defer it
until next. I will leave some worms with my wife, in

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 117

case that somebody may wish to see them. I will have
a grand exhibition of silk and silk cocoons at our Santa
Clara Valley Fair, in September, and will give there
all the information needed on that important subject. I
will see that such an accident does not occur again. It
never has occurred before during the five years that I
have been raising them.

Yours, respectfully,

L. PREVOST.
SAN JOSE May 6, 1866.

[Sacramento Daily Union, August 25, 1866.]
SILK FACTORY AND SILK RAISING.

We are informed by L. Prevost, of San Jose, who
is so deeply interested in the production of silk, that
his friend Joseph Newman has recently returned from
the East, with a complete set of machinery, looms, etc.,
to take the silk from the cocoon and manufacture it in
all forms and styles. The machinery is stated to be of
the latest and most improved kind, and he intends to
produce from it the first piece of silk manufactured for
exhibition at the State Fair. On visiting the principal
silk factories in the East, Newman observed that some
of the manufacturers employed as many as three thou-
sand hands. As we have the best country in the
world for the raising of silk, Prevost is in hopes that in
a short time we will raise enough of it to employ as

118 THE CALIFORNIA

many or more hands in the manufacture of our own
product. It can easily be done. A large number of
persons are interesting themselves, in good earnest, hi
the raising of silk, and the next season will witness a
large development of this business, especially now that
we have in California a silk factory, and a home market
for all the cocoons which can be produced. In this
connection it is all. important that proper soil is selected
for the cultivation of the mulberry. On this subject,
Prevost remarks, in a communication to the UNION :

" The mulberry will grow most anywhere in Califor-
nia, but has a decided preference for a rich, deep, light,
loamy soil. Such soil will produce as much food from
one acre as you would get from three or four acres of
other soil. Then calculate the great economy of work,
etc., and the great profit. We have hundreds of thou-
sands acres of such soil in all our valleys in California.
I know plenty of it in our fine valley of San Jose, but
I have remarked it particularly and more generally in
your Sacramento valley. The quantity of silk that can
be raised there will be immense, as it does not matter
if the lands are overflowed when the trees are once
started.

" I have news from the different localities in our
State, where I have sent silkworms' eggs, and every
where, where they had fresh mulberry leaves to give
the worms, they have all succeeded.

u It would take a long letter to enumerate all the
profits that will be derived from the fact of our manu-
facturing our own silk.

119

" All our farmers, who are on their own land, ought
to select the very best part of it to plant mulberry
trees, as the raising of silk can be done by their chil-
dren. They will find that, in that culture, we have no
competition to fear. On the contrary, the more en-
gaged in it the better, as we have the whole world for
our market."

[From the Sacramento Daily Union, July 12, 1866.]
THE SILKWORMS AT AGRICULTURAL HALL.

Messrs. Editors : I have been engaged in feeding
silkworms, and raising silk in California, since 1860,
and have never seen any disease among my worms until
this year, at Sacramento, and I feel it to be my duty to
state to the public some of the facts connected with my
effort at Sacramento, and the reasons of my trouble and
disease among the worms.

In the first place, they hatched by an accident, which
I have heretofore explained, some two months before I
intended to have them ; but as I had agreed to make a
public feeding at Sacramento, to assist in introducing
the business in the State, I thought it best to undertake
it, even though I had some doubts about its success.
The worms, hatching as they did, could not be properly
separated, and those of the same age only kept together,
as should be the case ; but I was compelled to keep and
feed all together, though sojne were over a week older

120 THE CALIFORNIA

than others. For this reason it was necessary to feed
them all the time they were molting, which is very
detrimental to the successful molting and health of the
worm.

Again, young worms require the very tender and
young leaves, and I found it impossible to obtain such
in Sacramento ; most of the trees there being of some
age ; and standing in or near the streets, the leaves
were covered with dust, and were generally only fit to
feed worms when nearly grown. After the food was
exhausted in Sacramento, I had to ship leaves from
Marysville, Nicolaus, Lincoln, and other places, and it
frequently happened that they did not come when
expected and when I needed them ; and a number of
times they came heated and soured, and in this condi-
tion they were fed to the worms. This, of itself, was
more than sufficient to cause them all to be diseased.
I felt most certain it would do so, but I was compelled
to feed them — aa I could get no other — and I was only
surprised that they kept in so good condition until the
17th of June, when we could get no more mulberry
leaves, and were obliged to feed them all on the Osage
orange.

From that time the disease spread rapidly, and while
I am satisfied it was the heated food that originated the
disease, I am also satisfied that this change of food,
from the mulberry to the orange, caused it to spread
with greater violence, and become more fatal. Taking
all the circumstances together, my greatest wonder is,
that the worms made any cocoons at all. In most any

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 121

other climate than that of California, instead of fifteen
thousand cocoons, they would not have made any.

My ill success at Agricultural Hall should in no
manner discourage any one from engaging in the busi-
ness of silk culture, as I am well satisfied that all dis-
ease can be avoided, and the business made a success
in Sacramento and many other parts of the State, as
well as at San Jose, where all my trials have been suc-
cessful. But to be successful anywhere, fresh leaves
right from the mulberry tree, and plenty of them, are
absolutely necessary. And here I am very happy to
be able to prove my opinion in this matter correct, by a
very opportune example. I gave, among others who
applied for them when I first came to Sacramento, to
Wilson Flint, some worms, and on the twenty-eighth
day of June, when Secretary Hoag and myself visited
Flint, I was very much pleased to find that he had had
excellent success with them, there being no disease
among them, and nearly all had made very large and
good cocoons. Others, also, have been equally success-
ful, and in every case success has attended all who had
plenty of fresh leaves to feed them.

I was not able in Sacramento to follow the California
system of feeding. My mode of feeding is with
branches containing the leaves, so placed as to cause
the worms to climb upon them to get the food^ The
advantages of this system are : first, to save labor ;
second, the leaves keep fresh much longer ; and, third,
to give the worms plenty of fresh air.

Before closing this letter, I wish to return thanks to

122 THE CALIFORNIA

the citizens of Sacramento, generally, for the interest
they manifested in the enterprise, and particularly to
those who were so kind as to give the free use of all the
mulberry leaves they had. I am also under obligations
to the State Board of Agriculture for the use of the

hall, and other kindnesses extended.

L. PREVOST.

[From the Tc-ham.i Observer, January 3, 1866.]
SILK.

We invite the special attention of our readers to the
very interesting letter on silk, contributed by L. Prevost,
Esq., of San Jose, one of California's pioneer farmers.
What he says can be depended upon as the results of
long experience in this State, and a thorough knowledge
of the climate and productions of this and other coun-
tries. We take pleasure in saying, for his information,
that there arc thousands of acres in Tehama County of
such land as he deems best adapted to the growth of
the mulberry — in large tracts near the Sacramento
River, and in smaller parcels along the many creeks.
If Mr. Prevost, or Col. Warren, will have the politeness
to forward to us the numbers of the California Farmer
containing the several articles alluded to in the letter,
we shall be pleased to acknowledge the favor, and re-
publish the articles for the advantage of our readers.
If any of our readers wish to offer any remarks on this
important subject, or on any other question — such as
wool, cotton, flax, tobacco, fruit — of general interest,
we will be most happy to hear them.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 123

[From the Tehama Observer, January 3, 1866.]

L. PKEVOST ON SILK CULTURE.

SAN JOSE, January 20th, 1866.
Editor Tehama Observer,

DEAR SIR: Please accept my thanks for having
sent me the Observer, containing an article on " Silk
Culture." I wish that all editors who publish anything
on the subject would do the same.

My five years raising silk here have demonstrated
beyond any doubt that California is the best spot on
the globe for raising silk. In one of my letters to the
Farmer, lately, in -enumerating the advantages that
we have here over France and Italy, I have fully
established that we can produce silk here for the half
of the cost there ; and we will have the highest price
of the market, our silk being of first quality — as I can
prove by certificates from the highest scientific silk
societies in Europe, to which I sent samples of silk
cocoons and reeled silk to be tested.

Here, we have nothing to disturb the worms. Our
climate is so very superior, that I was enabled to sim-
plify the culture considerably. I made a new system,
adapted to the California climate, by which one man
can take care of and raise as many silkworms as eight
men would in France or Italy under the old system,
that the moisture of the climate obliges them to follow.

A very remarkable fact is that our climate, which
is so favorable to the silkworms, is also extremely

124 THE CALIFORNIA

favorable to the growth of the mulberry trees\ with
which we feed them. It thrives here in California every-
where, but prefers a light, loamy, and deep soil. When
at Sacramento, the first thing that attracted my atten-
tion was that very best quality of soil there ; and after
I had been shown some mulberry trees growing there, I
found that I was not mistaken. In measuring the shoots
of one year's growth, most of them were from ten to
twelve feet long, and some as long as fifteen feet. Who
can beat this ? It surpasses everything ever seen
before. I am told that there is any amount of such
land in the Sacramento Valley, and I suppose it ex-
tends up to your locality, and perhaps further.- *jf '
would like very much to know it. 'Many other valleys
in California are probably as good.

It is impossible to calculate the hundreds of millions
of dollars worth of silk that we can raise in California ;
the silk being such a rich product that, in a few years,
it will bring more to our State than all other products
together ; and I feel happy to see that our people
begin to understand it, by the numerous letters that I
am receiving every day on this important question.

Mr. Wilson Flint came to see me yesterday. I
learned from this gentleman that he has already one
hundred thousand mulberry trees planted, and that
from cuttings and from seeds he expects to have about
three hundred thousand mulberry trees. He has made
arrangements to plant three hundred acres of his supe-
rior bottom lands, to begin with, and more after. He
intends to have not only the largest silk establishment
in California, but on the globe.

125

With such inducements, we will soon have a silk
factory in California, and our California ladies will soon,
I hope, wear silk raised and made by their own hands.

To enable every one to raise mulberry trees for their
own use, I published in the California Farmer , nearly
two years ago, the culture of that tree by cuttings and
by seeds.

Any information desired by any of your readers on
this important industry, I am ready to give.

Yours, respectfully, L. PREVOST.

[From the Tchama Observer, April 28, 1866.]
SILK CULTURE.

SAN JOSE, CaL, April 23, 1866.
Editor Teliama Observer,

DEAR SIR : I have before me a copy of your paper,
of the third of February last, in which you publish the
letter I wrote you on " Silk Culture." I do not know
if you have published anything since relating to that
important branch of industry ; if not, I consider it my
duty to let you know very important facts. I see with
great pleasure, in your editorial, that your section of
country is, as I expected, similar to the soil that I have
remarked round Sacramento City. Then you will soon
see- silk culture established around you ; and I will feel

126 THE CALIFORNIA

happy to have contributed to the prosperity of your
valley. Here are the facts alluded to.

I. I have been up to Sacramento about B
weeks, and I have the pleasure to inform your readers
that " An Act to encourage Silk Culture in California "
was passed at the late session of the Legislature, and is
in such a shape that it is an encouragement for all AV!IO
will engage in that rich industry, and is operative for
four years. This is the best act of our last Legislature
for the direct interest of the State.
• IE. As I see the silk culture properly encouraged
by the State, here is what I have agreed to do, to
encourage it also : First, I will write, in a few weeks,
the " California Silk Manual," in which I will give the
culture, management, and propagation by seeds and
cuttings of the mulberry tree ; and after, our simplified
California silk culture or management of the worms.

III. I will do two public feedings of the worms ;
the first in San Jose*, in our City Hall, commencing on
the fifteenth of May next ; and the second at Sacra-
mento, in Agricultural Hall, commencing on the tenth
of July next. It will take, at each place, to go through
the whole process, six weeks. This will give an oppor-
tunity to all those who may desire, to learn how to raise
silk in California. Knowing the places where I am to
do it, and the dates of commencing, those living in the
interior, in any section of the country, will go to the
place nearest their residence ; and if they are desirous
to learn, nothing will be neglected on my part, to

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 127

enable them to conduct the business — in showing and
telling them all I know about it.

IV. Another very important fact that I wish to
bring to the notice of your readers is, that inside of
three months we will have at San Francisco our Cali-
fornia Pioneer Silk Manufactory. This shows that we
will have at home a market for our silk cocoons. Many
persons have been telling me that it was no use to raise
silk cocoons, because we had no manufactory, and con-
sequently no market for them here. This objection
does not exist any more, my friend Mr. Newman hav-
ing sailed on the steamer of the tenth inst., for New
York, where he will purchase all the necessary machin-
ery, and it is anticipated that at our next Fairs, in the
fall, we will be able to show the first piece of California
silk, and of California manufacture.

V. I am receiving every day a great many letters
on questions about silk from all parts of our State.
This shows that a great interest is felt everywhere in
this important industry. In the pile of letters on the
subject that came during the time I was at Sacramento,
I see that we have among us, in our State, all the men
for every branch of this business, from the planting of
the mulberry to finishing the manufactured silk. I also
see in my letters from Europe, that silk growers, silk
spinners, and silk manufacturers are preparing to come.
This I am glad to see, because it will be a great
benefit to the State, as the beauty of that industry is
that it is the only one in which we do not fear compe-
tition ; on the contrary we need it, and the more there

128 THE CALIFORNIA

are engaged in it the better. It is, then, our interest
to encourage and help our neighbors to go into it. Our
market for silk is the whole world, and we are bound to
get the highest price for it, as our silk is of first quality ;
and another great advantage is that we can raise it
here for half the cost that it is obtained in France or
Italy. I do not know if you have the letter in which
I enumerated our advantages over the other countries 5
if not, and you desire it, I will send you a copy of it,
and you and your readers will be convinced of what I
say.

VI. Large plantations are already made in different
parts of the State. A good number of them were com-
menced last season, the largest being that of Mr. Wilson
Flint, of Sacramento. It is in connection with Mr.
Flint that I am doing the feeding of the worms at Sacra-
mento.

Now, Mr. Editor, reflecting a moment on the above
facts, we can say that the silk culture is virtually estate
lishcd all over the State, as our people will soon know
how to do it. It is my opinion that there will bo hun-
dreds of new plantations the coining season, and those
who set them out will do well ; because, besides being a
good business, they will get more of the premiums offered
by the State. It makes me hope that within a very
few years we will bo able to keep with us the seven mil-
lions of dollars that we are now annually sending out for
the importation of silk only. These are the wishes with
which I remain,

Respectfully yours, L. PREVOST.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 129

[Mercantile Gazette, December 18, 1866.]
SILK AND SILKWORMS IN CALIFORNIA.

L. Prevost, the persevering pioneer of silk culture
in this State, writes from San Jose in part as follows.

We cannot too much encourage our friends to go
into this branch of industry, which is bound to surpass
in value, for exportation, all other California products
taken together. They can enter into it with more cer-
tainty of success than in mining operations, because they
have no opposition or failure to fear. The regularity of
our fine dry summers, without rain, storms, or elec-
tricity, which are the enemies of silk culture, insures
regular, good crops every year. The beauty of this new
industry for Calfornia is that it cannot be overdone. I
say it is the only business in which we need not fear op-
position or failure, because if it were possible to plant
the whole State next year with- full grown mulberry
trees, and everybody engaged . in raising silk, it would
not lower the price of silk two cents per pound, as we
have not only California, but the whole world for a mar-
ket. Therefore it is our duty to encourage and help
all who wish to engage in this business. For my part,
I intend doing this : -I will furnish persons desiring silk
culture in their locality with their first silkworm eggs
gratis. They will only have to furnish me their address,
and the amount of food they have, so as to guide me in
.the number of eggs to send.

The work necessary to raise silkworms in California is

130 THE CALIFORNIA

very little, as our climate is so favorable to that culture
that it enabled me to simplify it considerably. In proof
of this, I need only state that I have this last season
raised over 100,000 silkworms, every worm making a
cocoon ; and all this with my own work alone. This is
the work of eight persons in France or Italy. Our
California silk culture is so simple that, as soon as it is
published extensively, everybody in the State will en-
gage in raising silk as well as any other production. If
we consider it a moment, the quantity of silk that could
be raised in California is immense ; and it would afford
employment to thousands of families, hi raising as well
as in manufacturing it. It is an easy work, that can be
done by aged persons, as well as by the young of both
sexes. Then our ladies would have a right to f '»•••!
proud in wearing silk dresses made of silk raised by
their own hands. In France and in Italy silk is raised
very extensively, and millions of families are living by
this work. The silk exported from Italy surpasses in
value, by two-thirds, all other expiations together.

A remarkable fact is, that with our climate so very
favorable to silkworms, we also have a soil well adapted
to the growth of mulberry trees. They thrive almost
everywhere in the State ; but the best soil for them that
I have yet seen is in the bottom lands of the Sacra-
mento Valley. A large quantity of those trees will be
planted there the coming season. I suppose some will
also be planted in the San Joaquin Valley, where there
is already quite a large plantation — that of Mr. Gles-
gjug — commenced last year. But the largest planta-

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 131

tions in California are those of A. Packard and E. Goux,
of Santa Barbara. Those plantations were made three
years ago, and are now in fine condition. These gen-
tlemen will raise the coming season a large quantity of
silkworms, and will probably turn them to eggs. My
own exhibit of silk, from five years raising, proves be-
yond a doubt that California is the very best spot for
that culture. This, and the testimony which I receive
from others, shows that this new industry for California
is now fairly started.

Two gentlemen, experienced, scientific, and practical
silk growers, on their way back from China, where they
had been to buy a large quantity of silkworms' eggs, re-
cently came to see me, to get information about silk in
California. I told them all the facts, showed them the
cocoons and where I raised them, and also the mulberry
trees. Being gentlemen who understood the silk busi-
ness perfectly, they agreed with me that we have the
best silk country in the world, and were so pleased at
learning this fact that they are going to return here next
summer with the necessary capital to buy one hundred
acres of land each, to raise silkworms' eggs and silk on
a large scale. These gentlemen are the representatives
of the two largest silk houses in Europe, and are now on
their way back to France. From them I learned a
very important fact, namely, that our climate is so supe-
rior for silk culture that, by selecting our very best
cocoons for eggs year after year for our own use, we
could after a few years obtain cocoons that would beat
everything known for size and quality — that is to say, .a

132 THE CALIFORNIA

superior article. In this opinion I fully concur. The
coming of these gentlemen from France will probably
induce other silk growers to come also, which would be
a great benefit to the State.

[Mercantile Gazette, January 9, 1866.]
SILK CULTURE.

