The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-14
I'HE GOAT BUSINESS.
The ApKora Goats and the Golden
Footed Sheep.

4 =
Footed Sheep.
IsEEoLSJ. Washington Watts. OF Laurens, ia
Rriting about Angora goats. He did the same
thing about fifteen or twenty years ago, and
he convinced this editor that there.wss e for.
tune In them. Then the price Of an Angora
am s end HaSnE M sn 70 9oy E1e
thought we had secured q great bargain, and
our enthusiasm was increased after we bought
book Of MIR. Peters. Of Atlanta, on that In.
teresting animal and his valuable coat,
The Angora kid was taken to the farm, and
we thought TO try grade goats, grating the
blooded stock on the common herd. Word
went abroad that common every day goats
were wanted, and neighbors from far and
near brought specimens OF their f1ocks for
sale, and 1t wasn't great while until We had
perhaps quarter of an acre OF goats;
We thought to have the pasture cleared OF
noxious weeds, as recommended by the books.
] But these goats loved the choicest OF the
grasses, and II they ever exhibited any fond.
ness for briars, dead limbs, ruehes, pine
needles. or oyster cans, We never found IL
They literally cleaned the earth Of fresh
grass.
cracks of the fence, and not large enough to
Jump. But In the course OF time he grew to
use the fence as mere play thing, He was
the friskiest animal that ever lived, and
Standing ATTY feet from a rail fence he
would run and scale 1t, and as he crossed It
he invariably kicked of the top rail. He had
dozen times day, and he always knocked
OF the top rail, coming or going, no matter
how high or how low the fence.
In year there were many goats on the
place, with very little signs OF pr. f1t.
| Their annoyance was unbearable, and when
desired to sell them the neighbors laughed.
| induced my brother-in-law to accept them
in full settlement for trouble TO him and dam
age to the place. He slaughtered them, and q
half grown goat, when his head. feet, hide
and insides were disposed OF, could be hidden
in an ordinary size quart cup. My brother
in.aW had an acqnaipMtanSce M S IN emerson emerson
spite, and 30 he sent him the Angora goat, as
gift. have not heard OF 1t since.
Failing In grade goats, and seeing much
that my old friend, Major R.. A: Griffin, bad
thought to try full blooded sheep, that would
10 AXE some golden tracks on my place.
Hiring team for sa and 1z giving the driver nnd
ram, OF some especially fine animals: They
did very well all that Summer Next Winter
one Of the ewes died. A lamb was born to the
sl3 worth Of food. Next Summer all hope of
getting rich on sheep vanished, and was
thoroughly convinced that may sheep had
made no golden tracks up that time. The en-.
brought TO Abbeville and sold to Mr.. q. 81.
Moure for S6.25.
There was total Ioss in the goat business,
but came out better in the sheep farming, as
will be seen by the following statement:
Hire OF wagon W
Price OF three sheepu.................... 10 W
Winter ...............- -...".. ~ W
Total cost....... .....--...............$So $50 W S''.
Result OF fsale........................ o 70
Net tlosB........-....-..,.. ......SIs 20 II
My brother.in-law was 80 glad to get rid OF
the animals that he sent them TO AooevlIle
without cost to me. Otherwise my losses
would have been considerable, even on the
golden footed sheep. !.
Past experience admonishes me to keep out
of the goat and sheep business. :,