The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-10
:. D. NIPPS, Tieket Agent, TOpeka, Kan,

convert a wilderness into a good pas
ture for other stock.
TT is the browsing of the Angora
that gives to the meat the game flavor,
thus leading some to name the meat
'Angora VenisOn., When deprived OF
browse and fed on grass and grain the
game flavor disappears. There is no
reason why this should not be true, for
it is a well known fact that flavor may
not only be fed into meat, but into milk
and eggs as we'll
zone of the reasons why the mohair
industry has Jagged so IN this country
during the fifty years since the intro
ductiOn of AngOra goats IS that the use
of the mohair goods was subject to the
capriceS of fashion. 1t would not be strict
~ correct to say that the industry has
even got beyond the influence offashion,
but it is at least nearly So There IS now
a steady demand for the product OF our
country, and much is imported besides
Dame fashion is still whimsical toward
alI-mOhair goods, especially dress goods.
but the mOhair is mixed with other
fibers for producing fabrics of strength
and luster, and the home supply Is not
nearly equal to the demand. Because Of
the limited and uncertain supply, some
mills which have at times used mohair
no longer attempt to secure it. They are
prepared to use 1t as soon as the supply
will warrant the undertaking.
There is not much to be said about
the meat of the common goat. 1t is not
so generally used as that Of Angoras.
The flesh of their kids is considered very
fine, and in some sections of the coun-
try goats of all ages are killed for meat.
There are comparatively few common
goats in the United States labout 50,O00)
and no attempt is being made to put
them upon the markets. The current
report that goats are sold to the packers
in the large cities for canning purposes
is true in the main, but refers to the
Angora grades.
Their flesh is considered exceedingly
nutritious and palatable, being among
the best kinds of meats. In the south
west these animals are as readily sold
for meat as sheep, and the market has
never been Overstocked- While the goats
pass as sheep, they have not yet brought
as good prices by a few cents as the lat
ter, but it is thought that as soon as
there will be a demand for their mutton
and prejudice against goats disappears
they will bring equally as good prices.
The difference, however, now is very
slight in some places. In Kansas City,
for instance, the sheep bring about one
half a cent per pound more than goats.
The packers buy them as goats and sell
them as sheep in the form Of dressed
meat or canned
1.-THE AngOra skins are exquisitely
beautiful-being a pure white in color.
It has a long, soft and curly fleece, and
brings upon the market all the way
from 50 to $lS apiece. Their skins are
used quite extensively as carriage robes,
and make up very handsomely. There
was a time when the buffalo, the wolf,
for robes in this country, but the ex-
tinction, practically, of the buffalo and
the great scarcity of the others has
forced US to look elsewhere for substi-
tutes- These conditions have resulted in
a great demand for AngOra skins for
this purpose. Besides these skins make
very fine rugs and bring a good profit.
They are also manufactured into NOR
rocco for use in binding books, and ex-
cellent gloves are made from them
which bring from 81 to $1.5O per pair.
AS well extensively are they used for
trimming for childFen'S cloaks and coats
and dolls hair
TN the modern methods Of economic
production and manufacture nothing is
permitted to go to waste. Whoever it
was that said facetiously that the pack
ers saved every portion Of q hog but his
SqueaI spoke the whole truth The same
truth applies as we'll to the carcass of
any food animal. In the case Of the
goats the horns find many uses, and the
fat is said to be the best tallow known
for the manufacture of candles Any
part of the carcass not useful in other
ways is converted into fertilizer
Those who embark into the business
of Angora goats for the production of
mohair. rather than for the sale of their
meat or skins, should be particular to
start with a thoroughbred flock, which
will yield a profit from the beginning.
Desirable does will cost from IS to $12
EACH and bucks all the way from $50 to
800 each.
practically all Of the mohair pro-
duced in the United States, that is, that
which has been sheared from the goat,
is consumed by the mills of New Eng
1899 was ], 49, 65 pounds, besides 1,077,-
600 of the imported product. Many
thousands of pounds are left upon the
skins to be used as rugs, robes and trim
mings, and the amount used for doll
hair and wigs is great but not esti-
mated L. w. THAVIS.