Of cotton and silk we have made a successful begin-
ning : of the former about 800 acres raised in 1865,
wliile of silk and silkworm culture the following commu-
nication received from L. Prevost, of San Jose, st;,
that—

u Having noticed in your valuable paper an article
alluding to the culture of the silkworm in California, and
remarking your appreciation of the importance of this
interest, I desire to give you briefly a statement em-
bodying the result of five years' experiments. I stated
several years ago my belief that the climate of Califor-
nia was superior to all others for the raising of the silk-
worm, and the attention I have since given this subject
only strengthens that conviction. It is also gratifying
that this opinion has received the complete endorsement
of two practical and scientific silk growers, representing
the largest silk houses of Europe, who called upon me
on their return from China and other portions of the
globe. After examining the silk cocoons I had raised,
they pronounced California the best country in the world

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 133

for silk culture. Why this is so, is chiefly the absence
of rain-storms, thunder, etc., during the feeding of
worms in June. The first time I raised the silk, it was
the prevailing opinion that it could not profitably be
done, owing to the high price of labor. I was aware of
the difference in this feature of California from ether
silk-growing countries ; but it is equally a fact that for
the price of renting one acre of land in Italy or France
two or three acres can be bought here. This, with the
employment of Chinese, equalized the labor question.
To enumerate in detail a few of the advantages Califor-
nia possesses over other silk-growing countries, I note
the following facts : In France and Italy, notwithstand-
ing all the care which the climate forces growers to give
the worms, they are more or less diseased — in the best
years, calculating their loss *at least 25 to 30 per
cent., and often running as high as 75 per cent., while
in California we have no loss of worms from disease,
though treating them roughly. The climate so favora-
ble to their culture is equally so to the growth of the
mulberry tree, surpassing anything I have witnessed
elsewhere. Of course the more food we have the more
worms we can raise. In the silk countries already
named, the land having been cultivated for centuries, is
exhausted, and to sustain it a great outlay of money is
required to properly manure 'and enrich the soil. Here
all this is unnecessary, as well as the erection, as in
other parts of the world, of very large and expensive
buildings, with costly apparatus. A structure not cost-
ing one-quarter the amount usually expended answering

134 THE CALIFORNIA

every purpose, and which can afterwards be used for the
storage of grain, etc. Neither is any outlay required
for artificial heat. I simply transfer the eggs from the
cellar to the garret, and the heat of the sun through the
roof will make them hatch hi three days. But above
all is* that by the absence of all elaborate apparatus, etc.,
thus simplifying the culture of silkworms, one person
here can do the work of eight under the old system.
You will remember I am not giving you crude ideas,
but settled facts ; and any reasoning person reflecting
for a moment, considering the above named points, can-
not fail to see the great advantages we have over all
other silk-growing countries, not only raising our silk at
half the usual cost, but as for reasons before given,
being a superior article, we will get the highest market
price. Then let us stop sending our millions to foreign
countries, estimated at not less than from eight to ten
millions of dollars annually ; for as the Southern States
are adapted to the raising of cotton— and we have our
cotton States — so let California be our silk State. To
parties in any part of the world who wish to engage in a
sure and profitable business, easily understood, and one
in which young and old can alike engage, I can say,
come to California and raise silk. As soon as there is
enough silk cultivated here we will have our domestic
manufactories, and the ladies of California can be justly
proud of wearing silk raised and manufactured in our
own State. That this may be so, and that I can see
our own manufactured silk shipped to other countries,
bringing hi return the thousands we now send away, are
the wishes of your correspondent."

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.

136 THE CALIFORNIA

mittee, and they induced him to commit to writing some
of the leading facts, together with some remarks by
Hentsch, which are hereby submitted, in the hope that
they may not be lost or forgotten.

The Committee deem themselves not oversanguine
of the great results to flow from the introduction of this
important branch of industry into our State, when they
hope and believe the day is not far distant when a grat-
ified people will, through their Legislature, offer some
public recognition of the services rendered by Mr.
Prevost. — Awarded a gold medal.

FACTS ON SILK IN CALIFORNIA. — BY L. PREVOST.

After I had passed a summer in California, I came
to the conclusion that it was one of the very best coun-
tries in the world for raising silk, as well as wine, etc.,
etc., but the difficulty was to obtain, first, mulberry
trees, and, afterwards, silkworm eggs. In 1863 or '64,
I had occasion to meet with Mr. Henry Hentsch, who
had the same opinion of our beautiful climate, and its
adaptability for silk cultivation, and he, himself, began
a conversation on that important subject. .From tbat
conversation was born the culture of silk in California.
Mr. Hentsch imported the mulberry seed from France,
from which I raised a number of fine mulberry trees.
Mr. Hentsch was informed as soon as the trees were
of some size, and he made arrangements to import silk-
worm eggs from China. They arrived here dead — it
was impossible to hatch one of them. The following
year he imported another lot from the same place, and

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. - 137

with the same result. After this second attempt I was
a little discouraged, finding that it was impossible to
import eggs in good condition, and expecting to have
no further use for my mulberry trees, I had the most of
them destroyed, keeping only a few.

The third year, Mr. Hentsch imported eggs again
from the same place, and at the same time from France.
I was then very sorry to have destroyed so many of
my mulberry trees, as the eggs from France proved to
be in good condition, and hatched out very well. At
that time I had a friend here, Mr. Miller, who was a
competent silk cultivator, to whom I showed the eggs.
He pronounced them good, and also agreed, for the
first time, to help me, which he did. The worms did
well, and produced fine cocoons of silk of the first qual-
ity, as I can prove by certificates from the two highest
silk societies in Europe, to whom silk and silk cocoons
had been sent to be tested.

Up to this time we have not been able to discover
any indications of disease, which is most extraordinary ;
it must be the good influence of the climate of Califor-
nia operating as we expected. As I had no other room
for the purpose, I have been obliged to raise the worms
in a green house, which was extremely hot in daytime,
and nearly freezing at night. Under such unfavorable
circumstances, not one worm would have lived in Eu-
rope. Now, any thinking man can judge what success
we might reasonably expect if we had a proper room
in which to raise them.

The first year 1 made silk was in 1860. I sentbou-

138 THE CALIFORNIA

quets of cocoons and silk to about every "Fair all over
our State ; they attracted the attention of visitors, but
I received no encouragement. On the contrary, I
heard many say that this culture could not be pursued
profitably in California, on account of the high price of
labor. I was aware of the apparent truth of this be-
fore I attempted the production of silk, but I thought
for this kind of labor Chinese might be employed, who
are used to the work ; and, beside that, I knew that
the price for buying three or four acres of land here
does not exceed the price of renting one acre in Eu-
rope, where silk is raised in large quantities. This
advantage, I expected, would more than compensate
for the difference between the price of labor in Europe,
and Chinese labor here, because the silk grower in Eu-
rope has to deduct from his profits the rent of the land
every year. But the question of labor is now fully set-
tled, and silk can be raised in California with great
profit. Calculating on the great superiority of our cli-
mate, I thought to try to take advantage of it, and I
have succeeded in simplifying that culture even beyond
my expectation. One man here can raise and take
care of as many silkworms as eight men can do in Eu-
rope. As my mode of culture is adapted to the climate
of California, I propose to call it California Silk Cul-
ture. It could by no means be employed either in
France or Italy, where they have rains during the sea-
son of feeding, but might be used in any place where
there is a climate similar to this.

The culture of silk in California is so simple that any

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 139

one may understand it. It is easy work, and can be
done by quite young persons, either male or female ;
the ladies, therefore, may have the pleasure of raising
their own silk.

It will be a great pleasure to me to have contributed
something towards the retention in our State of the
millions of dollars that are paid out for the single im-
portation of silk. Not only may we raise silk for our
own consumption, but we can, in California, raise silk
for the world, and export it. This article must increase
in value ; this year it is increased twenty-five per cent,
in price in Europe. It is an article in which we need
not fear competition ; we need not be afraid to see our
neighbor raising it, because, if nearly everybody was
raising it all over the State, it would not lower the
price two cents per pound. This year, when the price
of fruits is exceedingly low, allows us to show the advan-
tage of the mulberry over fruit trees, as the fruit must
all be consumed within a certain time or it is lost,
which is very far from being the case with the silk.

I have been engaged in my experiments in Califor-
nia silk culture three years, and this year raised over
one hundred thousand cocoons.

Several gentlemen have made large plantations, so
as to pursue this business hereafter on a larger scale.
Among them I can name Mr. A. Packard, and also
Mr. Q. Goux, of Santa Barbara, who have planted
three thousand mulberry trees, and Mr. Glessing of
San Joaquin Valley, whose plantation dates from last
year.

140 THE CALIFORNIA

Besides what may be done with the silk, we have a
constant demand for eggs by the European culturists,
as there they have the disease, and to insure a crop
have to get their eggs from countries where the disease
does not prevail. By not using sound eggs their crop
is very much exposed ; but, besides all that, and all
they can do, in their best years their losses are gener-
ally twenty-five per cent., sometimes fifty per cent., and,
in very bad years, as high as seventy-five per cent.
Here we suffer none of these losses, and, as there is
nothing to cause disease, every worm makes a cocoon.
This also merits some reflection and consideration in
favor of the superiority of our climate. It would be
quite too long to enumerate every thing in. our favor,
but I cannot help remarking that the principal point is
that the mulberry tree grows here most luxuriantly,
and I believe, also, that our virgin soil produces leaves
of the best quality. In order that every one may be
able to raise his own mulberry trees, I have published
a treatise on the culture of that tree, both by seeds
and cuttings, in the California Farmer, and also in
the French paper. It is calculated that an ounce of
silkworm eggs contains forty thousand ; I have pro-
duced several millions of eggs this season, and they
were all sold at the rate of ten dollars per ounce to be
sent to France, and those for years to come are engaged
for the same house. If I had them by hundreds of
pounds I could sell them immediately. The eggs are
in great demand, also, for Mexico ; I had an order for
that country for five hundred ounces, but, of course,

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 141

was unable to fill it. The largest order I had was for
one hundred pounds, for Italy, and when I received
that order I had only three ounces to sell. All this
shows that in the future, besides supplying a large ex-
port demand for silk, we will also have to export
largely of eggs.

The variety of mulberry to cultivate to obtain the
best quality of silk is the white mulberry (morus alba)
and its varieties, particularly the moretti. As to the
muUicaulis, I would recommend it only when the worms
are very young, but not afterwards. The feeding of
the worms continues only thirty-two or thirty-four days,
when they make their cocoons, and twelve days after
that they come out butterflies, and lay their eggs for
the following year. They have to be kept in a cool,
dry cellar to prevent them from hatching.

Each female is expected to lay about three hundred
eggs. Three hundred good cocoons weigh about one
pound, and an ounce of eggs can produce one hundred
and sixty-five pounds of cocoons ; twenty-eight ounces
of selected cocoons give two ounces of eggs.

REMARKS OF MR. HENRY HENTSCH.

The memorandum of Mr. Prevost contains valuable
and correct information about California silk culture.
The main point on which the report must attract the
attention of the community is this, that California has
one "of the best, if not the very best climate in the
world for producing silk successfully, on account of
the absence of rains and storms during the months of

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.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 143

CHAPTER I.

OUR CLIMATE — ITS SUPERIORITY AND ITS ADVANTAGES.

I wish you, gentle reader, to allow me to have a talk
with you on our climate, as it is impossible for me to
write this book without beginning with that genial silk
climate. I have already written and said that we were
in the best silk country in the world ; and I still main-
tain the proposition. This will oblige me to make a few
general remarks, on what I consider the most important
point ; because our strength here is simply in the supe-
riority of our climate for the silkworm, and the adap-
tability of our rich soil for the mulberry. It has been
said : " Wherever the mulberry finds a congenial
climate and soil, there also the silkworm will flourish."
Such climate and soil has California in a pre-eminent
degree.

The silkworm requires a pure atmosphere for the
preservation of his health ; and we have it here.

It has been observed in Toulouse, the healthiest part
of France, that the silkworms raised in the huts of the
poor peasants, and -enjoying the pure air through the
cracks and broken windows, were better than those
raised by the rich. This shows that they need pure air.
We can supply them with any amount of such air.

But who gave me the idea that we were in a silk
country ? In 1850, after I had seen the first summer,
it was the observing our fine climate without rain from
May to October ; and, consequently, without storm and

144 THE CALIFORNIA

thunder — without any -shock of electricity ; in fact,
nothing to trouble the silkworm : on the contrary, any
amount of sunshine, that causes the mulberry leaves to
be of the first quality. This contributed largely to their
health, as healthy food makes healthy worms.

Having no other room that I could use in 1860,
when I raised the first silk in California, I had to
'do it in a little green-house — a very bad place to raise
silkworms, as they nee'd to be in as even temperature
as possible ; but in no other place does it vary so much
as in a green-house, as you have a suffocating heat
during the day, and it is very cold at night. From
what cause have I succeeded so well in such a place ?
Our climate !

For two years I have raised them in my garret. It
is well established that the silkworm needs plenty of
air; there .1 can give hardly any. Why then have
they succeeded so well there also ? From the climate.

Another fact, in which all the silk-growers are
agreed, is that the room in which you are to raise your
worms must be free of smells, and particularly the
smell from the kitchen ! Mrs. Sauffrignon, in San
Jose', raised worms in her kitchen near her large stove,
on which she has to cook for a large family ; and there
she had large, strong, lively and healthy worms, who
made the finest and best cocoons that we had on exhi-
bition at the Fairs this year. How is it that she had
such a result in a kitchen ? The answer is, from our
climate. The worms, eating fresh mulberry leaves

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 145

grown constantly under the rajs of a genial sun, can't
fail to be healthy and make good cocoons.

I could put here many more examples, but I think
these are all-sufficient to prove the superiority of our
climate for silk culture.

I do not mean by the above to advise any one to do
the same ; on the contrary, I will do all I can in this
manual to make every one understand that they must
not do it : I have done it simply because I could not
help it. The above facts are merely to show the power
of our fine climate. It was also the climate which in-
duced me to change the culture from the system pur-
sued in France and Italy, in order to curtail the work.
Such a superior climate offers us many advantages.
These advantages are enumerated in a letter that I
sent to the " California Farmer," dated December 21st,
1865, and published in the first number of January last ;
it reads thus :

" DEAR SIR — In my letter of November 12th,
which you published in the ' Farmer ' of November 17th,
I say the enumeration of facts in favor of silk culture in
California are many, and they will be the subject of
another letter as soon as possible ; and, as it is too cold
to work outside, I concluded to remain indoors and
devote a few moments to that purpose.

First — The question of labor we settle at the start.
That question, before I made any silk, was settled in
my own mind. I was aware of the difference in the
price of labor here, compared with that in France and
Italy, but thought that we could make up the difference

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

117

than in any other country, and not have to sell it cheaper:
on the contrary, California silk, by the superiority of
the climate, is bound to be a superior article, and con-
sequently will command the market in all parts of the
world. This question having been settled we will leave
it, and go on to the advantages which we have over
others.

Third — We come to a great point that deserves at-
tention. It is, as I have said in some of my previous
letters, that in France and Italy, with all the care which
the climate forces them to give to the worms, they are
more or less diseased ; and, in their very good years,
they cannot calculate their losses at less than twenty-five
or thirty per cent.; and, in bad years, fifty per cent.; and
I have been told that in very bad years the losses have
been as high as seventy-five in one hundred worms.
What do you think of that ? Should not this fact alone
be enough to make everybody wish to go into the silk
business,when we consider a moment the power of our fine
climate on the silkworms, that even after treating them
here very roughly, we have no disease to observe, con-
sequently no losses, and every worm makes his cocoon ?
It is very simple and easy to understand why it is so,
because they have there, during the feeding time, rain,
thunder and lightning — which are the enemies of the
worms ; whereas here, as everybody knows, at the time
of feeding, (June) we have nothing of the kind, nothing
to create disease among them. That is where our
superiority over other countries lies. We have a fine
and regular dry season at that time, and it is this regu-

148 THE CALIFORNIA

larity that insures to us in the future good crops, and
no loss or failure to be apprehended ; all those living in
California can see that this is the truth.

Fourth — The climate that is so favorable to silkworms
is also, in the same proportion, as favorable to the
growth of the mulberry tree ; and this is very important,
because we cannot expect to raise silk without the mul-
berry tree, for it is the foundation of that culture ; and
the more we grow the more silk we can raise. The
mulberry tree grows almost everywhere in California,
but when it happens to be in the soil that suits it best
its growth is extraordinary ;- there is no other tree to
compare with it : you can hardly believe when you see
it. The bottom lands of the Sacramento Valley are
about the best that I know of for the mulberry to grow
rapidly. Our valley has some favorable spots also, and
I started a few weeks ago to see two mulberry trees
that I heard of, and was very much surprised at finding
them so large ; being, I suppose, the largest in the
State. The proprietor assured me that he planted them
only about seven years ago. This is also a positive
evidence that in the growing of mulberry trees we sur-
pass all other countries.

Fifth — In the silk countries referred to above, the
land has been cultivated so many years that it is ex-
hausted. They have to buy manure, which sells there
very high ; they have then to cart it, and sometimes from
a great distance ; they have the work of spreading it on
the ground and putting it in ; and the labor ; and the

149

buying of the manure is costly. We have no need of
that here, as we have a virgin soil to plant in.

Sixth — They have to erect very large and costly
buildings, for the sole purpose of raising their silkworms.
In these buildings they have all kinds of apparatus, all
of which costs a large amount of money. We have no
need of all this ; our only requirement is a room to raise
our worms in, but not a costly one ; and, as to the ap-
paratus, we do not require any at all.

Seventh — They have to use artificial heat, which is
also very costly. We use nothing of the kind here ;
when we need more heat it is k for hatching the eggs.
When I want mine to hatch I take them simply from
the cellar to the garret, and the heat of the sun through
the roof is sufficient to make them hatch within their
regular time.

Eighth — We now come to the most important part,
and that is to turn the mulberry leaves into silk. This
requires much labor in France and Italy, but here it is
almost nothing. As I found our climate so very favor-
able I thought I would take advantage of it, and suc-
ceeded certainly beyond what I expected, having been
able to change the culture to one adapted to our cli-
mate, and in reducing the labor to one-eighth of what
is required by the old system. It seems to be so extra-
ordinary that some persons would hardly believe it ;
but it is a fact, and I am ready to prove it at any time
before any committee that may be appointed for that
purpose, composed of the very best and most competent
men in the country. I will here state to my readers

150 THE CALIFORNIA

that I wish them to remember that my rule is to write
nothing but what I am convinced of, and what I can
prove ; this being well understood, I wish them not to
forget it. I am not a writer, but I do the best I can to
be understood and convey my ideas. Now this great
reduction of labor, if it was well understood, is enough
to induce every one to go into that important branch
of industry. I will simply say here, let every reasoning
man peruse and reflect on the above facts, and I am
sure that he will become satisfied that we can here pro-
duce the silk with profit, for half the price that it can
be done in France or Italy. But we have no reason
for selling it at half price ; our climate being so favor-
able for it the California silk is bound to be a superior
article, and consequently will command the highest
market price."

CHAPTER H.

SILK IN CALIFORNIA.

It is my intention, in about two yean, to write the
History of Silk in California ; as I have been raising it
here for six years, and am consequently acquainted
with all the incidents of its introduction and culture into
this State. I have many interesting documents, letters,
etc., to publish, all of which will show how I have been
discouraged at the start, instead of being encouraged,

151

as should have been the case in such an important
culture. But all this had no influence on me. I had such
a firm confidence in our beautiful silk climate, that I
did not take any notice of all that, and still persisted.
And more, (I must confess it to you in secret) I could
not help having a certain contempt for all those that
had objections to it, as it appeared to me like refusing
to acknowledge that it is daylight at noon.

As it will require a large volume for the history of
Silk in California, I do not intend to put it here ; but
I think that I must say a few words about it, being as
brief as possible.

After I had spent the first summer here, in 1850,
I judged that it was a silk climate, and took occasion to
speak about it to different persons. In the fall of 1852,
I had a long conversation on that subject, for the whole
evening, with Henry Hentsch, Esq., of San Francisco.
He was, and had been, also of the same opinion ; but
there were no mulberry trees to be found in the State
to try that culture. It was then agreed that Mr.
Hentsch should import the seed from France. When
they came, in 1854, 1 sowed them, and they grew out
finely. After the trees were of sufficient size, I told
Mr. Hentsch that it would be good now to import silk-
worms' eggs. He procured some from China ; but the
eggs were bad, or had been spoiled on the voyage ; none
of that first importation hatched. The year after, some
more were procured, with the same result. For the
third time, Mr. Hentsch ordered some more, again from
China, and at the same time ordered some from France.

