1876.] 
415 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
spring, and tlie printed rules required that it should 
be delivered, with other things, before the 10th of 
May. So the Doctor was “ ou hand” of course. 
He was informed that his other exhibits were in 
order, but that the cider could not be shown before 
autumn. “ Why not ? ” said lie.—“ The special 
exhibition of cider-presses takes place then, and 
besides it is of no object at this time o’year.”— 
“ But,” said the Doctor, “ you show wine now, do 
you not?”—“Certainly—age improves wine.”— 
“ Then,” said he, “ my exhibit is Apple ic'.nc, for it 
is not fit to drink until it is a year old, and that 
which I have to show is some of it several years 
old in the barrels.”—“Ah,” said the wise official, 
“ if you have apple wine it is all right, that of 
course may be shown now.” 
This official was not more ignorant of what cider 
is, than most of his countrymen. Here in this land 
of apples, iu almost endless variety, and of unsur¬ 
passed excellence, the abundance of which is only 
equaled by the profusion of other fruits of the earth, 
we know cider only as a beverage enjoyable before 
fermentation is fairly over, and good for nothing- 
hut vinegar and apple-jack after it becomes “ hard. ” 
There are few kinds of imported wines that equal 
this 
Apple-Wine 
of Dr. Hexamer. He has never told me, that I re¬ 
member, the method by which it is made, and its 
fermentation regulated and perfected, without the 
loss of flavor, or gaining of false flavors. I have 
little doubt that he selects sound ripe apples, 
mingling varieties only when he knows they go 
well together, using no decayed fruit. Laying up 
his cheese in press cloths and not straw ; using no 
water to wet the cloths, or the straw if he uses it; 
that he exposes the ground apples to the air more 
or less, stirring the mash frequently to give it a 
good color; that he uses pure, clean sherry or 
brandy barrels, if possible not previously used for 
eider; that he allows as little access of air as possi¬ 
ble to the cider during the pressing or afterwards ; 
that the cider is racked from one barrel into an¬ 
other, just as soon as the first fermentation is fairly 
over; that it is kept in the coolest part of the cel¬ 
lar all the time, in order that the fermentation shall 
go on quietly and thoroughly, the barrels being 
kept full, and no air being allowed to come in con¬ 
tact with the cider. The barrels are probably 
racked off three times before spring, and again at 
the beginning of warm weather, (apple-blossom 
time, when the cider works from “sympathy”). 
The cider I allude to is “ still,” that is, not spark¬ 
ling or effervescing when bottled, as it may be. 
The Angora Goat. 
BT K. PETERS, ESQ., ATLANTA, OA. 
Continued from last month , page 373. 
Value of the Fleece. —The market value of 
mohair, like all other commercial commodities, 
may he expected to fluctuate in accordance with 
the laws of supply and demand. But as the pro¬ 
duction is now, aud for many years must continue 
to be unequal to the demand, prices must remain 
at, or approximate those now current. In the mean¬ 
time improvement may reasonably be expected in 
the yield, the quality, and its preparation for mar¬ 
ket, at an inappreciable inenease of cost. I have 
already quoted it at from 60 cents to one dollar per 
pound. But the shrinkage in all values within the 
last twelve months, has affected ‘‘ mohair ” also. As 
to present [August] prices the following returns 
of a small shipment to the Jamestown, N. Y., 
Manufacturing Comp’y are respectfully presented : 
Jamestown Alpaca Mills, 
Jamestown, N. Y., July 18th, 1876. 
IiicuARD Peters, Atlanta, Ga., 
Sold to Hall & Turner, 
(Mohairs. Alpacas, Poplins and Worsteds.) 
1-4 lbs. 1st quality Mohair @ 75c..$138.00 
55 lbs. 2d do. do. @ 60c. 33.00 
10 lbs. 3d do. do. @ 55c. 5.50 
7 lbs. black do. @ 55c. 3.85 
43 lbs. f-grade do. @ 20c. 8.60 
Uses of Angora Goat Products. —“ Mohair,” 
the commercial name of the fleece of the Angora 
Goat, is used for the manufactures of which wool 
may form a part—but its length, great strength, 
and silkiness of fiber, and its beautiful luster, and 
the fact that it readily receives dyes, which, once 
set, are indelible, gives it a higher market value, ac¬ 
companied by a rapidly increasing demand. It is 
manufactured principally into poplins and alpaca 
goods, that are known as mohair goods, and into 
plushes and braids. 
