102 APPENDIX. 



bucks should always be used, because the progeny of the " full blood " 

 bucks vary greatly, and the upward progress is by no means satisfac- 

 tory. The Angora is a hardy, industrious, and self-sustaining animal, 

 and can be classed as herbivorous. Being active and vigorous, they 

 roam over wide ranges of country, giving value to worthless vegetation 

 refused by most other animals ; and will feed and fatten at double the 

 distance from water that sheep can, as they travel faster and endure 

 more. I have for twenty years bred them largely, and have observed 

 the following rules in my selection of stock bucks : 



In pedigree. Dating back to Asiatic importation. 



In fleece. Weight and length of the long, silky, ringletted, white 



fleece, and its freedom from kemp, and mane on the back and 



neck. 

 In frame. Size and vigor, long pendent ears, and upright spiral horns. 



If that point has not already been reached, I believe it soon will be, 

 when (as in the history of merino sheep) finer specimens of the Angora, 

 American bred, may be seen here than can be found in their haunts 

 in Asia Minor. 



I have had great success with the Angoras, and regard them as one 

 of the most valuable acquisitions to the resources of our husbandry. 

 They have yielded me more substantial pecuniary profit than any other 

 branch of my extended stock investments. In 1861, I sent out to 

 William M. Landrum, of California, the first Angoras that went there ; 

 where they have laid the foundation of what, I am confident, will be a 

 very extensive and profitable husbandry. There can be no doubt that 

 in the range of the Blue Ridge, extending from Alabama to Virginia 

 they would find all the requirements of their nature, utilize a vast 

 country, and prove a source of great benefit and profit to all inter- 

 ested. In reference to the whole matter of sheep husbandry at the 

 South, after a long experience, in which neither labor, care, nor expense 

 has been spared by me, I may say, with safety, I know of no invest- 

 ment so likely to yield constant and profitable returns to the farmer 

 and certainly none so valuable to the acres he occupies. I think the 

 State of Georgia, from its varied climate, soil, and surface, offers un- 

 equalled facilities for this industry. We shall need with this, the 

 paternal care of the State and National governments, for its growth 

 and permanence. Local laws for the protection of our flocks from man 

 and beast should be promptly enacted ; while the general government 

 should by no unkindly legislation disturb existing advantages, retard 

 our growing progress, or throw any obstacle in our way. And I may 