152 THE CALIFORNIA

They all arrived here early in the spring of 1860.
When they arrived I showed them to a friend, Mr.
Jacob Muller, a competent silk-grower ; he thought
that the eggs were good, at least some .of them. It
proved afterwards that the Chinese were not very good,
as one or two dozen only hatched ; but the lot from
France hatched out finely. My friend Mr. Muller
helping to get this lot of worms through, they produced
fine and superior cocoons. Samples of these I forwarded
to France, and they were found to be of first quality.

The same year (1860) I sent cocoons, bouquets of
cocoons and real silk, to all our Fairs, all over our silk
State ; but the officers of the different societies at that
time did not understand their duty, and the importance
of that rich culture, as they were giving silver goblets,
etc., (as their lists of premiums show) to things that
could not advance the interests of the State one dime,
and did not even give a diploma to the first California
silk, with the exception of one, the Man Jbaquin Valley
Agricultural Society, which had the honor of giving a
diploma to the first silk producer in California.

Since 1860 I have always raised the silk, but never
observed any disease among the worms, notwithstanding
that I have raised them in bad places, not being able
to have any thing better. I have changed the mode of
feeding so as to curtail the work. This will be described
hereafter, at its proper place.

In 1865 1 raised about one hundred and five thousand
worms, and consequently the same amount of cocoons,
and had a great number of visitors, among whom was

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 153

Mr. Plum, the President of the Mechanics' Institute in
San Francisco. He urged me strongly to exhibit at
their Fair ; but as I was not satisfied with the results of
my first exhibitions, I did not care to do so any more.
When their Fair was open, not seeing me coming, my
old friend Mr. H. F. Williams, of the same Institute,
came with two other gentlemen and persuaded me to go,
and I made there a fine exhibition of silk, silk cocoons,
silkworms, and silkworms' eggs ; and then for the
first time I had the pleasure of seeing my humble efforts
appreciated. The next day our leading papers had
fine articles on silk ; and my exhibition attracted the
attention of the visitors, as I had the crowd all the
time. A gold medal has been awarded to it. At the
request of their presidents, I went to the State Fair,
and also to Stockton ; and at both places it created as
much interest as in San Francisco, and gold medals
were also given. Besides a good many plantations
made before, since these exhibitions the silk culture has
been fairly started.

Last year, also, Mr. Newman, a practical weaver,
came to see me, and from the information I gave him,
some time after, in connection with one of his friends,
Mr. W. W. Meyer, he went to the Eastern States to
buy all the machinery necessary for a silk manufacture.
He came back this year, in July, with the machinery.
Two looms have been put up in San Francisco, and the
first pieces of silk manufactured in California were
ready in time to be exhibited at our Fairs in September
last. Now, with some inducements on the part of our

154 THE CALIFORNIA

citizens here in San Jose, we have succeeded in having
that Pioneer Silk Manufacture located here. They
are progressing rapidly, and already a large frame
building is erected, where they are busy unpacking,
cleaning and fixing the machinery. They are now also
busy at the main building for the manufactory. It is
a brick building, forty-five by eighty, and is to be two
stories high.

I have this year again exhibited reeled silk and silk
cocoons from different varieties, and also good samples
of cocoons, raised in different parts of the State, by
different persons, who never had silkworms in their
hands before, and who had all succeeded. This is con-
clusive proof of the superiority of our climate for silk
culture, because those who have never done it before
are liable to make many mistakes. But no matter
here ; the worms make their cocoons anyhow ; and now,
with the Manual, everybody will be enabled to under-
take the culture of silk with full success.

Then let us begin it in taking first the mulberry tree,
which is the foundation of that rich culture.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 155

CHAPTER III.

HISTORY OF SILK — ITS ANTIQUITY AND COMMERCE.

Silk, or the splendid material produced by the silk-
worm, was first known in ancient times as ser or serica,
in China. It was there first discovered in its own
native forests of the mulberry trees. In that country
it was called s<?, and by transition, ser by the Greeks,
and sericum by the Romans ; and hence, by the different
nations of Italy, France and England, it- is variously
called seta, soie, and silk, at the present day.

The silkworm, or bombyx mori, is a precious insect,
which* is thus denominated from morus, the plant on
w.hich it feeds.

The cultivation of silk commenced in China seven
hundred years before Abraham, and two thousand seven
hundred years before Christ. The Emperor Houng Ti,
" The Emperor of the Earth," who reigned over China
more than one hundred years, taught the Chinese to
construct houses, ships, mills and other useful works ;
and the Empress Si Ling Chi, to contribute also to the
welfare of the Empire, aided by the women of her
household, gathered the silkworms from the trees,
took them to her apartments, fed them with leaves of
the mulberry, and, being sheltered, they yielded silk
superior in quality to that produced in the forests. She
also taught them its manufacture, and how to embroider.

Raising silk, and its manufacture, and the weaving,

156

THE CALIFORNIA

continued to be the principal occupations of the suc-
ceeding Empresses. Apartments were appropriated
to this purpose in the imperial palace ; and soon, from
the highest rank of females, it became the occupation of
all ranks in China; and ere long the Emperor, the
learned class, the Princes, the Mandarins, courtiers and
all the rich were attired in the splendid fabrics of silk,
until finally silk became the great and inexhaustible
source of the wealth of China. From China it was
exported to India, Persia, Arabia and the whole of
Asia.

The expeditions of Alexander to Persia and India
first introduced the knowledge of silk to the Grecians,
three hundred and fifty years before Christ ; and with
the increase of wealth and luxury in the Grecian Court,
the demand for silk prodigiously augmented. Persia
also became rich in the commerce of silk, which they
procured from China. The ancient Phoenicians also
engaged in the traffic of silk, and finally carried it to the
east of Euroue.

At Rome, and so late as A.D. 280, a silk attire of
purple was accounted by an Emperor as a luxury too
expensive even for an Empress ; its value being equal
to that of gold by weight. -„.

In the sixth century two monks arrived at the Court
of the Emperor Justinian, at Constantinople, from a mis-
sionary expedition to China. They had brought with
them the seeds of the mulberry, and communicated to
him the discovery of the mode of rearing the silkworms ;
and although the exportation of the insect from China

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 157

was forbidden on pain of death, yet by the liberal
promises and persuasions of Justinian, they undertook a
new expedition, and at length returned through Bukaria
and Persia to Constantinople, in 555, with the eggs of
the precious insect concealed in the hollow of their
canes or pilgrims' staves, which they had obtained in
the far and still more distant country. Until this time
the extensive manufactures of the Phoenician cities of
Tyre and Berytus had received their supplies of raw
silk through Persia from China. Even to the days of
Justinian, according to ancient historians, no person at
Constantinople knew that silk was the product of an
insect. It was generally supposed to be produced from
the bark or leaves of trees, or growing like the finest
hair from their branches.

In Greece, the culture and manufacture of silk soon
overspread the country. The noblest families aided by
their example. The people of Thebes and Athens, from
the time of Justinian, cultivated and manufactured silk
for four hundred years ; and the Venetians, in the
height of their prosperity and commercial glory, carried
supplies of silk from Greece to the whole West of Eu-
rope. On the downfall of the Roman empire, Arabia
became the seat and center of sciences, of arts and
civilization. The establishment of the Turkish power
in Asia, about the middle of the sixth century, and the
subsequent wars, caused great interruption to the cara-
van trade between China and Persia; and after the
conquest of Mahommed II., the Saracens or Arabians
planted the mulberry and encouraged the culture of

8

158 THE CALIFORNIA

silk everywhere throughout their dominions, both on the
islands and on all the shores of the Mediterranean ; silk
and mulberry trees were introduced into Spain and
Portugal by the Arabians, on their conquest of those
countries, in 711.

From Greece, the cultivation of silk was introduced
to Sicily and Naples. Roger, king of Sicily, in his
invasion of Greece, in 1146, introduced, by compulsion,
many silk weavers and manufacturers, whom he carried
to Palermo. In twenty years the manufactures of Si-
cily became famous, being adorned with various colors
and figures, interwoven with gold and embellished with
pearls. Here it long mysteriously remained ; and it
was not till 1540 that it had extended to Piedmont, and
indeed to all Italy. So extensive is its cultivation at
the present day throughout Italy, that, according to
Count Dandolo, two-thirds of their whole exports to all
countries consist of silk.

Its first introduction into France was in 1494 ; but no
very important results succeeded until, in 1564, Trau-
cat, a gardener of Nismes, established the first founda-
tion of a nursery of white mulberry trees, with an effect
so successful, that from this source the cultivation ex-
tended within a few years, over the whole of the south-
ern provinces of France ; but its final, and more com-
plete establishment in France, in 1603, is due to Henry
IV., who encouraged the formation of nurseries and the
manufacture of silk, even in the northern as well as
middle provinces of the kingdom, and whose name is
held in perpetual remembrance, for his noble deeds of

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 159

goodness, and works of usefulness. Olivier de Serres
shares equally with him the glory of the effectual work,
which was, at first, opposed even by Sully, from mis-
take and misapprehension. Colbert, in a succeeding
age, continued his fostering care. Both Colbert and his
illustrious predecessor, by bounties judiciously bestowed,
caused both the mulberry tree and its culture to strike
deep and permanent roots in the soil of France.

Once established, it has stood, unmoved by every rev-
olution and storm, unprotected and alone, while all
things else have fallen. This important industry has
flourished until, finally, silk and its manufacture has be-
come one of the most productive resources of the wealth
and power of France.

It was estimated, that in the year 1835, silk from
France, to the amount of fifty millions of francs, was
exported from that country to the United States alone.
Yet, in France, although they raise so much silk, they
still import annually to the amount of seventy millions
of francs of raw silk, or nearly one-third of all they con-
sume in their manufactures.

In England, the climate, from its humidity, or other
causes, is found to be unfitted to its growth. For this
reason alone, the trials to raise it there have failed.
Yet, from 1821 to 1828, according to an authentic
work on the silk trade, they imported of raw silk, 24,-
157,658 pounds, worth $ 120,787,580 ; of this amount
$59,881,283 came from Italy alone.

The sudden and extraordinary extension of the silk
manufactures, both in France and in England, has been

160 THE CALIFORNIA

mainly ascribed to the machine invented in France, by
Mr. Jacquard ; then the powerful impulse thus given
has been assigned to the Jacquard loom. This loom is
stated to perform all those labors which had heretofore
been confined to the most skillful hands, with important
economy of time and labor in the preliminary steps ;
and is so decidedly superior to all other looms for all
the curious varieties of figured silk weaving, that it has
superseded them all throughout France and England.

Yet, in our own country, so highly favored in all re-
spects by nature, the successful introduction of the silk
culture is mainly due to individual exertion ; but the day
is not far distant, when the cultivation of the mulberry
and the growth and manufacture of silk in the United
States will become a very important source of wealth to
the nation. The work has wonderfully begun, and is
now taking deep and permanent root in our soil.

According to the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, the value of silk imported .into the United
States during the year ending the thirtieth of Septem-
ber, 1835, amounted to $16,597,980, this being the
original or first cost in the foreign countries (this must
be more than double that amount now). During that
year only $486,562 worth of this great amount was ex-
ported ; most of it was imported from Italy, Switzerland
and France.

The millions that we are now expending for importing
silk ought to be preserved in the country. It would be
a good policy to take steps in view of retaining such a
vast amount, by every means that the Government has

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 161

in its power. Such amounts would soon pay our na-
tional debt ; it should certainly be a good policy to take
off duties from things needed by the poor classes, and
have very high duties on the imported article manufac-
tured. I am in hope that our Congressmen will under-
stand their duty, which is to have in view the prosperity
of the country, by placing a very high tariff on the
manufactured silk of importation. This will injure no-
body, but enrich the country, as the effect will be to
start the culture and manufacture of silk everywhere in
the United States where the climate is favorable. In
California alone we can raise silk, not only to supply the
whole wants of the nation, but for the rest of the world.

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORY OF THE SILKWORM.

The silkworm, or Bombyx Mori, is a caterpillar, its
body formed of twelve membranous rings, which sup-
port the legs, which are sixteen in number, and in pairs.
Six of these are in front and inflexible, and situated
beneath the first rings, and are each covered with a
scale. The other ten are flexible and membranous,
having their positions beneath the remaining ring ; these
are called climbers and holders, and are provided with
sharp hooks or claws, to aid in climbing. The head has
a horny covering like a scale, the jaws are very strong,

162 THE CALIFORNIA

the teeth, sharp, serrated, or indented like a saw, the
mouth is vertical and peculiar, and not horizontal, as in
most other beings. Two broad objects in its forehead,
which might be mistaken for eyes, are but boues of the
skull. The eyes are small, fourteen in number, seven on
each side of the head, and near the mouth ; the organs
of respiration are eighteen in number. Equidistant,
and situated along the body, are holes, or openings, nine
on each side, which serve for breathing.

The substance of which the silk is composed is a
liquicl, transparent gum, of a fine yellow color, and is
contained in separate sacks of slender dimensions. Each
of these vessels is about ten inches in length, and wound
in the stomach in spiral folds. Near the jaws, two
ducts convey the silken fluid ; these, uniting in one,
serve to compose the silken thread, which is usually
from four hundred to twelve hundred feet in length.

The eggs of the silkworms are of a dark lilac or slate
color. The silkworms are at first black, and extremely
small ; as they advance in age and size they cast off
their outer covering or skin, usually from three to four
times, at different periods, according to the variety.
These successive changes are called moulting*, and the
times intervening are termed ayes.

In a colder temperature the duration of the several
periods is prolonged ; but in a warm climate, the period
or season of the first moulting, which terminates the first
age, usually occurs on the fifth or sixth day of its ex-
istence ; the second on the eighth or ninth day ; the

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 163

third on the thirteenth or fourteenth day, and the last
on or about the twenty-second day.

At each of these critical periods the silkworm remains
in a torpid state, eating little, or absolutely nothing, for
a day or more. At the end of about ten days from the
last period, or in about thirty-two or thirty-four days
from the beginning, the insect, now fully grown, is about
three or four inches in length, transparent, of a yellow-
ish white or pearl color. Having now completed their
fifth, or last age, they eat no more, but ascend to the
leaves or brushwood which are placed for the purpose,
and commence the formation of their cocoons, and in
the construction of these the insects work busily and
incessantly, night and day, during about four days. This
labor finished, the insect in the center becomes trans-
formed to the chrysalis state.

The vitual functions of the silkworm are accelerated
by warmth, and the time occupied in passing through
the various mutations is hastened, not only by the in-
creased temperature, but materially by the degree of
attention which is bestowed on the insects. In Madras,
according to Dr. Anderson, and where the climate is
very warm, the silkworm passes through all its evolu-
tions in twenty-two days ; here there is a saving of time
as well as of labor, but none in regard to food, as it is
admitted the silkworms consume the same amount of
cocoons, be the term of their life of a longer or shorter
duration.

The cocoon is usually from an inch to an inch and a
half in length, of an oval form, the color yellow or

164 THE CALIFORNIA

straw, or pure white, according to the variety. The
outer covering is like the finest wool, and is called /loss.
It is easily detached, and being removed, the end of a
thread is discovered, of extreme fineness.

After an interval of from fifteen to twenty days'
repose, the moth ejects from its mouth a liquor which
moistens the gum, and dissolves the adhesiveness of
the texture of the ball ; and by frequent motions of its
head, it loosens and forces aside the filaments, without
sundering a single silken thread, until it reappears,
transformed to a large butterfly, of a greenish white
color, with four wings ; two eyes, and two black feathery
horns or plumes ; unshrouded in this its last and perfect
form. Both male and female, they come forth to the
light of the day, and take no food to the day of their

death.

>

The butterflies generally come out of their cocoons
between seven and nine o'clock in the morning. At
that time they have to be paired, and in the afternoon
at about five o'clock, they should be separated. In
all cases, they must be handled by the wings, with
care, so as not to hurt them. As soon as separated from
the male, the female begins to lay the eggs. Each
female is supposed to lay about three hundred, and
sometimes more. These eggs firmly adhere to the
paper on which they are ; and are arranged in a hand-
some and circular form. In a few days after its multi-
farious labors are ended, the insect dies.

The silkworms remain in a chrysalis state a length of
time corresponding with the temperature of the climate.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 165

In England they remain thirty days ; in France, twenty-
one ; in Spain and Italy, eighteen or twenty ; in our
Middle States, about the same ; in California, twelve to
fourteen ; and in India, but eleven days.

The silkworm, like other caterpillars, is a cold-blooded
insect ; its temperature is that of the atmosphere in
which it breathes. Sudden changes from cold to heat
are very injurious, yet it has been found that the silk-
worm is capable of enduring a great degree of heat.
I have remarked them to be very lively when my ther-
mometer was from eighty to one hundred, and some
days as high as one hundred and seven. This heat
ought to have been maintained as uniformly as possible,
yet it was impossible in my garret. Such a degree
they must have sometimes endured in their native
forests. But when they need more heat, it is at the
moment of making their cocoons. If at any time while
they are performing this most important labor they are
permitted to suffer from cold, they cease from their
labors, and remain inactive, or move but slowly, as may
be discovered while the cocoons are yet transparent.
It has been proved, on dissection of the silkworms which
thus suffer and become torpid through cold, that the
glutinous matter in their silk reservoirs had become so
congealed and tenacious from cold, as to resemble
strong tendons, which sufficiently accounted for the
inability of the insect to draw forth the silken filament ;
yet no sooner is the temperature increased, than they
will resume their labors with increased activity ; but
will again desist, if exposed again to cold. If neg-

THK CALIFORNIA

lected at this critical period, they assume in due time
the chrysalis form, but for want of sufficient strength
leave incomplete their silken tomb.

Many persons have erroneously imagined that li^ht
is injurious to the silkworm ; but the very reverse of a
belief so contrary to nature, is evidently true. In its
native state, it is of course habituated to the most per-
fect light ; indeed, a due proportion of the reviving
light of day has been found essentially necessary to its
perfect health. In the perfect light of day, when the
sun shines, the leaves of the mulberry and other trees
inhale vital air, or that pure, etherial substance, which
by being inhaled, gives life and heat to the animal sys-
tem ; while in the darkness, they evolve mephitic air,
which is destructive and incapable of affording nourish-
ment.

Although the silkworm will endure a great degree of
heat, yet when this heat is combined with excessive
moisture, the effect appears to be at least as deleterious
to the insect as mephitic air. If a silkworm be con-
fined in a close vessel, surcharged with moisture and
heated to eighty-eight or ninety degrees, it will soon
reject food and show strong symptoms of distress ;
the muscles will soften, and evaporation will become
obstructed ; the power of contraction, which resides in
the skin, and which governs the secretions, which are
indispensably necessary to its existence, will cease, and
it will shortly perish ; while a warm-blooded animal, if
sufficiently supplied with pure atmospheric air, will
endure an equal degree of heat, combined with an

or

DIVERSITY

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL.

equal degree of moisture with but little inconvenience.

