Connecticut western news., 1899-10-12
ANGORA GOAT PRODUCTS.
Many Way. Tn Which the Animal Is
 Useful.

NiNoSitTN SSNf Ss Many Ways Tn Which the Animal Is
 Useful.
 "The Angora goat" says William k. Payne, the well known dealer in mo- hair and goat skins, "has only been cul- tivated in this country about 50 years. Few people know its value and fewer still know that mohair Is the fleece of this animal. The Angora has not yet obtained status in agricultural jour nals. Yet 1t is one of the most valu- carcass, and one of the easiest and cheapest to cultivate. There are in the whole country now probably about 100000 head of Angoras including all degrees of blood near and remote. Of these probably not over one-third can be called high grade even by cour- tesy. Of pure blood there Is none, ex- cept possibly a flock in a remote re- zion, which has been kept intact from cross breeding, but has been inbred since 1876. Of imported animals from Turkey since 1849 there have come in- to the country, so far as records show, about $50 Angora rams and ewes, many of them of doubtful blood. Of really high character and grade prob ably not over 30 rams, all told, have come from Turkey.
 From this foundation has been bred up the present stock. Between cross breeding and in breeding whatever pure blood there was has been pretty well eliminated. and the crying need now Is for good, pure, sound, first class fresh bucks, a registry farm and new start. It needs some brains. energy and money put into 1t to nSke 1t one of the best paying industries there Is. Unfortunately the constituency behind the Angora in the United States today has not large vote like that back of the sheep. Up to date 1t has been treated like any old goat in Shantyville -as not worth the stone that is thrown at 1t. It Is impossible to get animals from Turkey without a strong pressure from government and diplomatic sources.
 ''The most important product of the Angora Is the long silky, wavy fleece used either pure or in connection with wool, silk. linen or carlton In a variety of fabrics for house furnishing and h. dies goods. brilliantines, Things, braid, plushes, astrakhan cloth, furniture GOV erings, curtain material, knit goods. fancy effects in shawls and dress goods and numerous other textiles. Its value ranges for foreign from 45 to 90 cents a pound and for domestic from 9 to 35 cents. There are consumed annually here about 100000 to 1,125, 900 pounds, of which the bulk has to be imported. as only about 250,000 to 300,- 900 pounds of the domestic product are long enough and of character to suit manufacturing needs. The short, low and cross bred hair Is used for blan. kets, lap robes, rugs, carpets and low goods generally. but even then is worth more per pound than most sheep wool, varying from 10 to 2l cents. The uses for mohair are increasing every year, and new outlets are being found for It as manufacturers are advancing in the variety of their products.
 "Angora skins properly dressed, are used white or tinted to manufacture rugs, robes, carriage mats, fur sets for children, trimming for ladies' furs, and also for dusters, horse head tas- sells, doll hair and wigs. They are most ly imported raw from the Cape of Good Hope and Turkey, and range in value, duty paid, from $1.50 up to S3.5O each, undressed. Domestic skins are in very limited supply and are worth from 50 cents each for kids up to g each for large full fieeced pelts. The low, cross bred, common skins and short belts not suitable to dress are used by morocco and glove leather manufacturers and are worth from 15 to IS cents a pound for large sizes, down to 10 and II cents for small ones and kids.
 "The flesh of the Angora is said to be excellent mutton and pronounced as good as Southdown. It is quite largely eaten in the west and In the east also, if people only knew it. There Is prejudice against the name of goat meat, but those who know say 1t Is very good. The horns can be utilized In a variety of ways, and not a part of the animal but has a value.
 "We may add that the climatic con ditions and food supply of large part of our mountainous country Is admir- ably adapted to Angora ranges and there is not a state in the Union, east or west, in which they cannot be grown to good advantage. Another point is that notwithstanding the in- breeding. crossbreeding and Inability to get fresh blood, American ranch men have improved the stock they had to work with, just as they improved the original Merino sheep. and believe 1t gives them the material to do with and they will in time produce better animal, larger and finer, than the or iginal stock with nearly 5000 years of history behind It."