THE ANGOEA GOAT. 37 



The wide range of prices of mohair in the market is due to various 

 causes, but to none so much as the unevenness in qualit}" of tibers. As 

 compared to the total production in the United States, the quantity of 

 first-class mohair is exceedingly small. The tendency has been to 

 breed for length of fleece and size of animal. While both these 

 qualities are desirable, it ought to be plain to anyone that profit does 

 not lie in these directions wholly. 



Mohair in a general sense is an expansive term, covering the fleeces 

 of goats of various Angora crosses. The fleece from a cross between 

 an Angora buck and the common " nannie," although scant, coarse, 

 and of uneven length, is unfortunately called mohair, just the same as 

 that from the best animal. The fleece of the second cross is better, 

 and that of the fourth and fifth crosses very good, provided, always, 

 that first-class bucks have been used. The complaint of the manufac- 

 turers is that very little first-class mohair is produced in the United 

 States. It has been demonstrated, however, that a first-class fiber can 

 be produced here. Mr. Meeker, late consul at Bradford, England, 

 the leading mohair market of the world, recentl}" wrote as follows: 



There has been on exhibition at this consulate for the jjast week an American- 

 grown mohau- fleece forwarded to Bradford by Mr. C. P. Bailey, of San Jose, Cal. 

 The fleece is that of a 2-year-okl graded doe and is understood to have been grown 

 on Mr. Bailey's ranch in Nevada. The quality of the hair has been the wonder of 

 all who have seen it. It has been closely examined by several of the leading mohair 

 dealers and importers, all of whom have expressed the highest opinion of it. One 

 of them, Jonas Whitley, ex-mayor of Bradford, said: "I have now in my warehouse 

 about $200,000 worth of mohair, both Turkey and Cape, and I am entirely sincere 

 when I state that there is not a better fleece in the lot. I will buy all the American 

 mohair like that that may be offered me at the market price. Should it xmiformly 

 equal this fleece, I do not know but what I would pay more than the market price. 

 * * * I unhesitatingly say that the sample fleece is as good mohair as is grown." 



A well-known spinner of New England is quoted by Mr. Bailey as 

 saying that — 



The American mohair is better than any brought from abroad; it is smoother, 

 makes a smoother thread, and runs spindles faster; it is silkier and softer, and I can 

 pick out cloth made from it without looking. 



Mr. G. A. Hoerle says: 



Samples of our best mohair which were sent to England were classed as equal to 

 the best Turkish, while the best Cape hair was as much as 2 or 3 cents lower, a fact 

 which proves that even if we finally should have to ship mohair to Europe it would, 

 in the long run, pay as well as selling at home. 



Those American breeders who have been taught to believe that the 

 mohair of the Cape of Good Hope is so much better than that produced 

 here will find encouragement in the following from Mr. S. B. Hollings, 

 writing to the Midland News, Bradford, England, under date of April 



27,1900: 



When I state that the vast majority of mohair clips produced in Cape Colony does 

 not fill the bill of our manufacturers I state the whole and sole reason why Turkish 



