AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 24*7 



THE BAKER APPLE. 



Solon Robinson presented specimens of the Baker apple, a very hand- 

 some red fruit, highly aromatic, and something like the Baldwin apple in 

 size and color. Mr. Robinson stated that it was one of the best apples, 

 for all purposes, that he was acquainted with, being good to eat out of 

 hand, and good to cook. It is remarkably good when baked, and is uni- 

 versally esteemed where known, which is only in a little circle near where 

 it originated, in Ridgefield, Conn. 



The club then adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary, 



February, 14, 1859. 



Present — Messrs. R. L. Pell, Dr. Holton, Prof. Nash, Dr. Crowell, 

 Chilson, Stacey, Hon. .John Gr. Bergen, Adrian Bergen, Roberts, Pardee, 

 Solon Robinson. AVitt, Hardenbrook, Fuller, Burgess, sen., and Burgess, 

 jr.. Doughty, Benjamin Pike — 48 in all. 



Robert L. Pell in the chair. Henry Meigs, secretary. 



Secretary Meigs read papers selected and translated by him, viz. : 



[Bulletin Mensuel de la Societe Imperiale Zoologiquc d'Acclimatation. Dec, 1858.] 



WOOL. 



The history of the Angora goat is given. It descends from the magnifi- 

 cent Buck of Falcona. which originated in the high mountains of Thibet; 

 then to the central plains of Asia ; from Armenia to Chinese-Tartary, 

 from whence, through Chang-Hai, it is exported, both raw and manufac- 

 tured. At the Exhibition of all Nations, London, there was Angora wool 

 from the Kalmouk territory, on the river Don, between the Black sea and 

 the Caspian, north of Caucasus. These goats are scattered all over the 

 surface of Asia. They arrived in Asia Minor, in the 11th and 12th cen- 

 turies, along with the Turks. It was totally unknown to the ancients. 



Belon, the naturalist, in the 16th century, first made it known, describ- 

 ing its fleece as fine as silk, and white as snow ; used to make camlets. 

 The goat fattens as easily as a sheep. Repeated observations shows that 

 there is no similarity to our common goat in them. It is said to be impos- 

 sible to transform, by crossing, common sheep into Merinos. Now, Lsehner, 

 in his remarkable Anleitung zur Schafzucht, declares, that after succes- 

 sive generations of crosses, the original type reappears the moment you 

 cease to use the pure blood Merino rams. 



Angora produces, annually, from about 500,000 goats, near one million 

 and a half pounds of wool, much of which is made into strong cloth, for 

 men, fine cloth, for women, and for stockings and gloves. The rest of this 

 "wool all goes to England. Some think this is below the truth. The flesh 

 of this goat is valued as being infinitely better than that of the common 

 goat. They carry young five months, and seldom bear more than two 

 young ones. 



