AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 49 



from tlie introduction of tliis really new and valuable stock 

 amongst us, siu-passing in value any fleeced animal of this country 

 or Europe. 



First, The animals ai-e long lived, such being the case with the 

 whole goat race. 



Second, They are prolific; breeding at the age of one year, 

 with a i^eriod of gestation of about five months, and yielding 

 twins almost invariably after the first birth. 



Third, They are hardy; experience with the imported stock 

 and their issue having shown that they thrive well in our cli- 

 mate from Georgia to New-England, and that they require and 

 prefer coarse and cheajD food, as the inferior grasses, briars, 

 bushes, &c., such as is refused by other grazing animals. 



Fourth, They produce a fleece of four to eight pounds per 

 annum, valued at about six to eight dollars per pound; in France, 

 or in Paisley in Scotland, for the manufacture of those high 

 priced shawls. These fleeces, when the animals become nume- 

 rous, can be produced at a less cost than common sheep's wool, 

 and possessing durability for wear far superior to it, not only 

 for fine fabrics but for all the coarse goods. The permanent re- 

 tention of color is also a valuable feature in the goods made from 

 the hair of these animals. 



Another fact of great value practically to our agricultural in- 

 terest is the facility with which these Cashmere goats breed with 

 the common goats of our country; indeed youi* committee could 

 but admire the fineness of the fleece from a half or three-fourths 

 bred; a cross between a Cashmere buck and a common female 

 goat. 



From these and other considerations, of the correctness of 

 which your committee have entire confidence, it will be obvious 

 that every encouragement should be shown this new enterprise 

 in which Dr. Ambler and his associates have embarked fn what 

 appears to us a bold but judicious movement. Messrs. Ambler 

 and Osborns, ventured to purchase the full bred pair of these 

 goats, and one half or three fourths bred that were exhibited by 

 Dr. J. B. Davis, at the lair of the State Agricultural Society of 

 last season, after the many prominent agricultural gentlemen had 

 been deterred by the very high price demanded for them, since 

 which they have devoted themselves with untiring zeal and suc- 

 cess to the study of their habits, and the propagation of this 

 valuable species of animal. 



[Am. Inst.] 4 



