BY JAMES ANDREW. 35 



Theoretically, Sir Samuel Wilson's views are no doubt 

 correct, practically, in connection with goat farming, they are 

 unworkable. In the Cape Colony all the flocks, now 

 numbering 2|- millions, have been raised by cross breeding, 

 and a similar course has been followed in the United States 

 with equal success ; indeed, Mr. John Swan stated that he 

 was informed, " the best flock in America never contained a 

 pure bred female." Sir Titus Salt, too, is known to have 

 raised a flock in this manner in England. 



I sincerely regret that my specimens of hair, from a 

 celebrated flock of goats in the Graaf Eeinet district of the 

 Cape Colony, have so suffered from moth during eight years' 

 inattention that they but very imperfectly exhibit the 

 gradations of successive crosses and the perfect sample which 

 it is the aim of every flock owner to equal. They may, 

 however, sufl&ce to give some idea of the various grades 

 through which animals with fleeces of good enough quality 

 for a general flock are obtained. 



It is hardly necessary to remark that the degree of 

 attention given to the selection of the best stud rams, the 

 proper classification of ewes, and the systematic culling of 

 flocks, will determine the value of the staple product. 



The fleece of the pure bred Angora often reaches to the 

 ground, the locks measuring 12 or even 14 inches in length. 

 The kind most in demand is only so much matted as to 

 cling together near the root, remaining free and separate 

 to the tij). The weight of hair varies as much in different 

 individuals as does the yield of wool in sheep. Mr. Swan 

 exhibited samples from the fleece of a pure goat which 

 weighed 8 lbs. iO oz. realising 2s. 6d. per lb. in the Home 

 market ; but perhaps 5 lbs. may be taken as a fair average of 

 a well-kept grade flock shorn once a year. From my notes 

 taken during shearing time at Graaf Eeinet I find that ewes 

 cut as much as 6flbs., whilst a ram was relieved of 

 an 8 months' fleece weighing 7 lbs. Kids of 8 months old 

 cut an average of 2 lbs. of very fine hair. 



Sir Samuel Wilson advocated shearing twice a year, 

 and his returns shows that the general average of both clips, 

 the first in May, the second in October, was over 3f lbs. 

 Even although the expenses are largely increased there may 

 be much to be said in favour of this double clip, for, as if 

 unshorn the goat naturally sheds its hair in early spring, it is 

 found necessary to remove the fleece — if only one shearing be 

 adopted — in mid-winter when its protection is most required. 

 The growth in the former case is probably stimulated by 

 Nature making an effort to provide for the wants of the 

 animal ; and felting or matting is no doubt prevented by not 

 allowing the hair to attain full length. For manufacturing 

 purposes any staple over 4 in. in length is found sufficient. 