In California and other of the Pacific States, large 
flocks of grade Angoras are being bred for their 
skins, for which there is an increasing demand at 
San Jose, California, by the Angora Robe, Glove 
and Mat Manufactory. The carcass is highly prized, 
wherever introduced, as food, while the milk is 
highly esteemed for domestic use and the sick 
room. Taken altogether, the Angora may be re¬ 
garded as a very valuable acquisition, and an ad¬ 
dition to the resources of our husbandry—especial¬ 
ly in the Middle, South Atlantic, Western, and Pa¬ 
cific States. The great hardiness and beauty of the 
animal, its almost entire freedom from disease, its 
self-sustaining qualities, and the rapidity with 
which it multiplies itself and grows, must make it 
a universal favorite. 
Can it be Crossed with Sheep ?—Prior to the 
year 1860 I tried many experiments, in hopes of ob¬ 
taining a cross between the goat and sheep, and 
failed in every instance. Extensive correspondence 
with other breeders has convinced me that the cross 
cannot be obtained. Dr. John Bachman, the cele¬ 
brated Naturalist of Charleston, S. C., who was in 
correspondence with the most distinguished natur¬ 
alists of Europe, informed me that he had no faith 
in the theory, and did not believe the cross obtain¬ 
able. He stated, however, that Cuvier, the re¬ 
nowned French Naturalist, claimed to have exam¬ 
ined a specimen of such a hybrid, but Dr. Bachman 
himself believed that Cuvier had been deceived, or 
had made a mistake. 
Introduction into California. —In the spring 
of 18611 shipped, by Adams Express, to St. Louis, 
two 16-months’-old bucks to Mr. Wm. M. Landrum, 
then of Joaquin Co., California, who, at the ensu¬ 
ing State Fair, in September, received a special 
premium for the introduction of the Angora, or 
“Cashmere” Goat—a large size silver goblet. 
From St. Louis they were transported by steamer 
to Fort Leavenworth. Thence they traveled on 
foot with the wagon train, browsing on what was 
rejected by other animals, and arrived uninjured, 
and in good condition, at their new home. One 
died of snake-bite after siring about thirty kids. 
The other, widely and popularly known on the Pa¬ 
cific Coast as “ Billy Atlanta,” (and “ King of the 
Cashmere Goats,) lived to be ten years old, (when 
he was accidentally killed,) and sired about 2,000 
kids. This buck won the sweepstake prize, against 
all competition, at every fair down to that preced¬ 
ing his death ; his numerous descendants are scat¬ 
tered all along the Pacific Coast, and his blood 
courses in the veins of over one-half the Angora 
flock, pure-bred and grades, in that part of the 
Union, estimated to approximate 70,000 head. 
In Nov., 1867, Mr. Landrum imported eight head, 
and these were followed in Dec., by seven import¬ 
ed by Gray & Gilmore ; and these by three import¬ 
ed hy Mr. Flint. In 1868 Gray & Gilmore imported 
seven more, and Messrs. Landrum, Butterfield & 
Son imported two bucks—one of which was the 
celebrated no-horned Costamboul already men¬ 
tioned. Soon after, in the same year, (1868,) I sent 
out 25 head of choice pure-bred goats by Mr. E. 
Holland, of Atlanta, 17 of which were bought by 
Landrum, Butterfield & Son, and the other eight by 
various parties in California. 
In 1870 Diehl & Brown shipped out most of their 
stock, 60 of which survived, and passed into the 
hands of Butterfield & Son. In 1871-72, Shearland 
& Thomas imported the larger portion of the Euty- 
chides flock, and in 1872 Landrum & Rogers bought 
the larger portion of my pure-bred stock. Thus it 
will be observed that about one-third of the pure- 
breds introduced into California, was contributed 
from the first and original (Davis) importation of 
1848; and that its blood is present in probably two- 
thirds or three-fourths of the Angora stock on the 
Pacific Coast. 
