[227] 



have sent it directly to the Farr Alpaca Company, of Holy- 

 oke, Mass., and have always had prompt and fair treat- 

 ment. There are several other merchants and manufac- 

 tories who deal in mohair, both in New York and Philadel- 

 phia, among the most extensive and reliable of whom are 

 Messrs. Justice, Bateman & Co., of 122 Front street, Phila- 

 delphia, and I cannot do better, in this connection, than to 

 quote a circular which they have recently published on this 

 subject, as follows : 



" Mohair fleece can be raised in perfection in the United 

 States. We have seen samples from Virginia, Kentucky, 

 and California equal to any grown abroad. At the same 

 time, we must candidly say no native clip approaches, even 

 in skillful culture, the product usually found in the Liver- 

 pool market. Those who wish to furnish the combing trade, 

 which buys the best material, are advised to follow the 

 directions below : Exclude from your flock all animals of 

 less than seven-eighths pure blood. Keep the animals 

 young, by killing after taking off the third fleece. The 

 length and lustre of the fleece may be increased by 

 crossing with the Van goat. Select bucks for breeding, 

 whose locks maintain their full size to the end of the staple, 

 that is, such as are not spiral. The value of fleece is com- 

 puted from its length, lustre, quality (fineness of fibre), and 

 strength. Keep your flock out of burry pastures. Burs 

 frequently cause a loss of ten cents a pound on the product. 

 Clip but once a year, as early as practicable ; after the fleece 

 begins to shed it loses in value very rapidly. Pack the 

 beard, belly, and tail wool separately, also the coarse locks, 

 brown ends, and shorts, and send the clear fleece alone to 

 the comber." 



These directions are, of course, indended to apply to es- 

 tablished flocks, the mohair product being chiefly the object. 

 As I am not familiar with the Van goat, I suppose it is 

 some variety or family of the Angora, which has not yet 



