The Green Forest tribune., 1901-08-10
ABOUT THE ANGORA GOAT.
What the Missouri Farmer and
 Fruitman Says of Him.

neared in a recent issue of the Missouri Farmer and Fruitman will be of interest to people who want to know something about the Angora goat:
 "Two years ago R. c. Johnston of Lawrence had two hundred acres of pasture land on farm near here. Brush and weed had killed out the bluegrass. It was over- run with buckbrush and sumac; to have cleared it by chopping and grubing would have cost hundreds of dollars. Johnston purchased 1000 Angora goats and turned them loose on his waste land. Today the 200 acres ofland forms one of the finest pastures in Douglas county. The clearing of it did not cost Johnston a cent. In fact he made money. The goats did it. There are possibili- ties for the Missouri farmer in the Angora goat. If used alone for clearing brush they are good in vestment. Acres of valueless land can be transformed into a pasture by herd of Angoras in two or three years. The fleece of the goats will pay the interest on the money invested in them and enough besides to pay for keep ing them. If properly managed the flock will double itself yearly, enabling the farmer to sell his goats and come out with his land cleared and money in his pocket. A browser, instead of a grazer, the Angora prefers weeds and brush to grass, and will kill the brush every time by eating off the leeves and bark. Once dead, the stems soon rot away and fall removing the last intolerance to the growth of grass.
 "One who has ever seen the | Angora goat browse can see that there is some foundation for the goat and tin can joke of the comic papers. The Angora goat will eat the leaves from every tree and brush that grows in Missouri, and when the leaves are gone he will take to the bark. The Angora goat will eat every native weed /. except mullen and burdock. Jim son weed is a rare treat, and the bloom of the Canada thistle is a delicacy for which he will travel a long way. Only when there is no more brush to conquer will the goat eat grass. Horses and cattle will feed in the same field. The goat makes from foliage the rich est of fertilizers and deposits it on the richest and poorest places on the farm. Aside from it's value m cleaning land, the Angora is a money maker with a future in Missouri. It produces fine Equality of mohair, used in manu- |1acture of plush and fine dress goods, which can be sold readily, at price ranging from 30 to 40 gents pound. The pelts un- dressed bring from S1.5O to S3.50 |eeach, according to the length and oneness of the hair. Angora Peits make soft and beautiful fooe that can be dyed any color. Hngora meat-which is seen oc- 4&slonally on the market as, we'll
 ressed mutton without trace of
 nat woolly flavor which make button objectionable. ''The
 apltal required to begin raising
 pats IS small. The goats require
 eery little attention. A herd of
 ny nigh grade does, is a good
 LarIer for an inexperienced man,
 n De purchased at a price any
 lefe from S4.50 to S6 a head.
 good, pure bred buck costing
 o' should be obtained at the
 me time, and by breeding up
 mlnatlng and disposing of the
 eergrade progeny and retaining
 feeding purposes those which