AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
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“AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST HEALTHFUL, MOST USEFUL, A.\I» MOST NO ISLE EMPLOYMENT OF M AN.”— Washington. 
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Entered according to Act of Congress, in January, 1877, by the Orange Judd Company, at the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
VOLUME XXXVI.—No. 2. NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 1877. NEW SERIES-No. 361. 
A FLOCK OF ALPACAS .—Drawn FROM a Photograph .—Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
The Alpaca, a flock of which is represented in 
the above engraving, is sometimes classed as a 
sheep, and sometimes as a goat. It is, however, not 
properly either of these, but belongs to the genus 
Llama of the Camel family, and is closely allied to 
the Camel. It is a native of the mountainous por¬ 
tions of Peru, where it thrives upon the coarse and 
scanty forage found in 6uch situations. The en¬ 
graving is from a photograph of a flock, imported 
about a year ago by the late ex-governor Thomas, 
of Maryland, and which was sold and dispersed last 
summer, by order of the executors of the Thomas 
estate. What disposition was made of the animals, 
we have not learned, buthope that they fell into the 
hands of parties who are willing and competent to 
give them a full trial in this country. The animal 
is valuable for its fleece, and in its native country 
it serves as a beast of burden, being used to carry 
packs up and down the rugged mountain roads. 
The fleece consists of a long, lustrous, hairy wool, 
or wooly hair, which is fine and elastic. From this 
is made the fabrics known as “alpaca,” and many 
small wares, such as braids and tassels. From 
other varieties, having somewhat different wool, 
softer kinds of goods, including gloves, are made. 
Their usefulness here will depend altogether on 
their becoming acclimated in this country. Con¬ 
sidering the great diversity of climate and locality 
we possess, there can be but little doubt that, if 
the Alpacas are tested in the right place, they will 
adapt themselves to it. ' The proper locality for 
their acclimation would seem to be some moun¬ 
tain region, of which we have sufficient to accom¬ 
modate all the animals we might need to supply 
all our manufactures. The flesh of the Alpaca is 
eatable, and the animal is very docile and easily kept. 
Its form is picturesque, and should make it suf¬ 
ficiently attractive and promising, to induce some 
persons of wealth and enterprise, who possess 
country places, to experiment with it, not only for 
their own pleasure, but for the possible or proba¬ 
ble public advantage that might accrue from it. 
