My father, R. Milford Spencer raised Angora rabbits in the mid-1940s, and this was written probably for a journal--found in rough draft form: "Beginners Should Purchase the Best Foundation Stock by R. M. S. I started with ordinary meat rabbits but decided I should have something better after attending a Rabbit Show and seeing some of the fancy breeders. There were a few Angoras at this show and they took my eye. I received a booklet from a feed Co and in it they made the statement "anyone starting in the Rabbit business would do well to look into the raising of Angoras". I then started looking for more information about them. On joining a local Rabbit Assoc. I asked some of the members about the Angoras and was told to leave them alone as they were too much work. This did not discourage me but made me more interested. After writing to the A.R. & C.B.A. for information and to some breeders, I received all kinds of replies and prices. One Rabbitry advertised for Angoras and then on his own stationary sold pedigreed Angoras at good prices. Another advertised on his price list as Angoras form his farm or associated farms. Some advertised special heavy woolers and others had fancy trade words to describe their stock. I had studied a course in Agriculture when attending High School and had always been interested in animals so I knew that I should start with a good reliable breeder who would give me what I wanted. One breeder, and he happened to be one of the nearest ones to me, sent me very complete information on the Angora Rabbit, its care, housing information, possibilities and prices. I received this in February and after writing to him for more information I wentto see his stock and talking over other questions that I had about Angoras. I asked what he would suggest for me to buy to start with. He recommended a young senior trio with the does bred by his head bucks. I made my deposit on these and asked him to send me what he thought I should start with. At no time was I pushed for a sale. About two weeks later I received notice that he had a doe due within a week and if I could handle her upon arrival he would send at once. She kindled with eleven two days after I received her. The following week I received the other doe and my male. The second doe kindled with six. I cut these seventeen down to eleven and then lost two. I didn't have a foster mother and so I wasn't experienced enough to tell their sex or qualities. I trusted to luck that I had kept right ones and that I would have some does from what I had left. InO ctober I attended my first A.R. & C.B. A. Show and I entered six. My three Jr, Does, sisters, were placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. My herd buck was placed 2nd and my Jr. Bucks received 1st & 2nd in their class. In Dec. I attended a larger show judged by a different judge. My Jr. buck was now entered as a Senior and he was judged best angora, Best Wooler, Best Commercial Angora out of twenty-two Angoras. His mother, one of my original trios was placed best opposite sex and his brother second senior buck. My Jr. Doe was judged best junior. I received 3-1st Prizes, 3-3rdprizes, 1-2nd Prize and 1-sixth prize. (the next was struck out) I have learned a great deal about feeding and the wool part of Angoras and I don't think from my experience so far that I would care to choose my own breeders or to buy more unless(return to letter at this time) I have learned a great deal about feeding since I started with Angoras with a couple of costly mistakes. I started clipping the wool and it took one hour and a half to do my first one. Lately, I've tried plucking and think I will continue with that as I am getting more use to it. At the present time from my original trio I have fifteen does, twelve males and thirty-six that are either in the nest boxes or haven't been weaned yet. My original does and their daughters have never kindled less than six to a litter. My herd buck has produced seventy-three. I know form my experience that my entire success with my Angoras came from the fact that I first spent the time to get a reliable pioneer breeder before I bought. My original investment was small compared I could have spent if I had bought the stock from some unreliable breeder or broker. My biggest mistake was that I did not have the proper hutches and that I wasted much time in the feeding and cleaning of them. This was due mostly to the fact that it was impossible to purchase wire and lumber at the time I started. In most of the books and literature sent out it shows the rabbit industry an easy one but I know more thought should be put on the cost and construction of proper hutches to cut down on feeding and cleaning time. I would advise anyone thinking of going into Angoras to pick a good reliable breeder and then stick to him. He has built up his strain. He knows where it can be improved. Follow his suggestions, go to him for new blood, he has it as he is always improving his own herd and has several strains. Cull and cull heavy, then eat your culls, don't sell them (note A). Get all of the information you can on Angoras from reliable people and use what will improve your own herd. Use a selective or line breeding program and stick with it. This is a very interesting subject to study. To many people have the old idea related animal should not be bred together. If properly done with the idea of always looking for improvement there are bound to be results. Note A)=after raising Angoras and becoming morei nterested I found that the most reliable and best breeders are apt to do the least advertising because they usually have more orders than can supply and orders are placed upon a waiting list.