Suggestions as to future Importations. —As 
already intimated, the importation of Asiatic Goats 
has been promiscuous, and in many cases from 
chance lots of ill-bred, ill assorted stock. Few 
have been imported direct from their native moun¬ 
tain country ; the greater portion having been pur¬ 
chased near the coast by persons unacquainted 
with the business, and more interested in specula¬ 
tion, than regard for, or a desire to improve the 
stock. Mr. John M. Harris, of California, is an ex¬ 
ception, he having, last year, visited both Cashmere 
and Augora, and after observation and inquiry, de¬ 
cided in favor of the last named as the best adapt¬ 
ed to this country. He purchased and imported 
two bucks and ten ewes, (all yearlings,) which, with 
their increase on the way, cost him at the time of 
landing over five hundred dollars each. 
To obtain the finest specimens of pure-bred An¬ 
goras, I am clearly of opinion that some experienced 
breeder should go direct to the native home of the 
goat and remain one or more years, select and breed 
there, and thus by securing an improved stock, ob¬ 
tain animals which would be a decided improve¬ 
ment on many of the previous importations, and 
proveia'really valuable addition to our Angora stock. 
The Goat of Thibet, the true Cashmere.— 
The name “ Cashmere ” is derived from that of the 
city where the far-famed Cashmere shawl is made, 
but the wool entering into its manufacture is ob¬ 
tained from the undercoat of the Goat of Thibet— 
the home of which goat is among and between the 
principal and secondary ranges of the Himalayas, 
near the regions of perpetual snow, from 10,000 to 
22,000 feet above the ocean, distant northwesterly 
about 1,500 miles from Calcutta, and 2,500 miles 
east of Angora. 
Dr. Davis brought with him from Asia, in 1848, 
besides the Angoras, a pair of Thibet Goats. The 
male died 60 on after his arrival in this country. 
The female was smaller than Angoras, narrow in 
the chest, with fox-ears, and rather short, upright, 
spiral horns. She had an undercoat *i downy 
wool, and an overcoat of white hair about four 
inches long. This undercoat is combed out by the 
natives as it starts to shed in the spring, and is used 
by them in the manufacture of the Cashmere shawls. 
In 1859 1 bought a male Thibet Goat, and three 
females having the appearance of being half Thibet 
and half Angora. The Thibet male bore a strong 
resemblance to the Thibet female imported by Dr. 
Davis. I combed out his undercoat of wool early 
in April, 1859, but could make no practical use of it. 
In 1854, when about to invest in Thibet and An¬ 
gora Goats, I was advised by Dr. Bachman not to 
purchase the Thibet Goats, but to rely on the An¬ 
goras, as, in his opinion, the Thibet Goats, like the 
Llamas of the Andes, could not be successfully ac¬ 
climated in a locality under 10,000 feet above the 
ocean. His opinion proved to be correct in my 
case, as all the Thibet Goats in my flock, pure and 
graded, died in a few years after I purchased them, 
from a disease of the lungs combined with dysen¬ 
tery, and I have heard of no one having been suc¬ 
cessful in the United States east of the Rocky 
Mountains, with the Thibets or Llamas. I am in¬ 
clined to believe, however, that with care and at¬ 
tention, both can be acclimated and profitably bred 
on the elevated plateaus of California, Colorado, 
and New Mexico, and perhaps other portions of 
that highly favored portion of the Union. 
Water-Carts. 
The regular distribution of water to stock in the 
yards and fields, should never be neglected, and 
where there is not an ample supply from wells, wa¬ 
ter should be carried to the stock. To drive the 
stock to water will often be more trouble thau to 
carry water to them, and a convenient method of 
doing this is by means of a tank, holding 500 to 600 
gallons, mounted upon a wagon-frame. One that 
we have seen in use was made of two-inch pine 
plank, jointed and strengthened at the corners by 
cleats, aud held together by iron rods with broad 
heads at one end, and screw nuts at the other. The 
seams were calked to make them water tight. The 
box was about 8 feet long, 4 feet deep, and 3 feet 
