The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1901-03-01
THE VALUABLE ANGORA
GOAT.

N. o. States.
According to Il recent report Of the
Department OF Agriculture at Wash
ingt0n there are in this country 400
WO Angora goats, an increase of
10000 in two years. The records OF
the department show that in 1898
there were 5000 Of these animals
flourishing on ranches in Texas. $1,000
In California, $1,000 in New Mexicn.
and $1,000 in Oregon which State has
added very largely to its focks since
then.
A few years ago we imported all the
mohair consumed; now we produce
about half Of it with the indications
that we will soon be producing all the
mills now In operation can consume
There are, all told, eight mills, all 10.
Gated In the New England States,
which consumed In 1899, I,ll9,OOO
pounds ofimported mohair and l,O77,.
600 pounds OF domestic. The price
ran in Boston at from % to "a cents
a pound for imported and 20 to 32
cents for the domestic. 1t is said that
the domestic quality is making such
Improvement that 1t will soon equal
the finest imported.
| The Ang0ra goat is valuable not
alone for its liair,but its meat as well,
which has IA very delicate flavor and
is quite juicy, much Of it being soldas
high class mutton in the large cities.
The animal thrives exceedingly well in
this country, especially in the high
lands OF the West, South and South
: west 1t is said that they are no
t, more fastidiOus in their tastes than
< the native goat Of the nanny and billy
e type, and 1t costs nothing to raise
r them, because they will eat and grow
$ fat on grass, herbs. shrubbery, brown
), paper, discarded hats, theatre posters,
y old boot legs, tomato cans and ash
barrels. Unlike the American goat,
n however, their soft silken hair COM
q mands good price in the markets
n where there is always demand Tor it,
y and they do not perfume the circum-
o ambient air with that farreaching
'r aroma gently exuded by the bearded
y billy.g0at whom we in boyhood's days
1 learned to know and smell so well
a In the western part OF Texas raising
q AngOra goats has become a highly
& profitable industry and made fortunes
s for quite number OF ranchmen who
e disposed OF their focks OF sheep and
l replaced them with Angoras because
the latter are harder animals and not
z addicted to the diseases peculiar to
o sheep and which often kills off large
!. numbers Of the latter To the great loss
y of wool growers. The high and open
y pine woods OF our Florida parishes
Il would be an excellent locality for rails
S ing Ang0ra goats not only for their
). hair, but their meat, and it is to be
u hoped that some OF our enterprsing
n farmers In south Louisiana will en-
S bark in the industry. 1t is well worth
i a trial, because the hair OF the Angera
!. which brings from 20 to 80 cents will
), yield = greater profit to the farmer
is than he can possibly make by raising
:, cotton, even when it sells for tenor
n eleven cents a pound. Aside from
l little care and attention given to the
e fOcks it Gusts nothing to raise Angora
e goats, whereas In the cultivation of
It cotton much hard labor is required
II and a considerable expenditure OF
|e money for the necessary agricultural
y implements, farm stock and for the
employment Of pickers and other help.
The Angora; goat raises himself or
re herself, as the case may be, together
n, with the valuable hair for which the
a. animals are noted, in very decently
"a and orderly fashion. On the other
90 hand much laboriOus grubbing is
or necessary to produce bale OF cotton,
a, and then there Is always the danger
~. OF crops failing and Of failing Market
,,v all Of which combine TO cause the far'
a.. liner at the end OF a year OF toll 70
-. emerge from "the little end OF the
~ horn" very much discouraged and
=. Edeeply in debt Give the Angoras a
:" trial and see what the results will be-
s'VI Z =
os' william j. Bryans Oommoner terse.
''a " remarks that when it Is ofiiclally
~ decided just when pig becomes hog
we may expect to have II oficially de-
w cided when an infant industry ceases
~ In he an infant industry and becomes