Proceedings of the Farmer^ Club. 271 



September 17, 1867. 

 Mr. Nathan 0. Ely in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambkes, Secretary. 



ANGORA GOAT. 



A letter from Mr. Deihl, the American agent for getting a new 

 stock of goats, dated at Constantinople, was read. Mr. Deihl stated 

 that he had visited the interior of Asia Minor, the native place of 

 the Angora, Cashmere, Thibet, and other goats, of which he saw 

 thousands, and he learned many interesting facts. There are about 

 one million and a half of these goats, which yield a iieece of fi'om 

 three to six pounds each, and three millions of pounds are sent to 

 England. Under directions from our Department of Agriculture, 

 he had purchased two hundred head of the best he could find, and 

 he had collected a variety of plants and minerals for analysis and 

 examination on his return. With regard to the agricultural appear- 

 ance of that country, the chief feature was the many gardens and 

 vineyards, which are in a highly cultivated state; but as to farm- 

 ing, as we understand it, the condition is very low. Only the most 

 primitive implements are in use, such, perhaps, as existed at the 

 time of Noah; there are no such things as agi'icultural fairs, meet- 

 ings or discussions; the people will not learn, while two-thirds of 

 all that the land produces goes for taxes, and yet it is a very plea- 

 sant and fruitful country, and the soil has a capacity for yielding 

 large quantities of all kinds of productions. 



SEED FROM SMALL POTATOES. 



Mr. T. W. M. Caslin, Brownsburg, Ind., inquired whether it is 

 best to plant small potatoes for seed. 



Mr. S. E. Todd. — I experimented five j^ears, planting the smallest 

 seed every year, and the result was a crop so small as to be utterly 

 worthless. The first year or so they were of good size. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker. — I do not think this hardly meets the case. 

 The question should be decided on the maturity of the seed. If 

 one will constantly pick out immature seed, of course degeneration 

 will follow, whether it be large or small. My impression is that 

 small seed may be so matured, and have so much vigor as to be as 

 good as large seed. There have been a great many experiments; 

 some point one way and some another. 



The Chairman. — I hope every one will visit the fair to see the 

 seventy varieties of potatoes shown by Dr. Hexamer, and the one 

 hundred and five varieties exhibited by Mr. D. T. Hefiron, of Utica. 

 Such an exhibition may not soon be seen again. 



