THE ANGORA AND MILKING GOATS. 315 



stronger than the pure-bred animals, but pos- 

 sessing a small amount of inferior hair. Fur- 

 ther crossing greatly improved the hair, how- 

 ever, and it is not meant to suggest that this 

 debasing blood has brought ruin or irretriev- 

 able loss.- In truth, the added si^ie and strength 

 of the grades have been a help, and by the care- 

 ful selection of bucks for a few generations 

 wonders are worked in Angora grade fleeces. 



This brings us (without mention of further 

 interesting importations) down to the date of 

 the recent exploitation of the Angora. Proved 

 in 1897 to be unrivalled brush exterminators in 

 Iowa, their fame spread, and Angoras have 

 been sent in carload lots to all the states and 

 territories. When they have been good goats 

 and given good care they have proved profit- 

 able. When they have been common goats, the 

 result of indifferent grade sires on commion 

 smooth Mexican goats, they have still proved 

 excellent brush exterminators but have struck 

 their owners with dismay when they had them 

 sheared and tried to sell the fleeces. 



Within very recent years, however, since the 

 establishment of a record and flock book for the 

 Angoras, with classes at fairs and new impor- 

 tations, from Asia and Africa, there is a very 

 great improvement coming over the Angora in- 

 dustry and it is only a question of time when 

 good mohair will be abundant on the American 

 market. When that time comes, curiously 

 enough, it will be in greater demand than it is, 

 now that it is rather scarce. Mohair is used 

 in making plush for dress fabrics and yams. 



