36 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



Number of goat,^ to an acre. — This is a question frequently asked, 

 but certainly no thoughtful person expects a definite answer. The 

 number will depend, tirst, upon the object in pasturing on brush land, 

 whether it is to kill the brush or to use it as a permanent pasture; and 

 second, upon the quantity of feed obtainable. While one acre might 

 be as dense as a jungle, another might have small thickets alternating 

 with grass plats. Thus it will be seen that a definite answer can not 

 be given to this question. 



Quality of the Jiber. — The word "" mohair" is the technical name for 

 the fiber of the Angora goat which is used in the manufacture of 

 fabrics. The word comes to us, through the old French "mohere," 

 from the Arabic "mukhaj^yar," meaning mohair cloth. 



Besides the mohair there grows upon the Angora goat a short, stiff 

 hair, which is technically known as "kemp" — a subject that will be 

 discussed in another paragraph. It is held by some writers that this 

 short hair does not occur on the pure Angora, and that where it does 

 appear it is upon Angoras that have been bred up by crossing upon 

 the common goats; in short, that it is a relic of the common goat. 

 This argument seems plausible, at least, for two reasons: First, there 

 is no certainty that any Angora goats now in existence are absolutely 

 purebred, as many j^ears ago the Turkish breeders began the practice 

 of crossing upon the Kurd goats, and thus vitiating the blood; second, 

 it is noticeable in building up a Hock by crossing upon the common 

 goats that the short hair is very prominent in the first cross, and 

 gradually grows less as tbe crosses become higher. 



The uses of mohair in manufactures are discussed on page 4i and need 

 not be repeated here. The properties of this fiber which render it 

 desirable are length, fineness, luster, strength, elasticity, and specific 

 gravity, and these are I'elatively desirable in about the order given. 

 There is no difficulty in securing length and strength, but the other 

 properties must come by the most painstaking care by breeding. Hav- 

 ing length, strength, and luster, the manufacturer wants the fiber as 

 fine as can be bred. Good mohair averages about one five-thousandth 

 of an inch in diameter; or, expressed otherwise, 5,000 hairs may be laid 

 side by side in solid contact within the space of 1 inch. 



Many mohair growers assert that the quality of the fiber depends 

 largely upon the climate and the feed; and all are agreed that the fiber 

 becomes coarser as the animal grows older. Schreiner says: 



II goats are to produce the best tieeces they are capable of, they must be maintained 

 in uninterrupted good condition. They must have a variety of food, jirincipally 

 shrubs and aromatic plants, and lead an active life; they must, if possible, have run- 

 ning water to drink and be kejit free from dust; they must not be kraaled (or shedded ) 

 except when absolutely necessary; they must have clean sleeping places and must 

 not be crowded together. 



