402 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Cashmere Goat and its Wool. 



Hon. Israel S. Diehl, who is about to sail for Asia, under an 

 appointment of the General Government, for the purpose of 

 learninof more than is known in America concernin 2" this goat, and 

 the manufacture of its wool into wearing apparel, was invited to 

 occupy a few minutes in talking about these useful animals. He 

 stated that about eighteen years ago, there was an importation of 

 eighteen of this kind of goats. They have been scattered all 

 over our country, and have been crossed with the common goats, 

 until there are thousands of them in almost every State, from 

 Massachusetts to California. The}^ produce the tinest fleeces of 

 any of our domestic animals. He said also, that the fleece 

 of these goats cau be produced of a quality possessing more 

 beauty than is common to those fleeces that are produced in Asia. 

 These animals cau be reared for $5 per head, and they yield from 

 three to six pounds per head. This material commands from $5 

 to $6 per pound. In some localities at the west, these animals 

 have increased in value as high as $1,000 per head. Prof. Diehl 

 exhibited numerous specimens of hair of these goats, which was 

 exceedingly beautiful, and some of the specimens were fifteen 

 inches long. , 



Prof Diehl has been authorized by the Agricultural Department 

 at Washington, to make a report on the Cashmere goat as he finds 

 it in Asia, and to examine the Asiatic mode of manufacturing their 

 fleeces into cloth. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker stated that he has a friend in Illinois who has 

 been accustomed to raise this kind of goats, and they do so much 

 damage that they are really a nuisance. He stated also, that it 

 was exceedingly difficult to dispose of their fleeces in a satisfactory 

 manner. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — These goats should be in a country Avhere 

 there is nothing else, no garden, no fruit-trees, flowers, vines, crops 

 or fences. Then they will do well. Florida would be a good 

 place for them. 



Rinderpest. 



Dr. Rufus King Brown then delivered an address on the Rinder 

 pest, which was listened to with attention. The following are a 

 few notes: This disease originated in the Steppes of southern 

 Russia, where it always exists in a chronic form, and where it was 

 known in the third century. During the middle ages it devastated 



