The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21
THE MODERN GOAT.
PecuIiarities of an Animal Well
Adapted to Live in Large Cities.

Peculiarities of an Animal well
Adapted to Live in Large Cities.
London Spectator.
1t seems probable that in the course OF
some four thousand years we have reached
a point in civilization in which the goat, for
ages discredited, finds its place at last:
There is nothing in the primitive history OF
the breed to contradict this view Wild goats
are no wilder than wild sheep. But what
moral differences between sheep and
goats, now known as differences Of tempera-
ment surviving under domestication, are in
applicable. Both the wild goats and the
wild sheep frequent by choice exactly the
same regions. That uniformly unattractlve
and sterile belt of mountain ranges where
trees and continuous heritage cease to grow
and only tufts and morsels of vegetation are
found, wherever, in fact, there is the maxi
mum of rocks and the minimum of food, is
the natural haunt of wild goats and wild
sheep alike. But the goat is far from being
disqualified for the service of modern civil
iZation by these survivalS of primitive hab-
it's Though it cannot live comfortably
in the smiling pastures of the low country,
1T is perfectly willing to exchange the rocks
of the mountains for stable yard In town.
Its love for stony places is amply satisfied
by the granite pavement OF a. news and
it has been ascertained that goats fed in
stalls, and allowed to wander in paved yards
and courts, live longer and enjoy better
health than those tethered even on light
pastures with frequent changes of food. In
parts of New York the city-kept goats are
said to flourish on the paste-daubed paper
advertisements
from the boards. 1t is beyond doubt that
these creatures are exactly suited for living
in large towns. Bricks and mortar and
paving stones exhilarate them Their spir-
its rise in proportion to what we should
consider the depressing nature of their sur
roundings. They love to be tethered on
common with scanty grass and stock
of furze bushes to nibble. A deserted brick
field with plenty Of broken drain tiles, rub
bsh heaps, and weeds Pleasses tnem sun sun
stable yard gives them as mnch satisfaction
as the liberty of a mountain top. They
give quantities Of excellent milk when kept
in this way are never sick or sorry" and
keep the horses interested and free from
ennui by their constant visits to the. stalls
SO varied a diet as the goat. 1t con-
surnes and converts into milk not only
great quantities of garden stun wnlch
would otherwise be wasted. but also. thanks
to its love for eating twigs and shoots; 1t
enjoys the prunings and loppings OF bushes
and trees which would not be offered to
other domestic animals. but which the goat
looks upon as exquisite dainties: In old
Greece it destroyed the vines, and In mod
ern Greece It has killed off every young
tree and bush on the hills till it has dis
forested the greater part of the Pelopon-
nesus. But the same appetite can be sat
isfied from an English garden by giving
TO the goats all the hedge trimmings, even
those of the thorn fences of which cyclists
complain so bitterly, and all the prunings
of the ample. pear and plum trees. Feed
ing goats in their stall or yard is as anus
ing as feeding the wild ibexes at the Zoo
They will stand on their hind legs and beg.
and when they do obtain the coveted NOR
sell eat 1t in a very dainty and well-bred
manner The list of their ordinary food
when stall-fed includes potatoes, mangolds
turnips, cabbage-stumps. which they ike
particularly as being woody and tough;
artichokes beans, lettuces run to seed. and
even dead leaves swept up In autumn, horse
chestnuts and acorns, especially after they
have sprouted. Most weeds are eaten by
goats, while ivy and even the. long-leaved
water hemlocb which will kill a cow, do
not hurt them. When kept IN towns they
Giga-laExe quantities Of milk II fed on oats,