THE ANGORA AND MILKING GOATS. 313 



that have the long, silky hair that characterizes 

 the true Angora. Oats from Angora have that 

 quality, and dogs are said sometimes to possess 

 it. The ancient history of the Angora is un- 

 known. It has doubtless been the companion 

 of man for countless ages and civilizations have 

 existed upon the world far longer than we have 

 been taught. This region of Angora was in 

 ancient days famed for the wonderful fabrics 

 woven there, and the Angora goat furnished 

 the fleece for these fabrics. Occasionally war 

 or famine decimated the flocks, and at last the 

 changes in industrial life hushed, the looms of 

 Angora and the industry of spinning the fabrics 

 was transferred to England. Thereafter mo- 

 hair became a regular export from that land, 

 and the quality of the product suffered at once. 

 What was good enough to us:e at home became 

 too good to sell abroad and the Angoras were 

 crossed with a baser goat called the Kurd. It 

 is thought that there is not now in the world a 

 specimen of the true, ancient Angora. The loss 

 has been in the fineness of the hair and the 

 presence of more kemp, which is an under hair 

 shorter and damaging to true mohair, because 

 it will not take dyes. It would seem from the 

 studies of Mendel's law that it is most un- 

 likely that the true and honorable blood of the 

 old Angora is lost, for it is sure to reappear in 

 its purity sooner or later, if it has not already, 

 and can be fixed again, if it 'has not already 

 been fixed, by proper matings. 



In the beginning the Sultan of Turkey gave a 

 few Angoras to Dt. Jas, B. Davis of South Oaro- 



