The Washington times., 1901-12-22
ANG0RA GOATS PET
OF THE GOVERNMENT
Experiments on Land Purchased
For That Purpose.
FARM NEAR WASHINGTON.
The Animal the Hest Brush Destroy
err known-Cicans Farm i'm
short Space of Timc-Ifs Wool
More Durable Than Amy Other.

COM very much interested in the raising
of choice Angora goats, and George Fay
ette Thompson. editorial clerk of the Bu-
reau OF Animal Industry OF the Agri-
cultural Department, who knows more
about goats than any man connected with
Uncle Sam has just returned from the
Goat Breeders Association convention at
Kansas City. more than ever impressed
with the possibilities OF the culture Of
the animal for its wool. and with its ca
pabilities as q cleaner of brush on aban-
doned farms.
Sixteen miles below Washington, in
Maryland. the Government is conducting
experiments with the Angora goat, at the
largest farm of the kind in the country.
Fifty-one choice animals were recently
Shipped to former Secretary Of the Navy
William c. Whitney's stock farm. near
Boston, and f,50O goats were sent to an
other big ranch at Oakland Md.
The farm at which governmental exper-
iments are being conducted with a view
TO discovering all the possibilities of the
Angora goat as a destroyer OF brush and
weeds, is located near Cedarville, and
comprises 1000 acres in Prince George
and Charles counties. II is sixteen miles
southeast of Washington. and has already
been visited by many Washingtonians on
bicycle and automobile trips about the
country surrounding the city. Several
days ago party OF Government officials
visited the farm and spent several hours
going over the place and studying the In
teresting little animal.
A Kid for Roosevelt Children.
A son of former Vice President Steven
son has recently become enthusiastic
upon the Angora goat subject, and acting
upon the advice Of the experts in the
Agricultural Department he has just en-
tered upon the breeding of the goat on
his ranch near Denver. where he will en-
deavor to produce some of the finest ami
mails ever raised in this country.
a choice kid for the Roosevelt children
has been promised as d gift in March.
and as the small beast makes an excellent
play-fellov and a well-dispositi0ned pet,
there is a possibility that the children al
the White House viii be well entertained
upon its arrival there.
The goats on the big farm near Wash
ington are the descendants Of the first
ever imported into this country. The
first brought here were presented to DR..
James B. Davis, of Columbia. S. c.. by
the Sultan of Turkey in 1888 as a reward
for the Americans services in connec-
.ion with experiments in cotton culture in
the Ottoman Empire. The original animals
came from Asia Minor, and were the best
that could be obtained. From these ami
mails large portion Of those now In the
United States has been the product
AT the time the gift OF the Sultan to
DR.. Davis was made, however. II was
thought that the goats were of the Cash
mere breed, and many mistakes resulted
IN consequence. The goats were exhib-
itei throughout the country at fairs. and
attracted even at that early date the Sc
rious consideration OF breeders.
Value of Its Wool.
The yalre OF the animal for its wool
product OF mohair is now engaging the
thought OF the manufacturers, while the
Government is chiefly interested in the /
goat by virtue OF the fact that he is the I
best-knOwn agent IN the world for cleans
ing brush OF land which would be in cul- |
tiyaticn but for the fact that it is coy
cred with underground.
For some time past nearly 2.5OO goats
have been housed on the farm at Cedar
Vile, and the change which they have
wrought in the appearance Of the land |
there during their brief stay has been
marvellous
In discussing the possibilities Of The
goat in this direction, Mr. Thompson. who
has recently written book upon the sub
ject, said that The one plant established
near Washington, in which he is inter-
ested. would be the means OF reclaimina
all the abandoned farms in Maryland,
Virginia, and the Carolinas within the
next few years
An Angora goat has the digestive capa-
bilities OF the ostrich said Mr. Thomp-
SON. He eats anything and is glad to
get IT, while the fondness which he mani
Tests for a tangled thicket OF overgrown
brush would put to shame the proverbial
Billy goat on the city dump. short
time ago | maid a visit TO the goat farm
near here TO see what the busy little ami
NAL had been doing. / found most re-
change in the place. Brush had
been actually eaten off the face OF the
earth, and the farm looked like the pic
lure OF Dutch homestead in Holland.
All the brush Gone.
''The goats are protected there at night
under 300 feet of shed. while during the
day they range the place, usually on tours
In search of food. All OF the unsightly
brush customarily met with on the ave.
age farm is absent. II has been ten h
the goats. Along the fences and in the
bottoms, where underground grows most
Lhickiy. open vistas and clearings have
taken the place Of the former masses Of
weeds and bushes
"As business proposition / consider
he Angora goat to be without peer.
0ne animal can do more actual work in
,ieaning up land than gang of negro
and he does IL efectually and
best OF all. permanently. One buck and
half dozen does can in the course Of q
fear add several hundred dollars to the
value OF farm, and the finie is not far
Instant when their introduction will be |
quito general
THE Government Is interested In the
breeding OF The Angora goat for one rea-
Of its value as a DESTROYER
" brush; hut. always alert to put money |
the pockets Of Americans when this
country can raise just as well as not
What other countries have been supply- |
ng, Uncle Sam Is about TO enter seri- |
'usly into the field, and TO urge The rails
ng Of goats for their mohair."
An Important Industry.
d. e. Salmon, Chief OF the Bureau of
Animal Industry, says that the great in
crest now manifested In the Angors goats
vii soon result in establishing their
aising as one Of the important live stock
of the United States.
THE goats which have heretofore been I
.onhned aiamost wholly to the Mes, and
Southwest are being shipped TO every part
II the country" said Mr.. Salmon, .and |
many reports of their good work in es- {