76 THE FUR TRADE OF AMERICA 



to the wool question, even though Karakul wool 12 inches long 

 would bring $1 per pound. It was also known that Karakul rams 

 shear from 8 to 21 pounds, ewes from 6 to 14 pounds. Wool 31 

 inches in length from one ram sold at $2 per pound. A 5-months 

 old lamb sheared 7 pounds, 7 inches long ; rams shearing 18 pounds 

 in 12 months are not uncommon. Six pounds is the least any 

 Karakul ever sheared. 



"If careful selection is practised, the Karakul will more than 

 hold its own with any breed, although often the wool does not 

 bring more than any mixed wool, this, however, can be avoided. 

 Where the wool was properly selected it sold in June, 1917, for 49^, 

 which was the price ordinary wool brought. 



"With careful breeding, the Karakul will easily excel any other 

 breed in America from a wool standpoint. I have known half- 

 breed Karakul-Navajos to shear 10 pounds, the mother hardly 

 clipped 3 pounds. The Karakul will give twice as much milk as 

 any other breed in the world, therefore no milk goats are kept in 

 the desert of West Turkestan. The famous 'brinza' cheese made 

 from Karakul milk is the best in the world. The milk is held by 

 the natives as possessing great curative properties in all stages 

 of tuberculosis, neurasthenia and pernicious anemia. The Kara- 

 kul is the cow of the natives of the Kara-Kum desert of Central 

 Asia. 



"Remember Karakul ewes never disown their lambs, never 

 wear their teeth down and herd very close. They can cover tre- 

 mendous distances daily and live where an Angora goat will starve, 

 and as browsers and destroyers of underbrush, no domestic animal 

 can compare with them. Should be introduced in well-drained 

 cut over timber countries, can stand any climate, will thrive on 

 Russian thistles and accumulate great quantities of fat ; 60-pound 

 lambs in 60 days are now the exception, but with care can be made 

 the rule. 



