184 



The Alpaca. 



Vol. IX. 



THE ALPACA. 



The Alpaca is a native of Peru, where it was found by the ear]y Spanish adventurers 

 It IS ot inestimable value to the Indians, both on account of its wool and flesh, and re- 

 markable adaptation to the peculiarities of the country. It will readily pick up a subsist- 

 ence from the mosses, the lichens or the buds of shrubbery which are to be found on the 

 mountain ridges of tiie Andes, or it will be better pleased to revel in the fertile vallies 

 with which that wild country is interspersed. Considerable eflbrts have been made within 

 a few years, and with various success, to iatroduce the Alpaca into Enoland, and on some 

 parts ot the continent. Dr. Emerson s-ays in tlie Farmer's Encyclopedia'; tliat " the demand 

 for Alpaca wool in England, is rapidly increasing, and is well worthy the attention of 

 North American flirmers to make the experiment of raising Peruvian sheep. At a late 

 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences, Mr. 

 Dawson made a communication on the subject of the introduction into England, of a spe- 

 cies of Auchema, or Llama of South America, and presented specimens of Alpaca wool, 

 m Its natural and manufactured states, resembling silk, and without being dyed, as black 

 as jet. Naturalists distinguish five species of the Llama, all of which aflbrd wool. But 

 the Alpaca alcne has fine wool, from six to twelve inches Icnsr, and the Vicuna wool, like 

 the fur of the beaver, at the base of its coarser hair. It is capable of the finest manufac- 

 tiire, and is especially adapted to such fabrics as the finest shawls. The yarns spun ia 

 England are mostly sold in France for the sliawl trade, at i^:! 50 to $3 50 per pound, ac- 

 cording to quality, the price of the wool in a natural state, being about 50 cents per pound. 

 Ihis wool IS naturally free from grease, in whicli respect it differs materially from that of 

 common sheep, and the animal requires no washing before shearino-. Mr. Dawson re- 

 marked, that it was not certain v.hether the Alpaca could be made to thrive in Great Brit- 

 ain. The last remark migjit raise a doubt whether it could be raised to advantage in the 

 United States. Should it be proved that the Alpaca was not adapted to any partV Great 

 Britain, it would furnii:]i no solid argument against its adaptation to the climate of the 

 tSI't^^tI '''^^'^^^'^^^'-^'^^'*^ ^"'^^'^'^'^™ ^ff^tes, and tiie mountainous districts everywhere." 



"Mr. Bennett, of Farindon, England, had a pair of Llamas sent to him from Peru*20 years 

 ago, and fed them as sheep are usually fed, with hay and turnips in the winter. From his 

 own experience he found that they are particularly hardy and very long-lived. He in- 

 creased his stock, and has actually had six females at a tinie which liave had yonna- ones. 

 W tliese very few have died. The number of Peruvian sheep in the kingdom at present, 

 July, 1841, IS short of 100, chiefly distributed in parks. The existence" of this number 

 among us, supported by their healthy appearance, as reported from every quarter where 

 inquiries have been instituted, is a better proof of the capacity of Andes sheep to adapt 

 themselves to our climate, than any further arguments or elucidations which could be 

 adduced." 



