[235] 



Until a few years since the recollection of the first trans- 

 fers of Angoras had operated adversely to the development 

 of the interest, and the enterprise was stifled under the con- 

 viction that there was no demand or market for mohair. 

 J5ven at the present time, among an intelligent class of wool 

 growers in the United States, there is an entire ignorance 

 of the existence of mills in New York and other States for 

 the conversion of mohair, besides both a domestic and 

 foreign demand largely in excess of the annual clip of our 

 country. 



The mohair of commerce, strictly the product of the An- 

 gora goat, has its individual place in the textile fabrics. 

 Though often combined with cotton, wool and silk, it differs 

 mainly from wool in the absence of any felting property, 

 and on account of its lustre, elasticity, strength and durabil- 

 ity, is admirably suited for furniture plushes, and being 

 nearly indestructible, is used by nearly all of the railroads. 

 It is also used in the manufacture of the finest ladies' and 

 men's wear, where brilliancy and last are desired. The 

 commercial value of mohair depends on condition, length, 

 lustre and fineness, and varies from fifty cents to one dollar 

 per pound. 



The Angora crosses readily with the native American 

 goat, the fifth cross producing the full blood, which is iden- 

 tical in appearance with the pure goat, as well as producing 

 a fleece worth the same as mohair from the pure animal. 

 Some authorities contend, in crossing the Angora on the 

 American or native goat, that the native strain can never 

 be eliminated, and will re-appear, notwithstanding the hy- 

 brid by each successive cross is constantly approaching, but 

 will never attainUhe type of perfection of the pure Angora. 

 These same authorities forget that the natives of Angora 

 frequently repair losses in their flocks by crossing the white 

 Angora, with its silken ringlets, on the black Hurd goat, 

 which, after the third or fourth cross, establishes the type of 

 the white Angora. This process of crossing in its mother 



