Sec. 13.] 



WILD ANT) TAME ANIMALS OF THE FARM. 



265 



29G. Goats.— Introduction of the Tashmere Goats into the Cuited States.— 



About the most unprotitablo of all varieties of fanu-stock is the common 

 goat. It is known in some parts of the country as the Irish goat, probably 

 because the people from Ireland in this country, particularly in cities, keep 

 more goats than all the rest of the inhabitants. These are of all colors, as 

 much so as the common breed of horned cattle, and about tjiu size of com- 

 mon sheep. The she-goats give a small cpiantity of milk, and the kids 

 afford some flesh food, at a small cost to the owners, as the^' forage their 

 living, and frequently do more mischief in a neighborhood or upon a farm 

 than their necks are worth. The hair of the common goat is worth nothing 

 for manufacturing purposes. It is quite the reverse with the Cashmere 

 goat. The tlcece of this variety is eight times as valuable as line wool ; and, 

 fortunately, it has been found that a cross upon the common goat, even in 

 the first progeny, produces a fleece about half as valuable as the full blood, 

 60 that the breeding of goats in this country for the fleece is likely soon to 

 become quite common, and a profitable branch of husbandry, particularly 

 in some of the roughest districts of country. 



To Dr. James B. Davis, of South Carolina, the country is indebted for the 

 introduction of the pure Cashmere goats, which are now to be found in 

 various parts of the United States; and to Hon. Richard Peters, of Atlanta, 

 Ga., it is equally indebted for the interest he took at an earl}' day in the 

 propagation of the original stock, which he purchased of Dr. Davis, ilr. 

 Peters, being a wealthy, public-spirited gentleman, spared no pains, even 

 when success was doubtful, in getting this breed established ujiou a firm 

 basis, and proving that its crosses upon the common breed woidd be profit- 

 able, as well as upon several other varieties of fine-wooled goats. 



Vic had the pleasure of an acquaintance with Dr. Davis and his stock at 

 Charleston, in 1849, shortly after his return from several years' residence at 

 Constantinople. He brought with him seven females and two nnilc^ of the 

 Cashmere goats, besides several other curious s]iecimens of the livestock of 

 the East. lie stated his belief to be that the Cashmere, Persian, Angora, 

 and Circassian goats are all of one breed, and that they have been slightly 

 changed by locality, principally by altitude. Tiiese fine goats usually breed 

 two kids in the spring, and, unfortunately, where rapid propagation is an 

 object, the males preponderate. 



The progeny of these goats is now to be found in all the States from Now 

 York to Texas. In the latter State they liavc been established pretty exten- 

 sively. Wo saw a letter written by John II. McCall, at Austin, in August, 

 1S{)0, which estimated that two hundred head, principally bucks, had been 

 introduced into Texas. 



The demand for the fleece of Cashmere goats may be calculated from the 

 fact that it is stated that 4,000 looms and 12.(iOO people are employed in the 

 city of Lyons, France, in the manufacture of tlie fleeces of Cashnifre gxats, and 

 that they are worth from four to eight dollars a i)ound. As soon as the supply 

 is large enough, we shall have manufactories in operation in this country. 