But if a silkworm be introduced into a jar charged
with carbonic acid gas, which would cause a bird or
any other warm-blooded animal to die instantly, although
the worm will soon exhibit signs of suffering, yet it will
live from ten to twenty minutes ; and on being with-
drawn from the receiver, in due time it will exhibit no
signs of injury, but be apparently as healthy as before.

Some have supposed that noise disconcerts them ;
but this appears to be a mistake, or at least not suffi-
ciently proved : on the contrary, the experiments of
the Abbe" Rosier, in France, tend to show that it does
not trouble them at all.

CHAPTER V.

THE MULBERRY — (Morus).

The Mulberry, or Morus of the botanists, is a genus
comprising many species. It derives its name from
mor ; in Celtic, Hack. Its origin has been assigned to
China, but several, species have been found growing
in the wild state in America.

It was cultivated at a very early period of time, in
western Asia, and in Europe ; but at first only for its
fruit. This is a berry of a roundish and oblong form ;
in color varying from white to red and black ; its pulp
envelops numerous small seeds.

168 THE CALIFORNIA

Most of the varieties of the mulberry are esteemed
dessert fruit. When perfectly mature, they are grate-
ful to the taste, and very wholesome. The syrup is
useful in mitigating inflammation of the heart ; the juice,
when perfectly fermented, affords a pleasant vinous
wine ; mixed with apples, it makes a delicious beverage
called mulberry cider, of a deep red color, like port
wine.

The wood of the mulberry is compact, elastic, and
hard, and susceptible of a fine polish ; it is, therefore,
sought after by the upholsterer, the carver, and the
turner. The strength of the timber renders it valuable
to the joiner, and also for building boats ; its power of
resisting the action of the water, has been compared to
that of the oak.

The roots of the mulberry tree are of a yellow color
and strike downwards, and the tree is extremely long-
lived. Mr. De Saint Fond saw, in 1802, one of the
original or parent trees of all the white mulberry trees
of France, which the followers of Charles VIII had
Brought from Italy, on his invasion of that country in
1494. Mr. Lachaux has caused this tree to be encom-
passed by a wall, to evince his respect and veneration,
and to serve as a monument to a tree so inestimable.

Whoever would enter extensively and at once on the
cultivation of silk, let him first of all bestow his atten-
tion on the culture of the abundant supplies of food ;
this principal and essential food being no other than the
material leaves of the various species of the mulberry
tree. Not every kind, however, is equally suitable.

1(59

Linnaeus has enumerated seven species of those which
were known in his day ; and among these there are
two species, the Tinctoria and Indica, which are not
used as the food of the silkworm. Those most esteemed
and known are the Morus Alba^ or white mulberry, the
Moms Multicaulis or Chinese mulberry and the Morus
Moretti. I will, then, describe only these three varie-
ties, as being the best.

The nourishment which is contained in the mulberry
leaf is not completely developed till the leaf is fully
grown. According to the analysis of Count Dandolo, the
leaf contains : 1st, the fibrous substance ; 2d, the color-
ing matter ; 3d, water ; 4th, the saccharine substance ;
5th, the resinous substance. The saccharine substance
is that which nourishes the insect, augmenting its
growth and size ; the resinous, that which " separating
itself gradually from the leaf, and attracted by the ani-
mal organization, accumulates, cleans itself, and insensi-
bly fills the two reservoirs or silk vessels. " The propor-
tion of this nutriment depends upon the variety of the
mulberry, the age, the soil, and the moisture or dryness
of the season. Now, I will describe the three best
varieties of mulberry trees for silk raising.

First, MORUS MULTICAULIS, or Chinese mulberry,
or also many-stalked mulberry. The tree grows
vigorous, upright, and beautiful ; the leaves, large,
soft, and tender, are petiolate, cordate, accuinissate,
serrated towards the summit, marked with nerves,
always entire. Their upper surface is convex or
curled, of a deep and beautiful shining green. The

170 THIv CALIFORNIA

form and dimensions of the leaf vary in different soils ;
in a dry and arid soil, they are of a diminished size ;
their form elliptical, and without the heart-shaped indent-
ation at the base ; their breadth being six inches, and
their length eight ; but in a light, rich, and friable soil,
the produce of the foliage is most abundant ; the leaves
large and cordiform, measuring often more than a foot
in breadth and fifteen inches in length.

That variety is sometimes called the Perrotet Mul-
berry, in honor of Mr. Perrotet, agricultural botanist
and traveler of the marine and colonies of France, who
has introduced this plant into Europe. Mr. Perrotet
has been sent out by the Government of France on a
voyage of botanical research, a national ship having
been provided especially for his use. This tree was
first discovered by him at Manila, the capital of the
Philippine Islands, whither it had been brought by the
Chinese from China, as a tree of ornament as well as of
usefulness. The Chinese are justly entitled to the credit
of its introduction hither. From Manila the morns
multicaulis was first introduced by Mr. Perrotet to the
Isle of Bourbon, and from thence into Cayenne ; and,
finally, it was brought by him to France in 1821.

The morus multicaulis differs from all others in the
uncommon vigor of its growth, and the property which
the roots possess of throwing up numerous flexible stalks,
the great length which these stalks acquire in a short
space of time, and the facility with which it is propa-
gated from layers and cuttings ; also from the remark-
able size which the thin, soft, and tender leaves speedily

acquire, and the promptitude with which they are re-
newed.

The fruit is long, black, and of good flavor. This
mulberry should be cultivated low in rows, and never
suffered to rise high. A few years will be sufficient to
raise considerable fields of it in full vigor in California,
sufficient to support an immense quantity of silkworms.

Second, MORUS ALBA, or white mulberry, a native of
China, but for centuries naturalized in Italy, and there-
fore also called the Italica. This tree is of rapid
growth, and extensively known for the uses of its leaf
as the food of silkworms. The leaves are pointed, cor-
date, serrate, entire, or lobed, but vary in the different
sub-varieties, sometimes even in the same tree, in dif-
ferent ages, being at times lobed, when young, but when
old, entire ; and very often they are entire and lobed on
the same tree at the same time.

The bark of the wood is of an ash color. The fruit
is white, roundish, oblong, of an insipid taste. The tree,
as before noted, is valuable for its timber, and exceed-
ingly long-lived. In cold climates it grows slowly, yet
its growth is more rapid, and it comes into leaf earlier
than the morus nigra, and is not, like that variety, in-
commoded by a profusion of fruit ; and although the
black mulberry is preferred in Persia, Count Dandolo
affirms that the white mulberry was found to produce
the finest silk of the kind known in Italy. It is also af-
firmed, that if the leaves of this species, and those of the
rubra and nigra, be presented to the, insect at the same-
time, it will eat first the white, next of the red, and last

172 mi; CALIFORNIA

of all, the black. In Malta, the white mulberry grows
much more rapidly than in Italy ; but, in India, where
the mulberry tree is an evergreen, its growth issorajiid
that large quantities are sown and mown in the same
season, and from these, sprouts are again produced for
a second brood of silkworms. Varieties are known in
silk countries which are produced from the white mul-
berry, and are only to be extended by layers or cut-
tings.

The bark, according to Rosier, may be converted into
linen of the fineness of silk. For this purpose, the young
wood is gathered in autumn, during the ascent of the
second sap, and immersed for three or four days in still
water ; it is then taken out at sunset, spread on the
grass, and returned to the water at sunrise ; and this
being daily repeated, it is finally prepared and spun like
flax.

By a letter that I have received lately from one of
the great silk growers in France, I see that the white
mulberry continues to have the preference over all other
varieties, and is now extensively cultivated there.

Third, MORUS MORETTI. This new and valuable variety
of mulberry was first discovered about the year 1815,
by Mr. Moretti, Professor in the University of Pa via ;
and from a single young tree, he had, in 1826, multi-
plied them to 120,000. The leaf is ovate, sharp pointed,
entire, cordate at the base ; it is thin, smooth on the
under and especially on the upper surface, which is of
a beautiful and rather deep shining green ; it is not so
thick as that of the large white mulberry, called, in

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 173

France, the admirable, and it is thinner than those of
the Spanish mulberry, morns nigra. It is neither
wrinkled nor plaited, is, in general, ten inches wide and
twelve inches long. The fruit, which is at the first vio-
let, becomes at maturity perfectly black, but is some-
times white. This mulberry will be most profitably cul-
tivated in the form of a hedge, and from the remarka-
ble size of its leaves they are gathered with the greatest
facility. Their superior quality has been proved by the
experiments of Mr. Gera and Count Dandolo, who assert
that " they produce silk of a more beautiful gloss and
finer quality than common silk."

It is well established that the morus alba is the vari-
ety cultivated for silk nearly everywhere, and isN gener-
ally considered as producing the best silk ; but after my
own observation, my opinion is that the moretti will be
the very best variety for California, for many reasons.
First, I remarked it to be a very vigorous and strong
grower, wherever I have met it in the State ; it is also
more hardy than others. Second, as it is an improved
variety of the alba, it is very easy to understand why it
produces silk of a superior gloss. Third, because one
of its large, thick, substantial leaves contains as much
food as a half dozen of the others, and, consequently,
the whole tree produces more in proportion. Fourth,
the thickness of its leaves is the cause that they do not
wilt so fast, and keep fresh a longer time, and they af-
ford the worms plenty of time to eat the whole. This
last point ought to be taken into consideration under the
influence of our dry atmosphere. All the above quali-

174 TI1E CALIFORNIA

ties of that fine variety will certainly be appreciated by
our silk growers, and I should not be surprised to see
it, in a short time, very extensively cultivated through-
out California.

This, and the alba, and also the multicaulis, are the
principal varieties that we should cultivate for silk in
California, because it is fully demonstrated and known
that they produce the best quality of silk ; and, besides
that important point, there is another. We are satisfied
that these three varieties thrive most luxuriantly in our
Bilk State, as I have been able to ascertain in different
parts of the State, in my travelings for the silk cause.

CHAPTER VI.

THE SOIL.

Without fear of being contradicted, I think that I
can say here, that in California we possess, hot only one
of the best, but the very best soil for the mulberry tree.
For my part, I never before saw mulberry trees with
such a growth as they have in California. In regard
to soil, in one of my letters to the " California Farmer "
I wrote thus :

" To all who are about to start in that rich industry
I desire to say for their benefit, that the most important
point to begin with, is the selection of the soil for the
mulberry. It is a fact, that it grows almost anywhere

175

in California, but, more or less, a deep, rich, light,
loamy soil is needed. In such a soil, we can obtain as
much food from one acre as from two or three of other
soils. In that mulberry soil, trees seven years old
measure from two to three feet in circumference ; shoots
one year old are from ten to twelve feet long, and we
have any amount in all the valleys of California. I
have remarked a great quantity of it in our beautiful
and healthy valley of San Jose*, but have observed it
more generally in the Sacramento Valley. We can say
that we have hundreds of thousands of acres of such
soil in California. The quantity of silk that we can pro-
duce is incalculable ; we could supply the whole world
with the article.'*

But I do not mean by the above to impress on any-
body that valley land is alone suitable for the mulberry,
as I have observed along our foothills, and even on the
hills, very fine mulberry soil ; arid I would also recom-
mend to those who have plantations there, to select al-
ways the soil, and give it a deep plowing, and plant
early.

In Europe, it is on the hills that they generally ob-
tain their best silk, but they have rain there often, which
stimulates the growth of their mulberry trees planted in
the mountains ; and it is very easy to understand why
the silk from the mountains is better than that produced
in the valleys. But by doing, in regard to mountain
soil, as I have said before, I have no doubt that we will
succeed, and I will earnestly recommend it to be tried.
In case of success, we shall certainly obtain there a very

176 THE CALIFORNIA

superior article. Sunny exposures on the declivities of
hills must be preferred ; those especially which slope to
the south and east are the most favorable.

The cocoons of mountainous countries are deemed
superior to those of the plains ; although not so large,
they are usually of a whiter color. Trees planted in
the hills are neither exposed to suffer from the early and
later frosts, nor are the leaves liable to become spotted
or diseased from mildew.

One of the principal things we must have in view to
succeed well, is the preparation of the soil in which to
plant our trees. The soil, before planting, must be
thoroughly and deeply cultivated, because the roots of
the mulberry tree strike downward, and consequently
need a deep plowing.

But, in regard to the preparation of the soil in Cali-
fornia, there is nothing better than the admirable ad-
dress of G. N. Sweezey, Esq., delivered before the
Northern District Agricultural Society at Marysville, on
the 4th of September last. I cut from the " California
Farmer " the following paragraph :

" Having built my house and out buildings and done
my fencing, or before, if not prepared to fence, I would
in the mouth of March or first of April, with suitable
teams, proceed to fallow the lands I designed for my
orchard, vineyard, shade trees, grain, and pastures, at
least so much as I could conveniently put in the fol-
lowing fall and spring. In ploughing these lands for fal-
lows I should run the plough to the beam of subsoil,
which would be the best. The deeper these lands are

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 177

ploughed the more productive they will be, and the
greater amount of moisture they will retain. Here,
you will find, is the great secret in treating and culti-
vating these dry lands. They must be ploughed deep
and rendered loose and friable in order to retain mois-
ture. If allowed to harden and bake and crack, the
evaporation passes off as does that from water poured
upon a heap of bricks ; but if the soil is well pulverized,
it will hold moisture like a sponge, and retard and re-
tain the evaporation constantly passing upwards, and
what is more, will allow the tender roots and fibers to
permeate the soil in every direction, licking up the
moisture, and to penetrate down to where the soil is
damp and cool. At the same time I am ploughing my
fallow I would procure my grapes and other cuttings,
preparatory to rooting them for the next spring's plant-
ing. I will have to prepare these myself, for if I pur-
chase nursery plants as now prepared, my labor will be
in vain, as the ground to be planted will be dry before
they have commenced sprouting deeper down than such
plants can be set. These plants I will make from
twenty-four to thirty inches long, and will put them out
in nursery rows, laying them almost horizontally in the
soil, so that the end designed to root shall not be more
than six inches under ground, while the other end
protrudes not over two buds. In this way I shall ob-
tain a long plant, when rooted, which I should not do
if they were placed perpendicularly in any soil adapted
for nursery purposes, as such soil is cold and wet at a

178 THE CALIFORNIA

small depth below, and would consequently rot the
cuttings within six or eight inches of the surface."

That address is a veiy important document, and e\vrv
farmer ought to have it. But I only put here simj»lv
what concerns the preparation of the soil, as it com-
pletely suits my views; because mulberry trees will
certainly do pretty well in a soil prepared as above.

I think I have said enough to make everyone un<lor-
stand that the soil in which you intend to plant your
mulberry trees must be well and deeply cultivated, as
by all I know and what I have seen, deep ploughin
indispensable in California, in order to retain a pr«
moisture through our dry season. It is the <-h< -a] ,» -st
way, as it saves you the labor of irrigating, and is ten
times preferable.

CHAPTER VH.

MULBERRY CULTURE.

The mulberry tree is propagated by seeds, by cut-
tings or slips, by layers, and in Europe also sometimes
by grafting; but I think that we have no need of
grafting in California, where the mulberry is so easy to
grow, easier even than the willow.

First, BY SEEDS. The seeds are obtained by washing
the bruised pulp of thoroughly ripened fruit. The trees
that are left for that purpose must be shaken every day ;

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 179

the fruit is mashed in a tub with water till thoroughly
incorporated, and the mass, being largely diluted, is
poured off, its place being supplied by new quantities-,
till the water comes off clear and the seed perfectly
clean. It is then dried on cloths in the shade, and when
perfectly dry, it is preserved and kept in a dry, cool
place.

Good mulberry seed will sink to the bottom after
steeping a short time in water, and one ounce will usu-
ally produce from eight to ten thousand plants. Pre-
vious to sowing, the seeds should be soaked twenty-
four hours in tepid water, then mixed with fine, moist
sand, and exposed to a moderately warm temperature,
and sown as soon as they commence to germinate.
Take the mixture (seed and sand) and sow them im-
mediately in well-prepared, fine soil, kept free from
weeds.

They do better in drills, and are easier to take care
. of. The rows should be from two to three feet asunder,
and the seed planted at an average distance of about
half an inch. Cover them but half an inch deep ; press
tlfe earth a little, so that it may retain sufficient moisture
at its surface.

The best time for sowing will vary much in California
according to the locality ; the farmer will have to ex-
ercise his own judgment about it, because we have
many places where there is frost, and plenty others
where there is none. It must be borne in mind that
when young trees begin to spring out through the earth
they are very tender, and the least frost would kill them.

180 \. THE CALIFORNIA

Then I would advise those that are in a locality where
there is no frost, to sow some time in January or hoirin-
ning of February, so that the young trees may be 1
efited by the rains ; they will then make a fine growth
through the season. And to those who live in a locality
subject to frost, I would say : sow in the spring when
the frost is over ; but it will then require close attention
to keep your rows sufficiently sprinkled till they are a
few inches high ; but as January and February are the
best months in which to sow the seed in order to have
good trees through the season, it can be done in our
frosty localities. But now that you know the danger,
you understand very well that it is necessary to pro-
tect the young plants coming out against the frost.
We have such light frosts here, in this country, that
they are only dangerous for very young seedling trees
at the time they are coming out and very tender, be-
cause when they are five or six inches high, the frost
never injures the trees any more.

When your young trees are coming out, you must
hoe with care between the rows and weed carefully
during summer ; thin them out where needed, and, if
your seedlings have been well taken care of, you will
have in the fall fine young trees that you can transplant
where they are to grow.

Second, HY CUTTINGS. This is the best and surest
way to propagate the mulberry, because they are not
subject here to be injured by frost, or hot sun, or any-
thing else. In this way you can propagate more largely
the best varieties of mulberry, whereas by seed you

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 181

cannot, as they vary very much, and from twenty you
can hardly find two that look alike.

As to the old way of making cuttings and planting
them, every one knows ; but in this part of the culture,
as in all the rest, we have to work according to the
locality we are in and the climate we are under. The
old way of making cuttings, with one-third sticking out
above the ground, I consider very, bad under our dry
atmosphere, to which tops are exposed. The action of
that dry atmosphere and of our burning sun dries them
and kills a great many, as the cutting is simply a piece
of wood with no roots to supply it with moisture.

For the benefit of all, I will here note the result of my
observations on that subject. Have your cuttings about
six or eight inches long, the tops cut near one eye or
bud ; plant deep enough to have the top covered about
half an inch. This is sufficient to prevent the action of
the sun, etc., and in this way you will have them all
grow, if planted in a proper soil ; that soil I have de-
scribed before. You must not forget that for the cut-
tings also the soil must be well prepared.

Now, at the beginning of the silk culture, what do
we need? Plenty of mulberry trees. My new and
simple way of planting cuttings (I may say, according
to our climate) will greatly help to secure that result ;
and I hope that it will give a great impulse to the mul-
berry culture, as we can propagate it fast without any
trouble.

Another advantage of propagating the mulberry by
• cuttings is, that it is a stronger grower, and, conse-

182 THE CALIFORNIA

quently, will allow to begin to feed from them the first
year, and thus pay for their cost.

If you plant your cuttings in a nursery to be trans-
planted the year after, the rows must be from three to
four feet asunder, and the cuttings in the rows six or
eight inches apart. But in a good mulberry soil, in
selecting the best cuttings and planting them, as I say
above, I think that there would be no danger to plant
them at once where they have to grow. Yet, in what-
ever way, you must take care of your cuttings, not allow
the. weeds to grow, pass the cultivator between the rows,
and hoe carefully, remembering that the cuttings must
not be touched before they have good roots, because if
you hit them any way, you break the young and very
tender roots and prevent them from growing. Keep
the surface of the ground loose by working it, and it
will retain a sufficient moisture ; but in some localities
and soils, if it is too dry, give them water. Your care
and attention will be well compensated by the good
growth of your cuttings.

