The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-04
Agricultural
Introduction of the Alpaca into
.7.aa a the u. 8.

1ntroducC1on OF the Alpaca into
-7.aa the II. 8. s..
We have observed with pleasure the intcn
lion of the American Agricultural Association
at the suggestion Off l. Pell, Of Ulstercou
Iy,to introduce the Peruvian sheenor Alpaca
into the United States. This animal inhab
It's the slopes, table lands, and mountains %
Peru, Bolivia and Chill, enduring all the vi.
cissuides Of climate. They are found $4,000
feet above the level ofthe sea,-where they
derive Il subsistence from the moss, &c.
growing upon the rocks, exposed 10 all the
rigoys ofthc elements, and receiving neither
food nor care from the hand of man. The
shepherd only visits them occasionally; YET
stich are their gregnrious habits, that the
Fnembers Ofone flock seldom stray away and
mix with another, being keptm discipline by
the older ones, who Know their grounds, and
become attached TO the place of their nativi-
", TO which they return at night, evincing an
astonishing vigilance and sagaciy in keeping
the young ones together, and free from harm.
Hence there is no need of branding them.
So great is the intelligence ofsome leaders OF
It flock, that much value is, on this account,
attached to them by their owner, part Of
whose duties they perform. These animals,
says William Walton, are found oil the snow
capped mountain ChinIboraZo, ll,670 feet
above the sen. In this tropical region, eX-
cessive heat is experienced in the month of
August during the day, and towards evening
the thermometers regularly falls many degrees
below the freezing point, and the next NOR
Iiing rises from Sto ~ degrees above it,
all ofwhich great changes they endure per-
tectly well. In other parts of the Andes
mountains, during half the year snow and
hail fall necessarily, whilst III the higher re-
Eious, rs before noticed, every night the Their
uiometer falls many degrees below the free
zmg point, and the peaks consequently are
constantly covered with an accumulation of
ice The wet season succeeds, when light
ming flashes traverse The clouds in rapid Sue
cession, followed, not by showers, but by tor
rents of rain, which after collecting, fall head
long from the rocks leaving the slopes almost
bare ofsoil, and spreading desoatou where
ever they pass Still the Aipucas abound ard
thrive. Their teeth are so strong that they
can easily crush and masticnte vegetable sub
stances too had and tough for ordinary cattle.
gnihc formation of their stomach they resem-
BILE the camel, and can undergo extreme bum
ger aud thirst. Their meat is tender, whole
somp and savory. and in that country ia rec
commended Ivy physicians to invaids, in pref
erence 10 fowls-for all declare that their
meat is extremely wholesome, and as palata-
hle rs that of fat sheep in CASTLE. MIR w.
further remarks, Tint in his time there were
SHAMELESS in the Peruvian towns, where it
was constantly sold. The quality ofAlpaca
sueat could not fail TO be good, when the
cleanliness OF the animal, the nature of its
food, and the neat and delicate manner in
which it feeds, are considered. They eat tire
pilrcst vegetable substances, which they Gull
with the grentest care, aud in habitual ciean-
Illness sllrpass every other quadruped. The
hardy nature aud contented disposition ofthe
Alnaca, cause it to adapt itselfto almost any
soil or situation. The hest proof gifts hard-
ness is it's power to endure cold, damp, hun
ger, and Observation-Disclosures To which it is
constantly exposed on its native mountains;
while It's gentle and docile qualities are evn-
ced in its general habits of affection towards
its keeper
No animal in the universe is less affected
bv the changes Ofthe climate and food, nor
i there any one to be found more easily dom
iciliated than this. Another remarkable iea-
Ture in the Alpaca is, that it does not per-
spire; for which reason, and its peculiarly
cleanly habits, the fleece does not require
washing before it is taken from the back.
Although often confined to regions where
~Snow piled on snow, eacl mass appears,
The gathered winter ola Thousand years"
rife Al paca is free from all diseases inciden-
tai to common sheep. The chest is guarded
Ivy a cailosity, which comes in contact with
the ground while the animal repoSes, and
projects it from catarrhs, or other disorders
disabling the limbs. In whatever point of
view we contemplate the properties and hab
its ofthis animal, it will he found suitable
stock for all our Western States; waste and
improbable pastures would suffice them;
they would browse on wild grasses, and her
bage that sheep and cattle reject.
al I DC ,r
wool, which is suited for the finest class of
goods and calculated to compete with silk,
Itis almost as fashionable now as that fabric.
being worn by her Majesty Vctoria.-Jom. Of
COM t |.'l ~.