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would have to be bred for their /prospective value, and for 

 fancy articles mainly. A fratricidal war delayed, but could 

 not divert, the consummation. Several manufactories have 

 already been established. The demand, at remunerating 

 prices, is greater than the supply ; and the wool of cross- 

 bred animals during several generations proves to be equal 

 to any for many of the purposes of use or ornament, and 

 we are assured that we may now enter confidently upon this 

 new and promising field of industry. 



PRACTICAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THEM. 



To those who contemplate entering upon the breeding of 

 these animals, a few remarks, derived from careful reading, 

 and from practical experience during near twenty years, 

 may not be uninteresting. 



A SKETCH OF THEIR HISTORY. 



Though the goat has not long been practically known as 

 a wool- bearing animal in the United States, yet it is infer- 

 able, from their hardier nature and better adaptation to 

 pioneer life, that it supplied our remote ancestors with both 

 clothing and food long before the sheep was used for these 

 purposes. Certainly from the earliest history of our race 

 it has been intimately and practically associated with man, 

 and in some Asiatic countries still contributes to his re- 

 quirements more than sheep. The race abounds in almost 

 infinite varieties, which have readily adapted themselves to 

 the climates, subsistence and culture, to which they have 

 been subjected, in almost every habitable portion of the 

 globe. They were regarded by the ancient Israelites as 

 clean beasts, were esteemed as choice food, and were conse- 

 crated to sacrifice. Certainly ever since, and probably long 

 before Moses ordered one hundred and sixty- five yards of 

 the cloth of "goat's hair" to be made for the veil or cov- 

 ering of the Tabernacle, the wool-bearing goat has been 

 known and used by the Asiatic people, and the animals still 



