Year: 1860

The First Cocoons Raised in Califorx
nta.--Op enfng Of a New Source Of
Industry and Wealth.


Mr.. Henry Hentsch, banker Of this city,


has favored Us with number of cocoons of


silk worms, produced in the garden of Mr..


Provost at the San Jose Nursery, at San


jose. These are particularly interesting as


the first cococns yet grown in California,
and are entitled to special notice from the


fact that the repeated experiments which


have been made here to this end, have at last


been crowned with success, and thus a new


field for enterprise and industry is opened to
our people.


For several years Mr.. Hentsch has been
convinced of the adaptability of our climate
to the production of the mulberry tree and
the silk worm. About three years ago he
commenced making experiments, and i'm
ported quantity of mulberry seeds from
France. These were sent to Mr. Provost
who with commendable zeal, put them in,
aud the result was a rapid termination aud
growth, and in a little over three years they
had become trees and were producing fruit
The next thing was to send for the silk
worms.


1t will be remembered that the disease
which appeared among the silk worms in
France and Italy few years ago, alarmed
the producers aud manufacturers so that
they sent to China to replenish the stock !;
and the agents passing through this city, we
then called attention to the fact. They ar
rived here from Hongkong and took steamer
for New York and thence to Europe. One
of these agents, knowing the interest taken
by Mr.. Hentsch in the subject, gave him a
number Of the eggs, which were at once
ayailed of by Mr. Provost But in addition
te this source, Mr. Hentsch sent to China
for eggs at three different times; but,
owing to the inferior quality they did not
succeed ia raising them. Not disheartened
by this failure he then sent to Turkey (Bul-
garia and Adrianople) and procured another
lot which proved to be good, and from these
aud the few Chinese ones which the agent
let him have, the present lot have been
reared,


They are pronounced by those who pro-
fcss to know about silk worms, to be not
only the largest but the most delicate in
texture and color ever seen, and Mr.. Hentsch
himself, being good judge, thinks he never
saw any equally 6ne, Our own knowledge
of the subject is but limited but to Judge
from the appearance of those NOW before as,
we should say they were of superior quail
ity. Some ure milk white, aud Others pale
yellow, or golden color. They are covered
with delicate webbing of silken threads,
and within each rattles the lifeless form of
the industrious little animal that has thus
spun its own tomb.


The long -mooted problem of the ability
of our soil to produce the mulberry, and of
oar climate to raise the silk worm, is now
satisfactorily settled. Grain and wine, wool
and the precious metals are fixed fact
Silk may now certainly be added to the pre-
cious list of our products. The price of
silk has been steady rising with the in
creased demand, for some years. More than
$40, 100000 worth of the raw material is
annually consumed in the French manufac-
tories, and yet the demand is augmenting
Now when we consider that the raising of
the silk worm Is at least an uncertain en-
ployment in Europe, owing to the casualties
of rain, thunder and lightning, and other
casualties which are destructive to them,
and that here in California the very requi-
sites for their successful production exist, it
seems foregone conclusion that this branch
Of industry must soon be commenced in
land so emnently favorable. to it. 1t is no
longer an experiment. The ball has been
set in motion and it only needs a few enter
prizing men to make it general thing
Until Colonel Harassthy opened mp the re-
sources Of Sonema Valley with his expert
ments in grape vines, no one thought of 60
ing extensively into that business. But his
example has been contagious, aud at pre-
sent the cultivation Of the vine bids fair to
overshadow everything else in that valley
1t has been the same With dozens of other
things. All that was wanted was for some
enterprsing man to start in and his success
emboldened others, California has within
herself resources which are yet but in their
infancy and great as has been the progress
of vine and wool-gfowing, we are inclined
to think that the culture of the silk worm
may be made to rival them in value.


The market for raw silk is unlimited. 1t
can never be overstocked. The business
cannot be overdons. No matter how much
Is raised, it will instantly command d price,
especially as the product in Europe threat
ems to be cut off. 1t requires little or no
capital no expensive buildings children
or women can employ themselves, as in
France, in the cultivation of the trees;
which, in France requiring four or FIVE years
to reach maturity, are here warmed by our
prolific soil, into bearing condition in three.
There are plenty of Italians and French here
who understand the business, and plenty
more can be brought here; Cinnamon can
be set TO work by thousands, if required;
or even Indians. The seed can now be OBJ
tanned in endless quantities, as Mr.. Provost
has upwards of 10000 trees in his nursery.
The tree is not only useful but is beautiful
ornament; while the fruit is proverbially
nutritious and palatable.


Our people should take this at once into
consideration. and whenever a shade tree is
to be planted, let it be mulberry tree. 1t
costs no more than any other, and is at once
a valuable piece of property. Finally, the
cultivation of the mulberry tree and the silk
worm. seems to have been especially design
ed by Providence as an easy and agreeable
MEANS NJ u-oaIth for California The bean