356 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



Many systematic and costly attempts have been made to introduce the Alpaca to Australia. 

 The experiments at first gave promise of success, but gradually they failed to become 

 acclimatized, and weakened by the loss of their native mountain-climate, they finally drooped, 

 and so many died that the prospect of success seemed anything but encouraging. 

 Notwithstanding various failures to introduce this valuable animal into other than its native 

 climate, we see no reason why it should not prove a decided success, providing we follow the 

 law of their nature, and place them in localities and conditions as nearly allied as possible to 

 their own native mountain -habitat. A noted agricultural authority speaks of their 

 introduction into this country, as follows: 



&quot; Attempts have been made at various times in this country, in Europe, and in Australia 

 to introduce the alpaca, but generally without profitable result. Various causes have 

 contributed to the failure of these efforts. Sometimes the confinement on shipboard during 

 a long voyage, with impure air and unaccustomed food, has nearly destroyed the stock. 

 Again, the animals, when brought to their destined abode, have been placed on luxuriant 

 clover pasture, or other food, so much richer than the coarse herbage of their native regions 

 that disease has fastened on the whole flock. 



The alpaca is indigenous in the mountain regions of Peru, and thrives in the highest 

 inhabited districts of the Andes, where the cold is more severe than in most parts of the 

 United States. Accustomed to the vicissitudes of such regions, and inured to cold, damp, 

 hunger, and thirst, it is especially adapted to bleak hill districts. Yet it is said to do well in 

 most localities where the air is pure, the heat not oppressive, and water for bathing readily 

 accessible. The latter is stated to be indispensable to the health of the animal, which, when 

 deprived of this requisite, soon becomes fevered and infected with scab. 



&quot;While the introduction of the alpaca into this country still remains a matter of 

 experiment, there is no known reason why such experiments should not be successful, when 

 properly conducted, in localities affording some approximation of the native conditions of the 

 animal. Not to mention many elevated situations in the Atlantic, Northern, and Central 

 States, the regions lying along the Rocky Mountain ranges have been indicated as presenting 

 good opportunities for such trials.&quot; 



It therefore still remains to be seen whether the rearing of these animals in the United 

 States shall prove a success, and thus open a new field of enterprise and wealth hitherto 

 unknown in the agriculture of this country. 