Third, BY LAYERS. According to our California cul-
ture, the trees have to be cut only a few inches from
the ground to make them branch out more freely ; this
will greatly favor the propagation by layers. I have
observed that the mulberry tree is easier to grow from
layers than many other trees ; then it does not require
so much trouble or work for the bending of the branches.

I would recommend simply to do thus : have your
branches all round the trees you wish to propagate, laid
out horizontally, covered about two inches deep, their

183

extreme ends only being left out ; many branches will
require a hook to keep them down to their places.
After the branch is covered with fresh earth, pressed
down to it, the operation is done.

The result of having young layers fixed in this man-
ner, will be that nearly every eye will produce a tree,
with plenty of roots, if they are in a good mulberry
soil, and kept with sufficient moisture. I would recom-
mend to have that operation done early, say in Febru-
ary, although it could be done after that time. In the
following fall you take them up, and with your prun-
ing shears separate the trees, and you will be aston-
ished at the quantity produced in that way ; then we
will soon have enough mulberry trees to plant the State
all over, by these different modes of propagating.

Everything considered, it is my opinion that we have
no other tree so easily propagated in California as the
mulberry. Then we have no reason to look for any
substitute, as it is well established and demonstrated
that it is the very best and most natural food of the
silkworm ; besides, the fact is also well demonstrated
by nature, as no insect can live upon its leaves, but
the silkworm.

184 THE CALIFORNIA

CHAPTER VHI.

PLANTATION OF THE MULBERRY, ACCORDING TO OUR
CALIFORNIA SILK CULTURE.

Before thinking to raise any silkworms, we have first
to plant the mulberry. I have shown before what soil
must be selected to plant it ; and how to prepare that
soil, and also the different modes of propagating it;
and in this last part I add the results of my obser-
vations in California, by which we can come in a very
short time to have mulberry trees enough in California
to cover the whole State.

The mulberry tree is, of course, but little known in
this country, so recent is the awakened interest in its
culture ; but it will certainly prove to us a source of
great wealth, and it should receive the attention that
it merits. It will add another, and decidedly the great-
est and most valuable staple to our agriculture, the
true source of wealth to any country — a staple that
will conduce more to the happiness and comfort of our
whole country than any other. And I can say here,
that there is not another staple that offers such general
advantages, and could contribute so largely to enrich
the country, as the culture of the mulberry tree, and
the raising of silk. But as I have said before in some
of my letters, everything must be cultivated in its
proper place ; and as California has been designed by
nature for that rich culture, let us then cultivate it all
over the State.

185

We already have our cotton States, -why not have
also our silk States ? — because any other State which
possesses a climate similar to ours, is convenient for silk
culture, and our simplified California silk culture
could apply to it. But I think that it is very difficult
to find another place so wonderful, and so particularly
adapted for silk culture, as California. Here we seem
to have everything in our favor — the lest climate for the
silkworms, and the very best soil to cultivate and raise
the mulberry, which furnishes here an abundance of that
precious and healthy food that they need : all these ad-
vantages, I think, cannot be surpassed in any country.

It is the superiority of our climate that allowed me to
simplify the work, and reduce it considerably.

I will show at the cJippter on the worms how and why
that culture will have to be adopted here, under the in-
fluence of our dry atmosphere, besides the great advan-
tage it has of reducing the work, which is most import-
ant.

In other silk countries, not so well favored as Cali-
fornia, the climate forces them to feed their worms with
leaves only ; while here in California, I am feeding with
branches, and the worms are doing better that way than
when fed with leaves only, which I will 'demonstrate in
its proper place. But we must have our trees planted
in view of our California silk culture, in order to facili-
tate the gathering of the branches.

186 THE CALIFORNIA

JIOW TO PLANT.

The ground being prepared, as I have said before,
take your plants that you have grown from seeds, or
cuttings, or layers, and plant them. Here in California,
according to your locality and soil, I would recommend
that the rows be from ten to twelve feet apart ; but in
the rows I would put them double, or from five to six
feet. Every six rows, I would make the distance be-
tween the rows six or eight feet wider, because it is
necessary to leave room enough to pass with your wagon
to load your branches in ; because, if you had to run
too far it would be a loss of time, and it is to your ad-
vantage to plant in such a way as to render the work
easier and quicker.

For our California culture, it is necessary in planting
to have your trees cut at about three or four inches
above the level of the ground, because they must be
kept low, so as to render the gathering of the branches
easy ; and another advantage of keeping them very low
is, that they produce more branches, and consequently
more food.

For the gathering of the branches you must have
good pruning shears, as they are the best for that work
to do it well and quickly. In gathering your branches,
I wish to call your attention to a very important pointy
and that is, if you cut all the branches at the time of
feeding, the effect will be to stop the sap, which is fur-
nished by the roots, and ruin your trees, that, under
such a treatment, would hardly live two years ; and you

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 187

know now, that the mulberry tree is a long-lived tree,
often continuing healthy several hundred years.

But it is very easy to avoid injuring the trees, in
gathering the branches, by proceeding thus : the first
time, with your pruning shears, you cut only about one-
third of the branches of your trees, removing always the
largest branches, and cutting each time only what you
need for your worms and no more, as they should have
fresh food every time.

You proceed in that manner every day, in cutting
only about one-third ; and when you have been through
all your trees, you come back and begin again where
you first began, and cut again another third in the same
manner ; and doing so, by the number of young branches
left on your trees, the sap continues to run up, and your
trees do not suffer from the gathering of some of their
branches.

Low Mulberry Tree Plantations, therefore, in their
formation, is the mode which I shall recommend for
general adoption in California, for the following reasons :
First, it is necessary for our mode of feeding in Cali-
fornia, as it renders easy the gathering of the branches.
Second, they arrive to a state of productiveness with
comparatively little. expense of time and tillage. Third,
sufficient sun and air are admitted to the tree to render
the leaves of the first quality, and to enable them to put
forth early. Fourth, the ground is more suddenly and
completely filled and occupied than by planting stand-
ards. Fifth, they are easier to be managed and con-
trolled. Sixth, the produce of leaves, on the same

188 THE CALIFORNIA

quantity of land, is more than double, than from stand-
ard trees in their best state, when the labor is much les-
sened. Seventh, women and children can gather the
food with perfect convenience from low trees, which they
cannot so easily do at all from large trees.

Hosier and other modern writers of France, particu-
larly recommend this mode in preference to all others.

John P. Gushing, Esq., of Belmont, in Watertown, a
gentleman who has resided many years in China, has
stated that the most approved mode of cultivating the
mulberries, as practiced in that country, consists in
keeping them low by annual prunings, like plantations
of raspberries. The same mode, according to Mr. Lou-
don, and also Mr. Bonafoux, is practiced in India.

This system of keeping the trees low is certainly tho
best, and the only one we can follow with advantage for
our California silk culture.

CHAPTER IX.

MULBERRY TREES EVERYWHERE.

The mulberry tree is the lest, the most useful, and,
consequently, the most valuable of all the trees known ;
more particularly in California, where it grows so easily
and so rapidly. I will try to demonstrate here, and
show how and why we ought to plant it everywhere, in

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 189

showing its merits and superiority over all the rest, by
enumerating a few facts.

1st. Because it is the easiest tree to propagate, and,
as it grows so rapidly in California, it will be the cheap-
est.

2nd. Because most of the varieties of the mulberry
are esteemed dessert fruits when perfectly mature.

3rd. Because the syrup made from its fruit is very
useful in mitigating inflammation of the throat.

4th. Because, also, when the fermented juice of its
fruit is mixed with apples it affords a delicious beverage
called mulberry cider, of a deep red color like port wine.
The black mulberry is the best variety for that purpose.

5th. The juice of its fermented fruits produces a
pleasant, vinous wine by itself alone.

6th. It ought to be planted also for the value of its
wood, which is compact, elastic, and hard, and suscep-
tible of a fine polish ; it is therefore very useful to the
upholsterer, the carver, and the turner.

7th. The great strength of the timber renders it very
valuable for the joiners generally.

8th. The quality of its timber makes it also very valu-
able for the building of boats, its power of resisting the
action of the water being equal to oak.

9th. One, also, of its merits is, that the tree is long-
lived : it is fully demonstrated that it lives several hun-
dred years.

10th. Its bark can be converted into linen of the fine-
ness of silk. I have in hand some of that kind of silk,

190 THE CALIFORNIA

produced from the bark ; it looks as fine, and as good
and strong as the floss silk from the cocoons.

llth. It is very valuable for feeding milch cows.
Every ont has seen in our principal papers, under the
heading of mulberry for forage, that " a German farm- r
of Ohio, during the late season of drought, cut down a
number of black mulberry trees for his cows, and was
surprised to find that they gave more and richer milk
than when fed on grass ; the butter had a peculiarly
pleasant flavor. In California this fact may be of great
value ; the tree,by growing deep into the earth, read us
more moisture, and can resist drought better than grass,
and the dairyman would t{ws be enabled to provide
green forage the year round, even frmn dry soil." Many
farmers were ruined by the loss of their cattle, not long
ago, when we had been two years without rain, and then
if we had mulberry trees jJantcd everywhere, we could
have saved those thousands of thousands of cattle that
perished from hunger. Let us begin, then, to plant
everywhere, and such a calamity will never occur again.

12th. As an ornamental tree it ought to be planted
everywhere, because there is none that can be compared
to it. We are planting in California a great quantity of
ugly and common trees, that are good for nothing, and
that are called ornamental trees, when they really orna-
ment nothing at all, and which are certainly very far
from being as fine looking and ornamental as the mul-
berry tree. Some of these common trees, instead of
being ornamental, I consider a real and .regular nui-
mnc.e. Such is the cotton wood tree, that we find planted

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 191

in many of our cities to ornament their streets, and, in-
stead of that, renders them dirty, and everything in
their neighborhood. Then it would ba certainly hun-
dreds of times better to cut down immediately all these
dirty trees, and plant mulberry trees in their place, and
then only, we will have fine-looking, ornamental, and
clean trees to look at ; as on the others, myriads of in-
sects live upon their leaves, while with the mulberry tree,
no insect can live upon its leaves but the silkworm.

13th. As the mulberry produces also a quantity of fruit
that the birds are fond of, this is another reason why
they should be planted everywhere, around the gardens,
farms, and particularly orchards, as a protection to other
fruits. The damage done by birds to fruits generally,
and particularly to cherries, is well known by all. This
damage will be greatly reduced, because the quantity
of fruit they eat from the mulberry they will not have to
eat elsewhere.

14th. Another reason again, why all the farmers
ought to plant it everywhere around their premises is,
as I have said before, because the trees produce a large
quantity of fruit, that keeps falling off the trees for a
long time. The hens and other fowls generally like it,
and devour it, and it is considered a good and whole-
some food for them, and the same for other animals about
the farm ; in fact, their fruit is perfectly wholesome in
every respect. This point ought to be taken into con-
sideration by our farmers, and make them understand
that it is for their interests to quit planting trees that
are good for nothing.

192 THE CALIFORNIA

15th. Even one of the above facts is enough to prove
that it is a useful tree ; but all these facts together are
more than sufficient to persuade any reasoning person
that the mulberry tree ought to be planted everywhere
in California : but it is not all, and we come now to the
most important point. Besides the above facts in its
favor, it is the tree that produces that wholesome food
for the insect that produces the silk, which is the finest
and richest of all fabrics , and which has made so many
countries rich ; and as California is found to be so favor-
able to that culture, we will certainly be the first and
most important silk State of the Union.

Now, I have said, at the beginning of that chapter,
that the mulberry tree is the best, the most useful and
valuable of all the trees known. I am in hope that all
my readers will now agree with me that it is the truth,
as I think it would be very difficult to find another tree
of such importance.

Now, wo will leave the mulberry tree for the silk-
worms.

CHAPTER X.

COCOONEUY, OR MAGUANERIE BUILDING, TO RAISE THE
SILKWORMS IN.

Since 1860 I have been raising silk in California, but
never had the means to have a cocoonery. I have been

198

obliged to raise the first silk in a greenhouse, having no
other room that I could use. A greenhouse is a very-
bad place for using the worms, because there is a suffo-
cating heat during the day, and it is very cold at night.
I have been raising them that way for four years ; and
since, two years in the garret of my new house, which
is not a good place either, as I am not able to give them
air enough there ; but, however, it is better than the
greenhouse. In both places, I have succeeded in rais-
ing them without any sign of disease, which shows the
superiority of our climate, because, in many other silk
countries, under such circumstances, they would not
have been able to raise any. But, besides that, I have
given worms and sent silkworms' eggs to different per-
sons in the State, with a few verbal, and sometimes a
few lines of instruction in a letter, and they have all
succeeded in raising the silk ; and persons that have
never done it before, some of them, have raised their
silkworms in their bedroom, some in their kitchen, others
in different rooms, or rather a shed. All this certainly
demonstrates fully, that under our fine silk climate, silk-
worms can be raised in any room, and almost every-
where in California.

IMPORTANCE OF. A COCOONERY.

For any one that wishes to make a profitable business
of it, a good cocoonery is indispensable ; because,
although the climate allows us here to raise silkworms
in almost any way, it is, however, well established and
known, that the silkworms need plenty of air, room,

194 THE CALIFORNIA

and particularly a temperature as regular as possible.
All these points cannot be attained without a good
cocoonery, built with special reference to them.

In a good cocoonery we are certain of obtaining more
silk from the same number of cocoons, and the silk
finer, and of superior quality, besides rendering the
feeding of the worms easier, and consequently it can be
done with less trouble and work.

A good cocoonery has also the advantage of pro-
tecting the silkworms against their natural enemies,
which are the bird, principally, and all the poultry,
rats, mice and ante.

A GOOD COCOONERY IS NEEDED ON EVERY FARM.

I wish to show and impress upon every reasoning
person, that a good cocoonery is indispensable on every
farm, and that such a building would be of great benefit
to each farmer, not only for the raising of silkworms,
but also for other products, because at the feeding
time, which is in June and July, you have no need of
the building to store anything in, and during all the
balance of the year that building can be used to store
all the grain, hay, corn, or any other products that need
to be protected against the inclemency of the weather,
or the depredations of cattle, squirrels, gophers, rats,
mice, etc., etc. It is evident that for the storage of
all this only, such a building ought to exist on every
farm ; and the saving of the crops will certainly more
than compensate the farmer for the erection of it,
because they can build it small or large, according to

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 195

the size of the farm and the business carried on, or
intended to be. But, as it would not cost any more,
it should be necessary to have the interior of that
building arranged in view of using it for storage and
silkworms, and that is very simple. Only have all the
posts for the shelves of a regular size and length, kept
together by means of wooden pins or screws, all also of
the same size, or any other way that you may find
better ; but remember that they must be arranged in
such a way as to make it very easy to put them together
and to take them apart. Then, after you put them up,
when you want to feed your silkworms, and after the
feeding and cleaning is done, in a few hours' work you
can take the whole thing apart, and have them piled in
one or more corners of the building, as you find it most
convenient ; and then you have the whole room ready
for your storage, or anything else.

Many farmers have to pay storage for their grain ;
but the moment they have a cocoonery, they will save
that much, besides the other advantages.

PLAN OP A CALIFORNIA COCOONERY.

As our fine silk climate enabled me to simplify the
culture of silk, and our California silk culture is different
from that of other countries, we also need a California
cocoonery to suit our culture, and also different from
the others. I would then suggest or propose the annexed
plan :

The building is fifty feet wide by one hundred feet
long, and is two stories high ; the walls to be brick, but

196 TIIK CALIFORNIA

hollow, according to Mr. Goodrich's patented syst
These are my reasons for recommending hollow walls :
First, they are nearly one-third cheaper, as only
bricks are needed instead of three. Second, it is more
healthy for the worms. Third, and the principal, it
has a more even temperature, which is exceedii
favorable to silkworms. It is necessary for a complete
success that we do all we can to have in our cocooiu TV
a temperature as regular as possible.

About eight windows will be needed on each side of
the first, and also of the second story.

SHELVES, POSTS, ETC.

The posts to support the shelves ought to be from
three to four inches in diameter and eight feet apart ;
the cross pieces to support the boards about one inch
and a half thick by three inches wide, and, of course,
just eight feet long.

We can use inch boards sixteen feet long, the cross
pieces being eight feet apart, the board will be sup-
ported in the two ends and in the middle ; the boards
need to be in sufficient number to make the shelf eight
feet wide.

The shelves need to be two feet six inches from one
to the other. The worms on the three first can be fed
while standing on the floor, and for the three others
above, at that point the cross piece needs to be longer,
so as to put a good board on the ends to take care of
them, and the same way in the second story.

The galleries between the shelves, to take care of

197

the worms, are four feet wide in the center, but those
alongside of the walls only three feet. The rafters are
laid across for a second floor, but they are only
boarded, where the galleries are, for attending the
worms ; the object of this arrangement being to allow
the air to circulate everywhere.

In order to be able to regulate the temperature and
have plenty of air, I wish a kind of second roof on the
top should be raised at about twenty inches from
the other, and projecting on each side from four to five
feet. This gives the appearance of a double roof.
With some hinges, lids can be hung that we can open
and shut at will.

In the cocoonery it is very important to have nothing
that would give a bad smell, and more particularly
tobacco. That drug is a regular poison for the worms,
and no one that smokes or chews tobacco should be
allowed to go into a cocoonery, as the breath, which is
impregnated with that drug, is very injurious to worms.

The cocoonery should be built in an airy situation,
because what the worms need most is plenty of air and
space. In regard to space, I see that Count Dandolo
says, that he considers the following estimate as afford-
ing sufficient space for a million of silk worms, or in
this proportion for a greater or less number : for the
first age, two hundred square feet of surface ; for the
second age, three hundred and seventy-five square feet ;
for the third age, eight hundred and seventy-five
square feet; for the fourth age, two thousand and

198 THE CALIFORNIA

sixty-two feet, and for the fifth age, about five thousand
feet of surface.

In other silk countries, less favored than California,
they have to use in their cocooneries any amount of
different apparatus ; but we have no need of all that here.

At one end of the building and under ike roof, I
would recommend to have one room, finished off, of some
twenty feet square, more or less, according to the capa-
of the building — it should be lathed and plastered ; that
room to be used as a hatching room, and for the first
week's feeding, and also for the millers.

I have already designated the enemies of the silk-
worms, but I wish you to remember particularly that
mice destroy from the egg to the miller.

CHAPTER XI.

SILKWORMS — THE DIFFERENT! VARIETIES OP.

Aa there are many varieties of silkworms, wo will
have to find which is the best for California ; and in
order to decide that satisfactorily, I have made ar-
rangements to receive this season, five of the best vari-
eties that are in cultivation in Europe, which I will try
the next season, and then I will inform the public of
the results. I already have in hand my first variety,
which is very good ; but I expect to find among the

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 199

others something better, which will produce still larger
cocoons, according to the information I have.

