The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-06-27
Angora Coats at Burnhap,.

of the AngOra goats into this State.
From the lot of five hundred he received
from Mexico he has few left, with orders
yet to be filed He will soon receive a
fresh invoice. The demand for the An
CORA among the farmers seems to be
for the clearing of scrubby pastures
and bush sections, and as this little an
imal is capable Of eating great quanti-
ty of twigs and bushes he will doubtless
prove boon to the farmer as the cost
of keeping is small and the returns of
mohair are large.
Mr.. Libby kindly showed the writer
over the place, and iMthe large barn
floor, with admission to large yard
near by, was the flock of Angora goats,
numbering over three hundred, all very
neat looking and carrying on their
small backs beautiful fleece. The
goats are beautiful creatures, milk
white in color, with short legs and wide
spreading, spirally twisted horns. The
| wool is curly or wavy, of silvery white
ness, grows in long ringlets over the
whole body, and is from five to
twelve inches long. The head is like
that of common goat, but cleaner cut.
The Angora thrives in every climate,
doing well in all parts of the United
States. The little beasts are extremely
hearty, multiply rapidly and require
little care The cost of keeping is very
light, and in the summer practically
nothing. They feed from twigs, bushes
and weeds refused by other animals and
their meat is excellent food, and is
termed by many Angora venison.
The goats were brought to Burnham
by rail from Mexico and were twenty
days on the passage, and yet of the very
large number received only three died
from the effects of the journey. As
soon as they arrived, Mr.. Libby began
to have demands for them and the
whole flock would have gone had he not
taken the precaution of reserving one
hundred for his own farm. The use OF
the mohair is becoming very general and
the question of raising wool instead of
importing it has been brought to the
attention of the farmers of the United
States in little booklet recently issued
by the Department of Agriculture
which deals wholly with the Angora,
and the claim is made that there are
over 4OO, 900 goats in the United States
and that the annual production of mo-
hair is over million pounds.
Probably the largest dealer in mohair
in this State is George B. Goodall of
Sanford, Maine, who uses during the
year some 100000 pounds, chiehy:.im-
ported from Turkey OF Mexico, but
that bought by him which was raised
in the United States is said to equal,
where care has been given to the ami
mails, that imported. The demand for
the mohair has thus far exceeded the
supply The skins are of too delicate
nature to be used as leather, but are
used in book binderies and are always
in demand as the goat skin covers are
expensive.
The goat has one "kid' each year and
very seldom has twins. The average
length of the mohair is four and half
inches and in many cases it is found
necessary to shear them twice each
year. The goat learns very quickly
and Mr. Libby has one which, with a
little time given to him, will do many
cute little tricks. They subsist on a
very little grain in the winter and plen-
ty of straw, and it is we'll, if possible,
to give them opportunity to get out of
doors where they can browse on the
trees. They do better if not herded,
and should under no conditions be sub
ject to restraint They desire free
range and can be easily raised. The
majority of the Angora pelts sold in
this country come from the Cape of
Good Hope, nd undressed sell for s1.50
to $3.50 each, according to the size of
the skin and length Of the fleece They
are in demand for rugs, as they are soft
and beautifully white and yet can be
dyed in any color to suit the buyer. OF
late there has been demand for mo-
hair by ladies for fur trimmings.
Mr.. Libby's farm is but a short dis
lance from the station at Burnham and
it is daily visited by those interested in
the little animals. He has shipped sew
eral lots to Vermont and New Hamp-
shire, and smaller lots have gone to
Waldo, Vassalboro, East Wilton, Can
ton, Forest Station and several other
places. More have been ordered, and
like the Belgian hare, the Angora goat
will soon have home in nearly every
county in the State.
The average price for good buck
will be $50 to 500 and that of doe $40
to $12. ORRIN J. DICKEY.