Has been successfully introduced into England by C.T. Tower, Esq., of
Weald Hall, Essex; and as that gentleman, by this time, must have some
of his flock to dispose off, we think their introduction among
cottagers, for their wool and also for their milk, a fair subject for
some of our female readers to speculate on. This variety of the common
goat (or, probably, it may be a distinct species) is a fine-looking
animal, and would be very ornamental in a park, on a ruin, on the side
of a rock, or in a churchyard. It would also be very pleasant to have a
home-made Cashmere shawl. We shall, therefore, give all the information
we can on the subject, from Mr. Tower’s account, as published in the
last volume (xlvi.) of the _Transactions of the Society of Arts_. The
Cashmere goat was brought from Persia to France during the time of
Napoleon, and under his patronage, by the celebrated M. Terneaux. In
1823, Mr. Tower, happening at that time to be in Paris, purchased four
of them, two males and two females, and succeeded in conveying them
safely to his residence in Essex. The soil of the park at Weald Hall,
where they have been kept ever since, is moist, and the situation is
much exposed. The animals have, nevertheless, continued in health, and
multiplied rapidly; so that his present flock consists of twenty-seven,
including the four original ones. Of these latter, a polled female,
which was old when purchased by him has every year produced at least one
kid, and has twice had twins. Those individuals of which the horns cross
are in Persia esteemed the best; and one of Mr. Tower’s last year’s kids
has this peculiarity. They show no impatience of cold, and are very
healthy; requiring only the occasional shelter of a shed in very rough
weather. In spring, summer, and autumn, they graze like sheep; and,
during winter, have been fed with hay, and refuse vegetables from the
garden; but their favourite food is gorse (U’lex europae’a), which they
devour eagerly, without being annoyed by its prickles. They damage young
plantations, but not more than other goats or deer will do. They breed
very early: three of Mr. Tower’s goats this year produced kids before
they were themselves a twelvemonth old. A few produce brown wool; but
that of far the greater proportion of the goats is white, and this
latter is more valuable than the other. The coat is a mixture of long,
coarse hair and of short fine wool: this latter begins to be loose early
in April; and is collected, easily and expeditiously, by combing the
animals two or three times with such a comb as is used for horses’
manes. A good deal of the long hair comes off at the same time, but the
manufacturer has found no difficulty in separating it. The produce of a
male is about 4 oz., and of a female 2 oz.: 2 lbs. of wool, as it comes
off the goat’s back, may be estimated to make one shawl 54 in. square.
It will, therefore, require ten goats, male and female, to furnish
materials for one shawl. Mr. Tower has this year had three shawls made
of his wool, one of which was examined by the committee of
manufacturers, The yarn was spun by Messrs. Pease of Darlington and was
woven by Messrs. Miller and Sons of Paisley. Mr. Tower’s shawl was
compared with one made in Scotland, of French shawl-goat wool, to which
it was evidently far superior. It was also compared with a shawl of M.
Terneaux’s own make; and was considered by very competent judges to be
superior to this also. (_Trans. Soc. Arts._)
Mr. Tower’s goats were visited by Mr. Riley this present summer, and he
declares them to be the most interesting specimens of the pure breed he
has ever seen. The flock, consisting, in 1823, of two bucks and two
does, now (1832) consists of 51 animals. Mr. Riley found them “grazing
promiscuously with other stock in the park, and appearing extremely
docile. The climate of England renders it necessary that, at night, they
should be protected in sheds; and, in winter, fed with hay,” &c. “The
down was at this time taking from them by a girl, with a common
horse-comb; and, on comparing it with some specimens I had procured in
France, received through Russia, I found not the slightest degeneration:
but, on the contrary, from its very clean state, and the small
proportion of hair, I should say, it would realize in Paris a much
higher price than any I had seen. Mr. Tower has had some shawls made
from the produce of his flock, one of which he presented to his late
Majesty. It was greatly admired, and considered to rival those of
Cachemire. Mr. Tower states that his flock produces an average of 2 1/3
oz. of down annually from each animal.”--_Gardeners’ Magazine._
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