228 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



"From these and other considerations, of the correctness of which your committee have 

 entire confidence, it will be obvious that every encouragement should be shown this new en- 

 terprise — a bold and judicious movement. « 



"B. P. JOHNSON. 



"CHARLES J. GOODRICH. 



"JAJSIES J. iUPES." 



The following 13 the rejtort of the committee at the New York State fair, 

 held- in New York city, iu 1854 : 



"The undersigned cannot avoid the conclusion, that in the goats imported, and whose de 

 scendants have been the subjects of this examination, we have the first known specimens of 

 that viiluable race of animals from whose hairy fleece the celebrated shawls are manufactured 

 known in commerce by the inappropriate name of 'red camel's hair.' As the fleece does not 

 appear to have deteriorated iu the comparativeiy warm climate of South Carolina, the dis- 

 tinctive character of the race is hard to be obliterated, while in the northern region of the 

 United States this character cannot well fail to be permanent. Viewed in this light, the in- 

 troduction of this animal promises to be of more value to the agriculture of the United Statea 

 than that of almost any other domestic animal. 



"JAMES RENWICK. 



"JOSEPH Pv. CHILTON. 



"W. H. ELLET." 



Numerous other valuable reports have been given by other State agricul- 

 tural societies and scientific and practical men, all to the same effect, establish- 

 ing, by a variety of testimony, the value of the animal and its fleece, its adapta- 

 tion to our country and climate, and the facility with which it can be crossed 

 and bred with the common goat, by which a flock can be readily raised and in- 

 creased. Almost all the progeny exhiljit the strongest tendencies to the higher 

 and nobler grades by assimilating themselves to the male, and putting on the 

 white livery of the more respectable, honored, and valued race. 



The half-breeds much resemble the true Cashmere by yielding as valuable 

 an under-down, or fur, as the shawl goat, and even more in quantity. The 

 grades regularly increase the length and quantity of their wool or fleece as they 

 ascend, and being more prolific than the pure breeds, producing a hardier and 

 even more valuable animal, requiring less attention and feed. 



Their local attachment is quite prominent and strong when once accustomed 

 to a place. They may range over the hills or fields and pastures for several 

 miles, but return readily and promptly at night or when satiated. They may 

 be and are herded in large flocks, and readily obey a well-known voice or call, 

 attaching themselves readily to their keepers. 



WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE IN THE BREED OF GOATS. 



Here, as in all the departments of stock-breeding, no doubt great improve- 

 ments can be made, since they possess all the characteristics of other domestic 

 animals. A variety of goats exists throughout our o"\vn country, collected from 

 various countries of Europe and portions of Asia and Africa, from which im- 

 proved individuals may be selected and bred from. Varieties exist in Turkey, 

 Persia, India, Tartary, and Thibet, still remaining to be imported and bred in 

 this country, the introduction of which it might be well for our government to 

 encourage as an animal producing a fleece that would ultimately be worth 

 millions of dollars to our country, and giving employment and profit to thou- 

 sands of our people. They can be readily, easily, and cheaply imported, the 

 experiments showing that at proper seasons, with ordinary care, flocks of from 

 forty to sixty have been shipped on the decks of sailing vessels from Asia t«» 

 Boston without the loss of one, and in most cases with but few losses. 



If France and other countries have deemed this subject of such prime im- 

 portance as to expend thousands of dollars to obtain these valuable animals, 

 might not we imitate their example and enterprise and possess ourselves of tlie 



