The union Democrat., 1867-10-26
SILK CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA.
An Essay-Read at A griculturaI al Hall, Sac
ramento, Sept. IL, 1867.
BY WILLIAM N. HAYNIE.

Inc rapid strides that we as people are
making In California to develop her rich and
lnexhaustlble resources Of national wealth
must strike the close observer with wonder,
ana, II he Is true Californian, viii cause
his bosom to swell with true patriotic pride
while contemplating the future greatness and
glory oil this, our noble State
Among the many rich industries now being
| successfully developed in California stands
most pre- eminently conspicuous in wealth
and grandeur the silk culture.
In writing this essay on silk culture. as ad.
apted to the climate and soil of California, we
must be brief, and cannot enter into those
deep and inexhaustble researches which the
subject both invites and demands. We will,
however. give in detail the experience of
those who have bad most eminent success in
this great industry. 1t is admitted by them
that the climate influence upon the silk worm,
while passing from the eggs to cocoons, is of
most beneficial character, from the follow.
ing causes:
First-Entire exemption from explosive
electricity, severe shock of which will kill
instantly large quantities. if occurring while
the worms are very small. But should this
occur during the last age Of the worm, when
they are growing very rapidly and nearly
ready to finish In natural way their brief
period of existence. it would very likely des.
troy every worln. Electricity in all its forms
Is not alike destructive of animal life. but on
the contrary is very essential in some of it's
passive forms to keep up fall sdpply of ami.
NAL vitality esential for the DEVELOPMENT
OF active. robust animal life. Especially is
thus ease with the sjlkworm, as they have
been classed by naturalstS among tie torpid.
c"li hlo"ded species If insects 1t is admit
ted hv scientific men Of this State that we are
blessed during Our dry seasons with a full
supply OF tl' paSsive eject lefty. which gives
Ngnr and strength to man and beast as well
rs stikworH. 70 perform mpre labor in the
sam" time han in any other portion Of the
kurwa ,var.d
S'c'nd-Being entirely exempt from MAY
t" November the mulberry leaf will mature
IN It's greatest perfection. The muherrv. like
all other herbaceous food. when subjected Ia
an excess of moisture will secrete waerv.
v'>cId. poisonous consistency, which. if led 10
The worms, will affect them with Il kin Of
chu'era from which but few worms will es.
care premature death. But when grown
II this State we have just the reverse, The mu,
berry maturing with Just sufficient moisture
to perfect it in all tho elements of healthy
food. Weare exempt from any disease among
the worms of California
The mulberry aud its growth--The first
consideration Ia connection with the silk cul,
ture to insure success, is full and ample sur
ply of the best varieties Of feed, mulberry
leaves. Those trees when planted upon good
moist bottom soil are most rapid and prolific
growers making a growth the first year from
cutting. when properly cultivated, Of four to
eight feet in blight, aud the second year. after
pruning the stock close Off at the ground, a
growth of ten to eighteen feet in hight. 1t is
very difficult to propagate the mulberry from
seed, only in very small and limited quaint,
ties, from the fact that the Young seedlings
are very tender and easily killed by the ravs
of the sun, unless protected and watered very
carefully for ut least four or six weeks from
their first appearance above the ground. 1t
is also very difficult to get good stand from
the fact that they belong to what is classed as
the two lobed seed. and when they terminate
the root strikes down and then grows IN.
pushing the seed mp through the ground the
hull then falls off and the two lobes of the
seed from the first two leaves of the tender
seeding. They are very easily killed bv
frost also. Weeds, if allowed to grow among
them while very young and tender, will ex.
terminate them entirely. 1t is desirable.
then, if we wish to succeed N raising feed
rapidly. to plant cuttings. They are planted
by myself and others who are engaged in this
business, in the following manner:
The cuttings are cut with three ewes to each.
The ground we'll plowed and worked, then fur
rows opened three and a half feet apart. Put
In the cutting six inches apart and cover and
press the dirt upon them about three inches
deep. The ground is then kept free from
weeds and well cultivated through the sea
son. They are then kept pruned low, say six
to eight feet, to avoid extra labor in gather,
ing the leaves. lfallowed to grow twelve or
eighteen feet. 1t would require the pickers tc
pack stepiadders through the field to gather
feed from the high trees. BY this method of
planting and cultiyatng we obtain the first
year about eight tons of good leaves per acre.
The second year the trees are all pruned or
cut OF close TO the ground ir January, and
the summer following we can pick from the
same acre about 10000 pounds of good mul-
berry leaves. The mulberry trees. when
planted upon rich bottom lands possesses
most wonderful powers of producing its ioli.
age. so much so that | caused an experiment
to be made on my plantation, and the result
tion If the leaves from a certain tree. il had
grown more rapidly and contained more leaves
than any other tree which had not leaf ia.
ken from it. 1t must be remembered how.
er that in picking. the tree must not be strin
ped of lis foliage: leave the three crown leaves
on the top and few on the trunk of tie tree
This is necessary that the tree NAV have spf
fcent lungs left to bring in ana breathe the
air and repleni>h itself withe>ufficient ouan.
titles of nu,riment. which is convened to the
root through the leaves or lungs. to give it
renewed viCnr aud life
It has been we'll said that the mulberry
will grow all over this State. but it must he
remarked that upon our upland foothills the
mulberry would no, WELD 50 enormously with
out thorough irrigation throughout the sea
son.
1t is we'll known 10 all who have any know
edge of the condition # cur American anil
Sacrameatn river bottom lands. tha. the vii !
morning g!ery is fast taking rossession a,
lhos lands. and we efiea hesr the remark bv
he owners and cultiva.ers Of these lands. :. |
viii give $50 rer acre 10 have this terrible and
/ Hastruefive weed exterminatpi ~ I will ;uc.