I have now a variety from Japan, that I expect to
be their annual variety, that I will be able to try the
next season also. In Japan, as in other silk countries,
they cultivate several varieties ; some better than oth-
ers. If this kind is their annual variety, according to
the accounts I have of it, I know it will be a good
sort. But, last year, I received a variety from Japan,
which I tried this last season. It belongs to the
class of worms called trivoltines, because they hatch
several times during the season ; and in California the
eggs of that variety hatch eight or ten days after the
females have laid them. I have made this last season
three crops of that variety, each time coming to per-
fection. Their cocoons are of a pure white, but small,
and for that reason I cannot recommend them to be
cultivated. For my part I will not cultivate them any
more, for two reasons : First, the fact of hatching so
readily, keeps you busy all summer after them ; and
certainly one good crop of a good variety, (which is
only one-third of the work) is more valuable than
three crops of those. Second, their cocoons being
too small, are consequently of little value, as they pro-
duce the short silk ; and you must all know that short
silk brings the small price and long silk the larger
price ; and I prefer long silk.

Some eggs of that Japanese variety, that were left
in my garret, have hatched out for the fourth time.

My old, or first variety, produces yellow cocoons, but

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

200 THE CALIFORNIA

very superior to that Japanese sort, in site and quality.
Until we find something better, it is the best var
that we could cultivate at present. I received thai
variety at the first, from France, but its origin is China.

There are many other varieties of silkworms ; I will
mention a few here. Besides the silkworms of one
crop, or annual, we hare also those of two crops.
These go through their various mutations in twenty
days, and produce fine white silk, which has the valua-
ble property of retaining its clear white color. It pro-
duces two crops, though the quantity is leas than that
produced by the largo, dark colored, or by the large
white worm.

At the silk establishment of the British East India
Company, at Jungepore, in Bengal, besides the com-
mon silkworm, which produces but a single crop annu-
ally, they have also another silkworm called dacey,
which produced eight croj* or harvests, and is supposed
to be indigenous.

There is a variety of silkworm found in Friuli, so
very large that two of them, when fully grown, will out-
weigh five of the common kind, and their cocoons
wei#h almost in the same proportion ; the quantity of
food is one-tenth less in proportion to the weight of co-
coons produced, than for the common kind, but they
require five or six clays longer in their evolutions, be*
fore they begin to spin their cocoons, which arc heavy,
and measure almost l,oUO yards. One hundred co-
coons weigh a pound, and one thousand and ninety-one
will yield a pound of pure reeled silk.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 201

The arrindy silkworm is another species entirely
different from any other described or known, and is
called arrindy from the name of the plant, the palma
christi, on which the insect feeds. It is peculiar to
the districts of Dinapore and Rangpore, in the interior
of Bengal, where it is reared by the natives in a domestic
state, as they do other silkworms. The palma christi
is largely cultivated in India, as it is also in many parts
of France, and some other countries, for the abundant
produce of oil which is obtained from its seeds, known
in commerce as the castor oil. This plant is therefore
cultivated for the double use of seeds, and also of its
leaves.

The cocoons it produces are remarkably soft and
white, or yellowish ; and the filament is so exceedingly
delicate, that it cannot be wound, as are other cocoons,
but must be spun like cotton. The cloth woven of this
substance, is white, coarse, and of a seemingly loose
texture, but of incredible durability ; it is used for the
clothing of both men and women, and will wear con-
stantly for fifteen or twenty years. Hot water dis-
solves its texture, causing it to tear; it is therefore
washed only in cold water.

The palma christi, or castor bean plant, flourishes
most luxuriantly in California ; and, under our fine
climate, that variety would certainly do well here.

The wild silkworm of India is a species which can-
not be domesticated. They are so abundant in many
parts of Bengal, and the provinces adjoining, as to have
afforded the natives of those countries, and particularly

202 THE CALIFORNIA

the Brahmins, from time immemorial, considerable sup-
plies, of a most durable, coarse, dark colored silk.
which is woven into a fabric called tu**eh dootie. This
kind of cloth might prove very useful here, and be
beneficial to die country, as a cheap, light, cool, and
durable dress is much wanted — such a dress as
silk affords, and such as is worn by the Brahmins of
India. Once introduced, our climate being so favor-
able, the species would certainly flourish, unaided by
the care, and undisturbed by the attentions of man ;
but for that we must have large quantities of mulberry
trees planted to let them spread over.

CHAPTER XII.

MODES OF RAISING SILK IN DIFFKRKNT COUNTRIES.

Before giving our California silk culture, I thought
it would be well briefly to sketch the different modes
of raising the silk in other countries. It will give my
readers some light on the subject, and enable them to
appreciate our culture, by comparison.

The general saying is : give the silkworms air, fretk
and pure ; let them be comfortably warm and dry,
and cleanly ; and with sufficient space to prevent them
from contact, with ample supplies of healthy food.
These directions alone are sufficient to insure the most
perfect success.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 203

Although the art of making silk was for ages in-
volved in obscurity, it is now stripped in a great meas-
ure of the dark vestments in which it has been so long
and so mysteriously vailed ; specimens of sewing silk of
different colors, and of the most perfect beauty, have
been produced by N. B. Stacy, Esq., of Burlington,
Vt., in 1836, and that unaided by any experience,
and with no other instruction than that which books
afford. Mr. Stacy has succeeded in raising and manu-
facturing several pounds of sewing silk of superior
quality, yet ho had never before seen a silkworm, a
cocoon, or reel, and was himself astonished to find no
mystery in the business. The cocoons produced by him
were very large, requiring but little more than two
hundred to the pound. He is persuaded that the
main profit depends on full feeding, and making the
greatest possible amount of silk from every insect.

In some parts of China, where the climate is more
suitable, the silkworms are suffered to remain at liberty,
on their native mulberry trees, where, uncontrolled and
unaided by man, they pass through their various muta-
tions among the branches. When the cocoons are
formed, they are collected from the trees, except a few
which are left for reproduction.

The experiment of raising silkworms in the open air
was tried in Languedoc, France, by Mr. Martely, of '
Montpelier, in the garden of the College of Jesuits, of
that city, in 1764. In that year twelve hundred francs
were appropriated, by the Minister of France, to defray
the expenses of the experiment, which succeeded per-

204 THE CALIFORNIA

fectly. In 1765, the sum of eighteen hundred francs
was appropriated to defray the expense of another trial ;
but owing to the unfavorable state of the weather, and
the heavy and incessant rains, the experiment in
instance totally failed ; and though the rearing of silk-
worms in the ojxm air has not been attempted any more
in that quarter, yet its partial success taught the culti-
vators new and important lessons, in regard to a more
perfect system of ventilation.

In China, when the mulberry tree has sufficiently
put forth its leaves, the rolls of paper on which the eggs
of the silkworms have been preserved, are daily sus-
pended in the sun : the side on which the eggs are
placed being turned from its rays. At night the papers
are closely rolled up and placed in a warm situation ;
and this bcin^ daily repeated, the eggs hatch in about
four or five days. But in high latitudes, the Chinese
regulate the temperature of apartments with stoves,
that the e<?£8 may hatch simultaneously.

The houses for silkworms are in dry situations and
in a pure atmosphere, and remote from noise. The rooms
are made very close, but with ample means of ventila-
tion, and the doors open on the south. Each room, or
chamber, is provided with nine or ten tiers of frames,
on which the rush hurdles are ranged one above the
"other ; on these the insects are fed during all the differ-
ent periods of their growth. Stoves are also provided
in the corners of the apartments, to preserve a uniform
and equal temperature ; or coals arc carried in a cha-

205

fing dish, from time to time, backwards and forwards,
through the room.

In China, the wants of the young worms are supplied
with unceasing attention ; they are fed during the night
as well as the day, forty times during the first twenty-
four hours, and thirty times during the second day ; but
fewer and fewer on the third day, and afterwards.
Sagacious observers, from their long experience affirm,
that as the growth of the silkworms is accelerated and
success assured by the abundance of their food ; also,
that the quicker the silkworms are brought to maturity,
the greater is the quantity of silk which they produce.
If the silkworms which are produced by each drachm
in weight of eggs are suffered to linger, either through
cold, or neglect and famine, for thirty or forty days,
before they begin their cocoons, the product of silk will
be ten ounces ; but if their maturity is completed in
twenty-eight days, the product will be twenty ounces ;
while the same quantity of silkworms, in a warmer tem-
perature, which being fully fed and well attended, have
completed their growth in the short time of twenty-five
days, will produce twenty-five ounces of silk.

The Chinese are fully sensible of the importance of
preserving the most perfect degree of cleanliness in
their establishments, and are exceedingly careful on this
head. When the insect is prepared to spin, mats are
provided, and in the center of each a leaf is affixed, an
inch in width. This is wound round in spiral form, till
the mat is covered ; a space being left between each

circle of one inch, it having been found that less silk is
10

206 THE CALIFORNIA

wasted, in the receptacle of these dimensions, than
where more space is allowed ; also, at such periods t
exclude the outward air and light, believing the silk-
worms spin their cocoons more diligently in darkness.

Seven days after the silkworms have commenced
their cocoons, they are collected together ; and a suffi-
cient number being reserved for breeding, the remainder
is placed in layers, in large earthcrn jars with salt, in
the proportion of one-fortieth part of the whole weight
of cocoons between the layers. The whole is covered
with large dry leaves, and the mouths of the vessels are
closely stopped.

The long, shining cocoons produce silk of superior
quality. These are separated in reeling, by the Chinese,
from those cocoons of a thick fonn and dark color, which
are of an inferior quality. In China and in Han-Choo-
Foo, according to Sir George Staunton, women only
are employed in the fabrication of flowered and em-
broidered satins, and vast numbers are employed in
very extensive factories.

In the hot climate of India, the silkworms are reared
and sheltered in buildings, and beneath sheds of an
open and airy structure, the sides being composed of
lattice work, and the roofs covered with thatch ; their
breadth being generally fifteen feet, with a path through
the center of sufficient width. The height is usually
eight feet or more, and on either side ; and one above
the other, and in tiers of from twelve to sixteen deep,
arc the stagings, formed of shelves or shallow boxes of
bamboo, in which the silkworms are placed. The posts,-

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 207

which support the stagings, rest in basins of water, to
protect them from ants. When the silkworms are ready
to form their cocoons, they are transferred to cells
formed of planted bamboo.

Formerly, it has been the practice in many parts of
Europe, to inclose a couple of ounces of eggs, in a silk
or cotton bag ; which was worn in the bosom next the
skin, and at night was placed beneath a warm pillow.
After three days the eggs were carefully transferred to
thin shallow boxes, these being placed between warm
pillows. The heat of each was frequently renewed, as
the silkworms were expected to appear toward the
fourth day.

In Italy, Count Dandolo had recommended and
adopted the plan of using stoves for warming and regu-
lating the temperature of the apartments in which the
eggs were hatched. The heat of these rooms being
regulated by the thermometer, is raised during the first
day to sixty-four degrees ; raising it gradually a degree
or two a day, till it shall have reached eighty-two
degrees on the tenth day, and this point is not to be
exceeded. Count Dandolo has suggested that one
room might answer for all the silkworms of a whole
district. Fortunately, the necessity of rules like these
is unknown in California, and in a great portion of
America.

In some of the late establishments of France, they
have altogether dispensed with the use of fireplaces
and stoves, the apartments being now wanned when

208 0 THB CALIFORNIA

needful by currents of heated air, caused by a furnace
placed beneath or without the main apartment.

Broussa, a city at the foot of the Mount Olympus,
like many other cities of Turkey, says Commodore
Porter, is surrounded with plantations of the mulberry
trees ; and asses laden with the limbs and leaves are
continually going into the city.

Mrs. Rhind says, that in Turkey the production of silk
is confined to the cities, or largo towns, in the vicinity
of which the mulberry trees are chiefly cultivated by
the farmers and landed proprietors, who do not raise
the silkworms themselves ; at the suitable season, the
leaves are daily collected by them, and sold in the
market of the city as fruits or vegetables are sold.
When the season commences, almost every family clear
out all the rooms in the house, except the one in which
they live. The worms being hatched, they purchase
sufficient leaves, and strew them over the floor of each
room, leaving only a small space round the four walls,
for the convenience of feeding ; they then place the
worms on the leaves, who rapidly attack them. New
quantities of leaves are daily added to supply the
wants of the worms : the litter is never removed, but
is suffered to accumulate frequently to the height of
three feet. When the worms are ready for winding,
branches and brushes are planted immediately over the
collected mass, and on these the cocoons are formed ;
and these being collected, the rooms are then cleared
out, and the reeling is commenced.

This is the rude and abominably negligent mode

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 209

which is practiced in Broussa, the great silk district of
Turkey, where the best silk is produced. Thus in
Turkey, the silkworms are reared in cities, as well as
in country villages, and the food is purchased in the
market ; these cities and villages being surrounded by
the plantations of the mulberry.

I have been thus particular in describing the mode
of rearing the silk in Turkey, but not by any means
that I would propose it as an example for us to imitate
in California, but as a striking proof of the great
strength of constitution which the silkworms possess ;
and the only mystery appears to be, to comprehend
with what power the silkworms are endued, which can
enable them, thus situated, not only to live and survive,
but also to produce valuable crops. It shows that in
Turkey, their trees are constantly growing under the
influence of a genial sun.

I have also tried here in San Jose*, to raise the silk-
worms in open air. In 1861, knowing that the birds
would eat them all, I covered with mosquito bars the
two trees on which I put my worms. I put them
in the morning at about 8 o'clock, and the next morn-
ing at about the same time, I visited them and found
them almost all gone ; and the few that were left were
surrounded, each one, by a half dozen of ants, that
were carrying them away. Finding that we have so
many enemies outside, I concluded that it was of no
use to think of raising them in the open air, in Cali
fornia.

210 THK CALIFORNIA

CHAPTER XIII.

AMOUNT OF FOOD.

According to Count Dandolo, five ounces of eggs
will furnish tiro hundred thousand silkworms, which
will consume wen thousand pounds of leaves ; and one
hundred trees can furnish the food for all ; and twenty-
one pounds of leaves will furnish food for one pound of
cocoons. Count DC Hazzi, from the sources above
named, calculates that two hundred thousand silkworms
require ten thvutand pounds of leaves in the different
stages of their existence, in the following proportions:
in the fir*t age, fifty |>ouiuls ; second age, one hundred
and fifty pounds ; third age, four hundred and sixty
pounds ; fourth age, one thousand three hundred and
ninety pounds ; but in the fifth and last age, which
usually comprises near one-third of the brief existence
of the silkworm, they will require seven thousand nine
hundred and fifty {tounds.

It is evident that the curious tables of the progress
of the insect which sumo of the best authors have given
us, can be no sure guide, even with a regulated atmos-
phere ; the progress, space, and time, and proj>ortion of
food which will be required for the forty thousand silk-
worms, hatched from one ounce of cg^s, from their
birth, till the time they begin to spin, has been given
by Mr. Bonafoux. I will here state in the abstract,
that in the fnt aye, seven pounds of leaves are con-

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 211

sumed ; in the second, twenty-one pounds ; in the third ,
sixty-nine pounds and twelve ounces ; in the fourth ,
two hundred and ten pounds ; and in the fifth, or after
the fourth moulting, one thousand two hundred and
eighty-one pounds. In the consumption of their food,
their progress, though irregular in the detail, is uniform
on the whole. On the third day from their birth, they
consume three pounds of leaves ; on the /our/A, but one
pound and six ounces ; on the fifth day, they begin to
cast off their skins, and being sick and torpid, they con-
sume but six ounces ; in their second age, and on the
first day, they consume four pounds eight ounces, thus
atoning for previous abstinence ; on the third day,
seven and one-half pounds ; but on the fourth day,
comes on the moulting sickness, and they cat no more
than two and one-half pounds ; in the third age, and
first day, they consume six and three-fourths pounds ;
on the second day, twenty-one and one-half pounds;
on the third day, twenty-two and one-half pounds ; on
the fourth, twelve and one-half pounds ; and but six
and one-half pounds* on the fifth day ; on the sixth
day they become sick, and take no food, this being
a critical period. They cast their skins for the third
time. On the first day of the fourth age, twenty-
three and one-fourth pounds are consumed; but on
the seventh day they eat absolutely nothing, and are
again torpid, this being the critical period. They
cast off their skins for the fourth time. In the fifth age
and first day, they consume forty-two pounds ; on the
sixth day, they become most of all voracious and con-

212 THE CALIFORNIA

sume two hundred and twenty-three pounds ; from this
time, their appetites daily lessen, until the tenth day,
when they consume only fifty-six pounds. The silk-
worms, which at their time of birth occupied but nine
feet of the hurdles, now require two hundred and thirty-
nine feet of space, and the whole quantity of food con-
sumed is about sixteen hundred pounds.

According to another account of Mr. Bonafoux, two
hundred thousand silkworms were sustained xm seventy-
two hundred pounds of leaves ; but it is admitted that
a certain quantity of leaves were given in the inter-
mediate meals, which were not reckoned in the account ;
also, that in the first stages, the leaves were chopped,
which enables the silkworms to consume them without
waste.

Other and authentic accounts make the amount of
food consumed even less than five thousand pounds.
We will admit nine thousand pounds ; but much must
necessarily depend on care, and economy in feeding.

The quantity of food consumed, depends also in some
measure on the season ; if that be moist, the leaves will
contain less nourishment, and consequently more weight
of food will be required; but if, on the contrary, the
season be dry, less quantities will be required, as the
leaves contain much more nourishment. Something
also depends on the species or variety of mulberry
which is used. The Morus undticaulis has no gross or
coarse fibers. It is fouud that a less quantity of food
of this species will suffice for the precious insects. The
same may be said of the Mvrus moretti, which con-
tains in proportion more nourishment.

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 213

CHAPTER XIV.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FEEDING AND QUALITY OF FOOD.

The quantity of silk which the insect affords, is in
proportion to the amount of food consumed ; the dura-
tion of the silkworm is prolonged by a cool season ;
or by scanty, or irregular supplies of food ; in this case,
the amount of silk is greatly diminished. When a
crop of silkworms lingers, either through cold or fam-
ine, for forty days, the amount of silk which they can
afford is not considerable ; while the bounteous harvest
afforded by a crop of silkworms fully fed and well
attended, which in a warm temperature finish their
labors in twenty-four days, will produce more than
double the amount of silk. The silkworm feeds night
and day, and the more they are fed, the faster they
grow, and the sooner they will come to maturity ; and
in proportion to the dimensions of the insect, will be
the size of the cocoons, and the amount of silk pro-
duced.

A certain quantity of food being indispensable to
sustain life, and the amount of silk which is afforded
being of itself wholly the production of the excess of
the food consumed, it follows as a consequence that to
feed them profitably, they must be fed well. Feeding
with branches I consider the most economical mode for

a warm and dry climate like ours in California, as the
10*

214 THE CALIFORNIA

leaves retain their freshness and flavor for a longer
time, and in that case are devoured with less waste.

The Italians insist on cutting the leaves fine for
young worms ; I did so the last season, but have
observed that under our dry atmosphere we should not
do it, as they get dried up, immediately, and the little
ones have hardly time to eat anything before they are
too hard ; on that subject I am just reading now, that
Mr. Smith, and some others of America, have rejected
this mode, after trial, as the silkworms tread down the
cut leaves, passing over them and causing waste.

The young worms prefer twigs, or small branches, as
the leaves keep longer in this state, or until consumed,
and are more consonant to the natural habits of the
worms. It has also been noticed, that the worms avoid
the cut edges, and attack the leaf in any other part
in preference. A dozen leaves torn in pieces at each
feeding will support a great many worms during the
first, second, third and fourth days, and but a very
few leaves will suffice during the first ten days. Con-
stant attention will soon enable the intelligent attend-
ant to discover the quantity of food necessary, and to
avoid, on one hand, stinting them in the needful quan-
tity, or on the other hand, a needless waste by over
supplies of food.

