Hayes.] 428 [March 18. 



Mr. Diehl, whicli, being readily accessible in the Avidely circulated 

 Agricultural Report of 18G3, I need only briefly refer to. Mr. 

 Diehl gives the results of his observations of most of the flocks, pro- 

 ceeding from some three hundi'ed head imported from Angora, num- 

 bering, according to him, several thousand, and scattered mainly 

 through the southwestern States, as follows: 



"We have either personally visited and examined most of the local- 

 ities and flocks (mentioned by him), seen or obtained animals or speci- 

 mens of the wool, comparing them with Avhat we saw abroad and the 

 best specimens of wool to be obtained from abroad, or the best im- 

 ported ones, and .are well satisfied and thoroughly convinced that we 

 have succeeded, and can continue to succeed, in raising this valuable 

 wool-bearing animal, with its precious fleece, almost anywhere through- 

 out our country where sheep will prosper, especially in the higher 

 and colder localities, — producing an animal more hardy, with a heavy 

 and more valuable fleece than the Angora or Cashmere itself in its 

 own country. The specimens of wool in our possession are more 

 silky and fleecy than the imported or original ones." M. Diehl gives 

 extracts from original communications of practical stock raisers con- 

 firmatory of his statements. It is to be regretted that the value of 

 these observations is diminished by the want of accurate discrimination 

 between the products of the crosses and animals of pure blood. 



APPLICATION OF PRODUCTS. 



It has been already stated that mohair is not a substitute for wool, 

 but that it occupies its own place in the textile fabrics. It has the 

 aspect, feel and lustre of silk without its suppleness. It difll'rs mate- 

 rially from wool in the want of the felting quality, so that the stuifs 

 made of it, have the fibres distinctly separated and are always bril- 

 liant. They do not retain the dust or spots, and are thus particularly 

 valuable for furniture goods. The fibi-e is dyed with great facility 

 and is the only textile fibre wljich takes equally the dyes des- 

 tined for all tissues. On account of the stiff'ness of the filjre it is 

 rarely woven alone, that is, when used for the filling, the warp is 

 usually of cotton, silk or avooI, and the reverse. It is not desired 

 for its softness in addition to silkiness, such qualities as are found in 

 cashmere and mauchamp wool, but for the elasticity, lustre, and du- 

 rability of the fibre with sufHcient fineness to enable it to be spun. 

 Those who remember the fashions of thirty or forty years ago may 

 call to mind the camlets so extensively used for cloaks and other 

 outer garments, and will doubtless remember that some were distin- 

 guished for their peculiar lustre and dui-ability, which was generally 

 attributed to the presence of silk in the tissue. These camlets were 