The young leaves being replete with moisture, and
very tender, are the only suitable food for the young
silkworms, because their bodies perspire largely ; and
as the mature leaves contain a greater proportion of

215

solid and nutritive food, so they are the only suitable
food for the silkworms of a more advanced age.

Leaves of a crude and watery consistence, like wet
leaves, are sour, and occasion disease ; leaves which
contain more nourishment, grown in the sun, being
alone the more suitable. The best quality of leaves
are produced, (as it is generally admitted) in dry sea-
sons, and on dry soils, and particularly on trees little
advanced in growth.

In our State, the whole summer season is continually
dry, and being entirely without rain, most all of our
soils are dry ; this is why our leaves are of the first
quality for the worms.

In the early or first ages of the silkworms the amount
of food consumed is very small ; but the amount is
very great in the last age, as their dimensions and bulk
are wonderfully increased.

If the longitudinal dimensions of the insect be com-
pared during the different ages, and their length at
hatching being unit, or one, then at the end of the sec-
ond age, six ; at the end of the third age, twelve ; at
the end of the fourth age, twenty ; at the end of the
fifth age, forty.

I have shown before that the duration of the insect
is prolonged by cold, or for want of proper feeding ;
while on the contrary, the vital functions of the worms
are accelerated by warmth, and also by the degree of
attention which is bestowed on them.

To show that their life is prolonged, when not prop-
erly fed, a very remarkable fact occurred here last

216 THE CALIFORNIA

summer. Early in the season, I gave to Col. Warren,
of the " California Farmer," a lot of young silkworms ;
and for many reasons it was impossible for him to feed
them properly, and indeed they have been very badly
fed, being often several days without food at all ; and
often, having no other, he had to feed them with
faded, hard, dry leaves, that was impossible for them to
eat. Under such treatment they lived mostly all the
time in a torpid state, but remained small for three
months. At that time the Colonel sent them to me ; I
then fed them well, and in a few days they got fat, and
of pretty good size, and made their cocoons, although
not very good ones. I do not know, but think that
anywhere else they would not haVe lived such a long
time.

In a regulated temperature, or such a temperature
as Count Dandolo has prescribed, and where the heat
indicated by the thermometer is gradually reduced
from seventy-five degrees on the first day, to sixty-
eight degrees on the last, though the weather is con-
stantly growing warmer ; in a temperature thus regu-
lated, their various changes, or moultings, usually occur
on the fifth, ninth, fifteenth and twenty-second days;
and they generally will quit feeding on the thirty-sec-
ond day ; but in warm climates, as I have shown, the
various mutations or changes are hastened ; but it seems
agreed, that the amount of food consumed is the same ;
it is evident that the diary, which I shall omit, is only
for the regulated temperature, and we have it natur-
ally pretty well regulated here, during the feeding
time.

OF TH

TJNIVEF

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 217

CHAPTER XV.

TREATMENT OF SILKWORMS, ACCORDING TO OUR CLIMATE.

What I have previously said in the different sections
is in order to familiarize my readers with the nature
and treatment of the silkworms, that they may be able
to know what is best to do, and then be competent
judges to appreciate the advantages of our California
silk culture, which is so simplified that it gives us a
great advantage over other silk countries.

Count Dandolo is considered the best writer on silk-
worms, and the best authority ; this explains to you,
how a book on the silk raising cannot be written without
referring to him often ; but to give you an idea of the
immense work that the climate in Italy forces them to
do, compared with the simple and economical mode of
feeding, etc., that our fine silk climate allows us to use
here, I only have to say to you that Dandolo's work on
the treatment of the silkworm is a book of large size,
containing three hundred and eighty-four pages, and a
great number of plates ; giving, first, a plan of the
complicated and expensive cocoonery which must -be
built there, with also the figures of a great number of
different apparatus that are needed there, which are
very costly, and of which we have no need here.

They have been obliged to feed there with leaves up
to the present day, while here we feed our worms with
branches. I have explained in my letters in the be-

218 THE CALIFORNIA

ginning of this book, how I came to that ; it was in
order to curtail the labor. With the exception of Dan-
dolo's work, that I have in French, I never had in Cali-
fornia, any other book on silk, till September last, when
at Sacramento, my old friend Mr. A. P. Smith of that
place, presented me two ; one, the " American Silk
Grower's Guide," by William Kenrick ; with whom
about the year 1838, I was acquainted. The second
book is " Mulberry Tree and Silk Worm," by Mr.
Samuel Whitemarsh. Both books were written in
1839.

In regard to the feeding with branches I have just
read in Mr. Whitemarsh's book an article that pleased
me very much, as it coincides with my ideas, and so
well with all I have said before about it, that I cannot
help giving it to you here ; it reads thus :

"When the mulberry branches cease to be worth six
cents an inch, I propose to feed with branches as they
come from the tree. I am persuaded that this practice
will be generally adopted in this country, as it has
many advantages, some of which I will enumerate.

" In the first place, the foliage may be gathered in
much less time ; it will keep better till consumed ; the
same saving of time is gained in feeding, and much
more in cleaning off the frames ; the worms mount the
twigs while feeding, and remain afterwards, having
more advantage of the air, and more space than on a
flat surface ; the leaf will be entirely consumed, leav-
ing nothing but dry branches to remove ; the ordure
of the worms will fall through to the shelf, themselves

219

entirely free from it ; on the branches they will have a
better chance to be equally fed, and if this be not
attended to, the ill fed ones will lag behind. But
the greatest advantage of all is, that they need not to
be removed from the frame, from the time they are put
on it, till they mount to wind the cocoon ; this will be
a vast saving of labor, and prevent the handling of the
worms, which is always to be avoided. As the branches
are laid on, they should be laid first crosswise ; and
then lengthwise with the frame ; making thus a sort
of net-work which can be easily separated in layers when
you clean them off; the worms will be more healthy,
particularly in moulting time, as in the usual way of
feeding with leaves ; they retire under the litter, and
remain there till they change, wrhere they must breathe
a bad air, and in many cases be smothered by the accu-
mulation of matter.

" I may as well mention here the system of cutting the
branches. Cut your trees within three or four feet of
the ground, making clean work as you go, cutting the
branches within two or three inches of the body. The
trees thus trimmed will produce a head to be taken off
at the feeding time ; they will be thus kept within reach,
and always handsomer and better than when stripped
of their leaves. The branches when cut should be laid
in the cellar, when if wet, they will soon dry ; after
being fed from, they may be planted in furrows, and will
many of them grow."

Though I have never seen the above article before
to-day, December 22d, 1866, it seems to me curious

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-

221

ings, but here in California we have no need of it, as
when I want to hatch mine, I simply take the papers
on which my eggs are, from the cellar and carry them
to my garret, and there the heat caused by the sun
through the roof makes them hatch promptly, which
they generally begin to do on the third day and con-
tinue for a few days, permitting them generally to
hatch for four days ; the balance not hatched, which are
few, I throw away, considering that these late ones are
not very good.

It is very important that those that hatch the first
day and those that hatch the second day, etc., should
be kept by themselves, and not mixed together. This
is very easy by marking with your pencil the papers on
which you put your young worms, with " No. 1 " — " 2,"
etc. This is necessary, because when they are moult-
ing, being of the same age, they are all moulting at
the same time, and if they were the different days or
ages mixed together, some would be moulting when
others want to eat, and those eating would be very in-
jurious to those in the critical function of casting off their
skins : they need at that moment to remain undisturbed.

First Age. When the silkworms are hatched, they
are of a black color, one-twelfth of an inch in length ;
those of a red color may be thrown away, if there are
any. As soon as they are hatched they need to be fed ;
put on them then young and very tender leaves ; they
crawl on them, and then they are easily removed to
the papers and placed on the shelves by taking the
leaves on which they are. After, you feed them with

222 THE CALIFORNIA

very tender leaves for that first age, but they prefer
young twigs, as I have said before, and with twigs they
are easier to remove from one paper to the other ; give
them small quantities at the time, but often, at least six
times or more during the twenty-four hours.

When the young brood are piled too closely, a part
can be removed on the young twigs or branches. They
eat well for about three days, after which they grow
torpid, and must not then be disturbed till awakened.
You need not remove the litter during this stage, but
remove them afterwards by putting fresh twigs two or
three times, so as to cover all the worms or nearly so,
after which you throw the litter away.

After each and every successive change, their appe-
tite increases daily more and more, but gradually dimin-
ishes as their change approaches.

Second Age. The silkworm now awakes hungry, but
let those which awake too soon still hunger till all are
awakened, that all may be equal ; they have now be-
come of a dark ash color. Feed them for two or three
days with branches containing young and tender leaves,
and afterwards with branches having young leaves and
some older, but when they will grow torpid they must
not be disturbed. The litter during this stage is to be
often removed, and you may lure the silkworms to any
corner of the shelf by a few twigs, when you choose,
for the purpose of sweeping the litter, or you may re-
move them to other shelves on branches.

Third Age. Then you begin to place your branches
as represented in the engraving, (see frontispiece) and

223

from this time continue feeding the silkworms with full-
grown leaves ; and their mouths, with which they saw
their food, is changed in color, originally white and soft,
but soon becoming hard and black, continually growing
harder with every successive change.

Fourth Age. When they wake up in this age, the
silkworms are of a whitish flesh color, except the spot-
ted species, called tigres ; their head and body has be-
come enlarged, their appetite becomes voracious, and
they can now devour all the coarse leaves.

Fifth Age. Their color has now become of a dark
gray with a reddish hue ; they continue, however, grow-
ing whiter for about seven days, when they generally
become of a yellow color, their backs becoming shining
arid their mouths of a red color.

A great quantity of food is now needed, and the
branches must be brought by wagon loads and distrib-
uted to them. It is curious to see the incredible quan-
tities of full-grown leaves that they devour at present ;
even the coarsest leaves are equally valuable, and night
and day they must be fully fed. Their time now being
short, must be improved continually and to the utmost,
for now they hunger incessantly, and the more they eat
and the faster they feed the more abundant will be the
produce of silk. If you find that your heaps of
branches are too high, like coming eight or ten inches
from the shelf above, you take the whole top with all
the worms on ; see that you hold it up carefully, so as not
to hurt the worms, during which time another person
takes off all the branches from beneath, and sweeps

224 THE CALIFORNIA

from the papers the ordures of the worms ; after which
you replace your top where it was ; this is easily done,
and it would take but a short time to cleanse in that
way the whole room, if it was necessary. It is never
needed more than once during the whole feeding.

When the warmth of the atmosphere will admit, as
in the former ages, the numerous windows in the roof
and on the sides must be opened to preserve a pure at-
mosphere. They delight, in all the latter days, in
a cool, fresh, and pure atmosphere ; then when the
weather is parching, hot, and dry, sprinkle the floor
with water occasionally, and keep shallow vessels filled
with water to rectify the air.

During every age and until the silkworm has ceased
taking food, it never inclines to wander — a circumstance
which has rendered this insect wonderfully easy of con-
trol.

In the other chapters I have already expressed my
views on frequent feedings, and also the advantage of
feeding in the night, though I have not done this yet in
California, as I always raised them in small quantities ;
but I know that it is admitted everywhere, and that we
must do it if we wish a complete success, and to obtain
silk of superior quality. But before concluding the
subject of feedings, I wish to say a few w.ords more :
feed the worms frequently and as regularly as possible,
and as abundantly as circumstances permit ; let them
always have as much as they will eat with a good appe-
tite, always observing that when the time of rnoul tings ar-
rives, they will cease to eat and retire among the branches ;

225

they must then be left quiet till they revive, which is
generally in about twenty-four hours, and when well
awakened, feed them again ; and so on through every
age ; but for the last age make your arrangements for
large supplies of branches, as more will be required
than in the whole previous ages ; and then for a week
or ten days you must be active, because your own labor
is nearly over and that of the worms is about to com-
mence ; and you will soon see them looking about for a
place to retire into, as they do not like much to be seen
making their cocoons in public. You will then provide
for them when you see them raising their heads from
their fresh food and moving about.

Formation of the Cocoons. — When the silkworms
become transparent and of a pearly color, when they
cease eating and are running to and fro, looking up-
wards or trying to ascend, when the skin about their
necks becomes wrinkled and their bodies have a soft-
ness to the touch resembling soft dough, and their backs
become unusually shining, when the green circles around
the body contract and become of a bright gold color,
these are sure indications that they are prepared for
the last work of forming the cocoons ; then, and not
before, you must provide them with something to attach
and place their cocoons in ; sometimes it is made with
the twigs of the oak with the leaves on, which had been
before provided ; the leaf of the oak is strong, and the
cocoons are separated from it without injury ; they
should be cut and dried some three weeks previous,
preserved in readiness till required. They are placed

226 THE CALIFORNIA

in the center of the heap of branches on which jour
worms are, upright, with the top spread, forming har-
bors twenty inches or more in width, with circular heads.
Some are using rye or wheat straw, after cutting the
heads, tied in small bundles of the size of your arm,
placing them also upright and spreading the top under
the shelf above.

With our mode in California of feeding with branches,
if you do not give them enough twigs to place their co-
coons in, they make them in the branches of the heap
on which they are.

The insect generally requires from three to five days
to form the cocoon completely. During the first day,
the insect forms a loose oval structure of thin, irregular,
coarse threads, called floss. Within this structure, dur-
ing the three following days, it forms the silken ball ;
not, however, in concentric circles, but by irregular
movements, backwards and forwards in spots. The
silken fiber is covered with a gum, which contributes to
exclude the water.

Sometimes, even after its ascent among the branches
or straw, the silkworm will look back, and descend once
more, for the last time, to take some more food.

Ventilation is very important during the period while
the insects are performing their last labor ; yet, in no
case is a due and comfortable degree of warmth more
needed than while the insect is forming its cocoon, as
this enables them to draw forth and to surrender the
whole amount of silk which they had laid up in store.

Gathering of the Cocoons. — In about eight days after

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 227

the cocoons are finished, they have to be gathered, and
the floss silk taken off from around them, and saved, if
^clean ; they can be reeled off at that time if you are
prepared to do it ; but if you are not, you must stifle
the chrysalis, so as to reel them at any time after, or to
sell your cocoons. In more temperate climates, as in
some parts of Europe, ovens are used for destroying the
insect. The cocoons are -placed in oblong shallow baskets,
covered with a paper, and over it a cloth, and these are
placed in an oven, the heat of which should be very
nearly that of the oven after the bread is drawn ; thus
wrapped up and exposed during half an hourx)r an hour,
the chrysalides taken from the centre of the basket will
be found dead ; on removal from the basket, they are
covered closely with blankets for a few hours, and then
dried in the sun.

They can also be stifled by steam and other pro-
cesses, but all of them require much work and expense
for artificial heat ; and besides that, nearly in every case
it injures the luster of the silk, particularly that of the
white variety.

Stifling the Chrysalide in California. — Here, in our
blessed silk climate, we have no need of all this, and we
are not likely to injure the luster of our silk, as I found
that the power of Our solar rays is sufficient to destroy
the chrysalide in the cocoon. This is the best and sim-
plest mode. The cocoons need only to be exposed fully
to the scorching rays of the sun, from ten o'clock in the
morning till four in the afternoon ; two or three days of
such exposure are sufficient. But to make the work surer

228 THE CALIFORNIA

and better, I would recommend to have for that purpose
long boxes four feet wide, sides six inches high, to be
covered with glass frames ; this will greatly increase the
heat, and will have the effect of destroying the insect
promptly and surely. In this way, your cocoons will
also be protected against being destroyed by mice or
rats, or otherwise, as your boxes must be made close, to
afford no chance for these pests' to get in, because they
are immoderately fond of chrysalides.

Select your Cocoons for the eggs. — For seed, the very
best cocoons should be selected, that is, those which are
of the largest size and feel firm, and are of a bright
color ; and so far as possible, an equal number of males
and females ; the male cocoons are slender, depressed
in the middle, and pointed at Jboth ends ; the female
cocoons are of a larger size and of a rounder form, and
resemble in shape a hen's egg.

If we keep selecting carefully our very best cocoons
for seed, it is my opinion, and also that of other com-
petent silk growers, that under our fine climate, so very
favorable to silk culture, within a few years, we will
obtain a California variety , that will surpass in size and
quality all the varieties known and cultivated now.

After having stripped the floss, they may be strung
together by threads, being careful not to pierce the
cocoon, and hung up to the wainscot in festoons ; or
placed in a single layer in open paper boxes, on shelves
or tables, in a darkened, retired, warm and airy place ;
and from ten to fifteen days from the time they com-
plete spinning, according to the warmth of the season,

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 229

the moth emerges from the cocoon, in the shape of a
large butterfly, of a grayish white color, with four
wings, two eyes, and two feathery plumes or horns.
The male usually appears first, and is known by his
smaller size, and a continual flutter of his wings. The
female is of a larger size, of a whiter color, and seldom
moves. These are to be paired, and then removed by
their wings to sheets of paper spread on tables or
boards, where they are to be left in darkness, as when
complete, the silkworm is a night insect.

They generally come out of the cocoons in the morn-
ing, between seven and nine o'clock, when you have to
be there, and see that they are all paired ; otherwise,
your eggs would not be good for anything. Those that
are paired, you take by the wings, being careful not to
hurt or separate them ; you put them on the papers,
and those that are not paired, you take them, males
and females, and put them together on a separate sheet
of paper, and they will soon get paired there ; and when
they are, you take them and put them with the others.

Sometimes, among the paired ones, a male or more
gets loose ; and as soon as you see it, you must take
them off, because they would disturb the others, and
cause many of them to get loose also ; and it is import-
ant that they should not be disturbed. You put these
loose ones, male and female, back with the unpaired
ones, so that they may all get paired again.

After they are all paired, you leave them in their
dark place, till about four or five o'clock in the after-
noon, when you have to separate them. For that, take
11

230 THE CALIFORNIA

the wings of the male with one hand, and the wings of
the female with the other ; draw them apart gently, so
as not to hurt them ; place the males in a box, and the
females on the paper or cloth, on which you wish to
have them lay their eggs. •

Most of the females begin, to lay as soon as separ-
ated from the males ; but be careful to leave no male
among the females, that are placed to lay their eggs,
and if by mistake you have thrown a female among the
males, carefully place it with the others.

After that operation is done, and the females com-
mence laying, you have nothing more to do with them ;
cover the box which contains the males, and keep it so
until the next morning : it is what is called the reserve.
The next morning, proceed the same way as I have
said above ; but it happens sometimes that you have
more females than males, in which case, after you have
all your males of the morning employed, you take the
quantity you need from your reserve, as you must re-
member that every female must be provided for produc-
ing good eggs.

After you have been using the males you want from
your reserve, throw all the balance out, and the birds
will soon eat them. Do the same thing every day,
till all the moths have emerged from the cocoons.

One hundred pairs of cocoons, which weigh a pound,
will produce, an ounce of eggs ; and an ounce of eggs
is considered to produce forty thousand silkworms.

After your females have done laying their eggs, they
will all die, and then you can roll together carefully

231

the papers on which your eggs are, and place them in
tin boxes. Two sides or more of these tin boxes should
be of perforated tin. These boxes, to be preserved,
should be placed in a cool room, or dry cellar, where
they will not be liable to freeze : but freezing, though it
may injure by retarding the period of their hatching,
yet does not destroy them.

Now, we have been through the whole process, and
you have your eggs again, ready for next year, which
you will take care to hatch when your mulberry trees
are growing finely, so you may be sure of having
plenty of good food for them ; and this is, in California,
usually about the tenth or twentieth day of June.

CHAPTER XVI.

TALK WITH THE FARMERS AND PLANTERS.

Now, farmers and planters generally, in giving to
you all my experience, and all I know about the raising
of the mulberry trees and silk, I have proved that I
am your friend — then I can have a talk with you on
the subject ; I will try to make it interesting and
useful to you, as under that head I may say whatever
comes to my memory about mulberry trees and silk
raising in our silk State, etc. To farmers and planters we
must look for the production of that rich article, and as

232 THE CALIFORNIA

they are only those who enrich a country, then it is
to the farmers and planters throughout our silk climate
that I particularly address myself, and urge them to give
their immediate and earnest attention to this so important
a subject ; to look into the matter thoroughly, and not
only look, but act. They must not be alarmed with
the frequent croakings about the high price of labor in
this country, and the impossibility of raising the silk
in competition with other countries. It is too late now
for such arguments ; they vanish completely before the
face of facts, which are better than all the theories.
The silk culture has now gained too much headway in
California to be checked in its speed by the fears and
doubts of the timid and shortsighted — as any doubts
of its full and complete success cannot be entertained
any more by any reasoning person. Then I urge you all
to plant mulberries, in the full assurance that they will
be wanted ; this will be a rich legacy to your children,
for you may be assured that silk must and will be
raised all over California, from one corner to the other,
and also in several other of our States, that possess a
similar climate to our own, and to which then our
simplified culture can be applied :

1st. The difference in the price of labor here and
in France does not hardly exist any more, as the
price of labor there is double now of what it was thirty
years ago ; but supposing that it is now as low as then,
we could certainly obtain and raise the silk for half of
the cost there, for the different reasons that I have
already stated in the first chapter, in my letter.

233

2d. There is no other culture so rich as the culture
of silk, if the farmers and planters only give their atten-
tion to it ; and with that culture only, we would soon
be able to pay our national debt and our own. Nothing
could be so profitable to the United States, and our
Congress ought to take the matter into serious consid-
eration. We have in a great measure to depend on our
Congressmen to see that that rich culture is established
generally. They only have simply to maintain a high
tariff on the article for a few years, and the culti-
vation and the manufacture of silk will be established
everywhere throughout the country. We trust that
they will look to the general good of the country, and
not to the benefit of only a few.

3d. The culture of silk is in itself simple ; and the
farmers, their wives and their children, the old and
the young — all will find pleasure and profit in that
culture. It is principally for them that I write this
little book, in giving them facts only, and the simple
culture of our silk producing country.

4th. The farmers who are blessed with a large
family of children, are those that are naturally better
situated to cultivate and raise the silk more profitably
than others, as they are not obliged to hire any extra
help at feeding time.

5th. The wife, or the eldest daughter, of the farmer
can study this Manual, and then they will be able to
superintend the work of feeding, etc., in showing and
telling the younger ones what they have to do.

6th. I wish that each farmer would take the trouble

234 THE CALIFORNIA

of counting his children, and plant one acre of mulberry
trees for each one of them, in the best mulberry land of
the farm ; in that way they will not cost them anything,
and I think that, on the contrary, they will be a benefit
to them ; they will anyhow be able to support them-
selves, and be independent from the product of their
acre. But some have told me that the children have
to go to school. I admit that, and particularly recom-
mend you to send them to school. But as the whole
process of feeding and cleaning the cocoons, etc., etc.,
does not exceed two months, then they have ten months
in the year to go to school — and I suppose this is about
sufficient for them ; besides that, the raising of silk is
also a useful school to go to.

7th. The feeding and taking care of the worms and
cocoons, the reeling of silk — all this work in silk
countries is done by the ladies, of all ages : this will
also be the case in California. Some say that our
California ladies do not like to work. I do not believe
it ; if some of them do not work as they ought to do,
the reason is that they have no profitable work to do
that suits their delicate natures ; but the moment they
will have that work, I guarantee you that they will
nearly all go into it, as in this kind of work a woman
can do it better than a man ; and they will then con-
tribute to enrich the country. This will certainly be a
great improvement and benefit to our young ladies,
who will certainly be proud to wear fine dresses from
silk raised by their own hands.

8th. In France, where silk is a national culture, it is

SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 235

a part of the education of young ladies. In their schools,
convents, or academies, they are to receive a small lot
of silkworms' eggs, and they have to hatch them and
raise the worms. Those that know all about it show
the others. Thus they are educated and familiarized
with the treatment and the culture of silkworms, which
may prove afterwards very useful to them.

9th. Aged persons, no more fit for hard labor, men
and women, will find in the culture of silk an agreeable
and profitable employment.

10th. I have many, questions asked me on the sub-
ject, by letters. Some ask how many trees are required
to the acre. To those I would say, that in the way they
have to be planted, as I have indicated for the plantation,
an acre will take from six to eight hundred, according to
the distance you plant them — to suit your soil.

llth. Others ask how long they will have to wait
before the trees will give leaves in sufficient quantity to
begin to feed the worms. We are in a country so
extraordinary for being favorable to the growth of the
mulberry trees, that we have not to wait, we can feed
in the summer from trees, and even from cuttings
planted in winter. This will hardly be believed in
other silk countries ; but is a fact here. If your
trees or cuttings are planted in good mulberry soil, with
some little care, of course, a small quantity of worms
can be fed the first year.

12th. Others ask how many worms can le fed from
one acre. This is very hard to tell, as it depends on a
great many circumstances : First, on the quality of the

236 THE CALIFORNIA

soil. Second, on the amount of care given to the trees.
Third, on the age of the trees, etc. So it is very diffi-
cult to make an exact estimate ; we have to come to a
general one, and make it as near as possible.

18th. That an acre will produce from forty to four
hundred pounds of silk, at a cost of not exceeding two
dollars per pound, ready for market. The value of the
raw silk is from six to eight dollars per pound, accord-
ing to quality. The quantity must be determined by
the circumstances above mentioned.

14th. But for those that are not prepared to reel
their own silk, they can sell their cocoons as they are,
to the manufacturer, or sell them for exportation, [if they
choose. As there is, and will be a great demand for
them, one of our silk merchants, in our city of San Jose,
has already asked me how many thousand pounds of
cocoons I had to sell, as, he said, he would find me a
purchaser, who would buy them immediately. In sell-
ing cocoons, in proportion to the work done, they will
have pretty much the same profits.

15th. Each cultivator may make a calculation to
suit his own soil and locality, by taking one hundred
pounds of leaves for one pound of reeled silk. Forty
thousand worms, well fed, will give fifteen pounds of
silk ; an acre of trees, or stools, in good situations, and
good soil, will certakily yield, here, at four years of
age, from fifty to sixty thousand pounds of leaves, and
probably more, which, at one hundred pounds per one
pound of silk, will be five hundred pounds ; but we must
leave a few thousand pounds for wastage, and then

237

the quantity will be still large enough. The leaves
must be of the best quality to give a pound of silk to
one hundred pounds of leaves ; it would require much
more of watery leaves, or leaves grown in the shade.

16th. Supposing, as an average, fifty-five thousand
pounds of leaves to the acre, on stools four years old,
this would, consequently, at one hundred pounds for
each pound of silk, give five hundred and fifty pounds
of silk, which, at seven dollars per pound, would be only
$3,850 per acre. Now, the work to be done that year,
to have the silk ready for market, according to our
simplified culture, which is the only one to follow under
our fine and dry climate — I have tried to calculate in
different ways, and I find it always $840 and $850 —
this would leave, then, a net profit of three thousand
dollars per acre ; but supposing two hundred dollars
more were needed, for things that I may have forgotten,
(but I think not) it would still be two thousand and
eight hundred dollars net profit per acre. This is
about reasonable, and I would feel satisfied to have one
hundred acres paying me in that proportion.

17th. The business is rather new in this country
but I would recommend that all would try it. This
can be done with a small expense, as we ought all to
help each other to go into that enterprise, as it is the
surest, the best, and the only one where competition
need not be feared. Then I hope that a liberal spirit
will pervade all classes throughout our silk State.

18th. Now, another thing : it is well known that
poorhouses and orphan asylums are public burdens
ir

288 THE CALIFORNIA

upon our towns and cities, which have to support them.
These different places could be relieved from these
burdens by planting with mulberry, trees all the farms
that are connected "with many of these establishments.
The gathering of the branches, the feeding of the worms,
the cleaning of the cocoons, etc., would be an agreeable
pastime for the children and aged persons ; and this
will have the advantage of learning the young a useful
business for the future ; and also, in doing so, it will
afford the institutions an opportunity of making them com-
fortable, and have them well educated, in providing them
with good teachers. They will be enabled also to give
comfort to the poor and aged persons that have been
driven there through adverse fortune, as a last resort,
and have placed themselves under the public care, but
are still possessed of the finer feelings of our nature.

19th. If any of the above-named benevolent estab-
lishments are still inside of the cities, and consequently
not connected with any land to cultivate and work upon,
it would be necessary that such establishments, for the
benefit of all, should be removed to the country ; and I
would suggest, in that case, that good mulberry land
should be selected in a healthy locality, in view of the
good health and comfort of the inmates ; such a locality
will be ten times better for them, as they will have more
of the pure air than they have in the cities, and the
cities, at the same time, will be benefited thereby.
These remarks I leave for consideration.

20th. In these benevolent institutions, besides the
raising of silk, that would keep them busy for about two

239

months only in the year, it would be easy for the young
folks to learn the reeling of the silk, particularly the young
ladies, who are generally more capable for that work
than the boys. Then, taking cocoons in from outside,
wrould keep them busy a great portion of the year, by
having them work only one part of the day, and the
other part for their education.

21st. If anything is done in these benevolent institu-
tions, as I have said above, and managed right, I can
say that thus the poor will be enabled to support them-
selves, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that they
are not entirely objects of charity, but earning their own
living, under the direction of those that are more capa-
ble of guiding the helm than themselves. Friends of
humanity, do try the experiment, and I truly and sin-
cerely believe in its good results.

22nd. Besides the great profits that arise naturally
from the raising of silk, those that will start in that busi-
ness soon will receive the bounty from the State, which
is three hundred dollars for each one hundred thousand
of cocoons, and also a bounty on their plantations ; but
this will be only for three years more. Some may say,
if the silk business is so profitable, why is it that the
State gives bounties ? The answer is simply this : we
have to look to the great body of farmers to engage in
this business, and the farmers generally in all countries
are slow to adopt improvements. But I think that our
farmers in California will differ from the general rule,
as I show them how to do it, and have fully demonstrated
the superiority of our climate over that of other prosper-

240 THE CALIFORNIA

cms silk countries ; and that particularly, also, our
soil is so superior for the growth of the mulberry trees,
that they have not to wait for the results, and are as-
sured of regular and abundant crops, they will find that
it is to their interests to go at it immediately.

23rd. My object in publishing this Manual is, to be
useful to all of you, in indicating how to go into the busi-
ness, with or without capital, or hardly any ; as the one
who has no capital can put his work, (which I know is
equal to capital) he then can buy the seeds, sow, and
take care of them, the following year he will have young
trees to plant ; while those that have capital will not
have to wait, as they can buy the trees, and they will
have a crop immediately. Those that have a small cap-
ital can buy the cuttings, and will then have a small
crop the first year, as the cuttings are more certain than
the seeds, and also grow more rapidly ; and, by having
shown the different modes of propagating the mulberry,
I expect by that to prevent its selling at high price, thus
allowing every one to go into the business, according to
their means. I wish also to prevent any mulberry fever,
that benefits only few ; I wish to see the culture of silk,
all over our silk State — that will benefit all.

24th. The culture of silk is so important for a nation,
that in Germany they came to be a silk country by com-
pulsion ; laws have been enacted, compelling every
owner of land to plant mulberry trees and raise silk-
worms : the result is known, they have become silk-pro-
ducing countries. But here in California, I wish to com-
pel our farmers in quite another way, and that is by

241

persuasion, in fully demonstrating to them that we are
in the best silk country, so that before going into it, they
may be fully convinced that they are going into the best
and most profitable business for them and the country at
large.

25th. We are sending out about seven millions of dol-
lars annually to import silk for our ladies ; and it is im-
mense, the quantity of millions sent out for that article,
if we take all the United States together. Every one
of you understand the importance of retaining such a
large amount in the country. But not only must we do
all we can to raise enough for our own consumption, but
also for exportation.

26th. Why I address the farmers, and tell them the
importance of the silk culture for them, is because they
arc the men qualified for it ; as, besides what I have
said, there is another important point for them, and that
is, that it does not interfere with their other crops ; it
just comes at the moment they have least to do, and
then, instead of interfering with the other crops, I find
that they help each other, as the building needed for
the worms, is also of great importance for the other pro-
ducts of the farm.

27th. The reeling of the silk will also, in future, be
done by the farmers' wives and daughters. But, being in
a hurry, as it is late in the season, I will prepare that
article, and will have it in my second edition, with many
other additions.

28th. Count Hazzi states that seven to ten pounds of
cocoons will make a pound of raw silk. In some silk

242 THE CALIFORNIA

countries, sometimes twelve pounds are necessary, while
in California, when the culture shall be well understood,
I think that no more than seven or eight pounds will be
required.

29th. One pound of silk, when well reeled, is capable
of being converted into sixteen yards of the ordinary
quality of Grros de Naples, or into fourteen yards of the
first quality, and worth twice its weight in silver.

30th. The reeling of silk in France and Italy is per-
formed almost exclusively by females. In these coun-
tries there are innumerable domestic filatures, where the
cocoons, raised by one or more families, are reeled by
the wives and the daughters of the farmers. These em-
ploy from one to five or six reels, and the art of reeling
is preserved in families from generation to generation.
There are also, in these countries, large establishments,
or filatures, which employ from fifty to five hundred reels.
These establishments have a superintendent who is thor-
oughly and practically a perfect master in the business
in every department ; women there work at the reeling
all their days as an exclusive occupation. At these large
establishments the most perfect silk is reeled, which
commands the highest price.

31st. I wish to give you here a few facts that will
certainly be more than sufficient to prove to you how
easy the silk can be raised in California ; as, besides my
cocoons, we had on exhibition at our agricultural fairs,
specimens of good cocoons raised by the following per-
sons : Mr. J. N. Hoag, Secretary of our State Agricul-
tural Society ; Capt. Haynie, of Sacramento ; Mr. Tif-

243

foinet, of Columbia, Tuolumne County ; Miss Hattie
Isaacs, of Sacramento ; Mrs. Sauffrignon, of San Jose* ;
Miss Mary Johnson, of Sacramento ; Mrs. George A.
Jones, Brannan Ranch, on the Feather River ; Hon.
Teegarden, of Marysville ; Mrs. Catharine Corbusier, of
Sacramento ; Mrs. Stephen Davis, of Angel's Camp ;
Mr. John Smith, of Sacramento ; Mr. Oliva, of Horni-
tos, Mariposa County ; and among others that have been
successful in raising the silk, and have not exhibited, are
Mr. Charles F. Reed, President of our State Agricul-
tural Society, at his residence in Yolo County ; Mr.
Wilson Flint, on the Sacramento River, near the city ;
Mr. A. Packard, Santa Barbara ; Mr. G. Gluesing,
San Joaquin Valley ; Mr. E. Goux, Santa Barbara,
and many others that I have neglected to record their
names. To all these persons I sent silkworms' eggs, or
gave, to some, young worms, and all these persons suc-
ceed in having the worms to perfection. This tells vol-
umes about our fine climate, and shows how easy we can
raise silk in California, as nearly all of them never saw
a silkworm before. Mr. J. Q. A. Warren exhibited
very fine and good cocoons raised by him, at Honolulu,
(Sandwich Islands) from eggs that I sent him there.

32nd. It was last year, 1865, that I made the first
large exhibition that began to be appreciated. If we
consider a moment the progress made in such a short
time, we can hardly believe it ; as, besides the plantations
of mulberry trees made, we have our pioneer silk man-
ufactory. Mr. Joseph Newmann has exhibited at our
fairs the first California manufactured silk, made by

244 THE CALIFORNIA

himself and his brother, as both are practical silk weav-
ers ; that silk has been generally admired, and consid-
ered by all of the best quality. He is now making a
fine show of a large quantity of that silk in Montgomery
street, San Francisco. There is at that exhibition sam-
ples of cocoons, as mentioned above, a lot of weavers'
tools, a miniature silk winder, to show the process of
reeling ; there is raw silk, floss silk, and silk in skein as
taken from the cocoons, etc. This exhibition attracts
the crowd constantly, as every one foresees in that the
foundation of a great enterprise which is bound to save
millions to our State.

33rd. As at San Josd the first silk of the State has
been raised, it was due to the place to have the pio-
neer silk manufactory, and land has been given for
the erection of it near the city. Besides that, it is the
natural place for such a manufactory for many reasons :
the principal is, that San Jose* is the healthiest place in
California, and probably in the world, and is near San
Francisco by railroad, and also that our water is so fine
and soft, that it has been tried and found of first quality
for the dyeing ; this is very important, as one of the
reasons that makes the silk of Lyons (France) renowned
all over the world, is its water ; and thus, we may ex-
pect, that San Josd will eventually be the Lyons of Cal-
ifornia. They have a large quantity of machinery
already on the place, and some more on the way from
the States, everything complete, from taking the silk
from the cocoon up to manufacturing it in every style.

34th. I am receiving three different silk papers from

245

Europe, that give me information about everything per-
taining to silk — transactions in silk and prices — all over
the different silk countries ; and as we are becoming a
silk country also, I will translate, from time to time, for
the benefit of our California silk growers, the articles
that I may find of some interest for them, and publish
them in our leading papers.

35th. America, by the skill and ingenuity of her peo-
ple, has been enabled to compete with India and China,
and even with the world, in the culture and manufacture
of cotton ; is there an American who can doubt now
that we shall do the same ere long with the silk ?

36th. In all other works on silk raising, they have
chapters on the diseases of the worms. We have no
need in our California Silk Manual of such chapter, be-
cause, as long as we shall be able to give our worms fresh
food from mulberry trees that are growing under the
genial rays of our sun, no disease can be expected, as
the disease is in the food. It is my positive opinion,
that these watery leaves, taken from trees, growing most
the time in the shade, in a wet, damp atmosphere,
are what create the disease ; I say, from trees growing
in the shade, because, as long as the sun's rays do not
strike on them, they are in the shade, no matter if it is
caused by the clouds or anything else.

37th. As I have many visitors coming for information
about silk, and other things to attend, I have but little
time left to me : thus I have been obliged to write this
Manual in a hurry, and may have omitted some points ;
but of anything that shall come to my knowledge of

246 THE SILK GROWER'S MANUAL.

any interest I will keep a memorandum, so as to make
a more complete work of my second edition. However,
I hope that I have said enough in this, my first essay,
to put you on the track, and enable you to carry on the
business profitably all over our silk State. But remem-
ber, that I am at your service, always ready to tell you
all I know, to enable you to go into this business imme-
diately, because the sooner you will do it the better.

L. P.
SAN JOSE, December, 1866.

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