The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-01-14

water 90 Qr1nK. In6y Will OulJ
drink dirty, stagnant water when
compelled TO by extreme thirst.
t'It is not best so have your does
kid TOO early in the spring, as the
kids are liable TO chill an 1 die during
G Id, wet weather, and the does do
not milk so we'll, and are more liable
60 dis rwn their kids. Better wait
until May, warm weather and plenty
of grass. They require the same
oare and attention during the kid
ding season as sheep during the
lambing season. The high grades
and pure breds are more prolific than
sheep, raising 90 TO ITO per cent. in
crease They are very hardy, having
lots of sense, are good r~ustlers, and
will not starve if there is anything
in the neighborhood 80 eat. They
seem just as happy gnawing the bark
of q dogwood sapling as barking
your ohoioe-t apple tree. They feed
in q 'cks, and do not scatter over the
pasture like Rheep. When alarmed,
they will bunch together TO defend
themselves They are browsers, not
grazers, and prefer weeds and brush
to grass. They eat the leaves of
every tree and brush that grows In
Kansas, and, not content with the
leaves, they want the bark also.
They eat every weed that / know of,
except mullen and burdock. They
seem "tickled TO death" when they
strike a patch of jtmson we d, and
are perfectly happy in a bunch of
smart weed. They watch and
patiently wait for the thistle TO put
forth its bloom, so that they a
enj " that rare morsel. Buokbrush,
which is destroying so many of our
fine pastures, is their delight; in
fact, goats are ideal brush extermi
majors; they do it at a cash profit
instead of a costly outlay. One
writer speaks of them Is picking
gold of the bushes
"They are always sure of a good
l wing, for no matter how dry or wet
q season may be, it always produce
weeds. They will condesoend to eat
gra e when there are no weeds or
brush in sight. After the frost has
killed the weeds and leaves, they
feed during the winter, as long as it
"a not covered with snow, on the
blue grass which grew undisturbed
under their feet during the summer
q rses, cattle and sheep will feed
after goats in the same pasture, while
goats will feed on that which other
animals will not touch. One need
DOT sell any of the stock already
owned TO make room for the Angora
goat; the farm is able TO take care
of that much nor stock, and render
shat much greater income. They
are q vegetable scavenger. Hence
their value in farm economy, in
converting into money the weeds
and brush which the farmer every
year spends time, labor and money
t. get rid of, at the season of the
year when time is most valuable.
This makes the COST of raising the
AngOrs almost nothing.
"They make the richest fertilizer
from the foliage and deposit on the
highest and poorest spots of the
farm, while horses and cattle fertil
ize the richest part, where the grass
"Thus, we find the Angora goat
reclaiming thousands of acres of
waste land in every State in the
Union and converting them into till
able fields II productive pastures, at
the same time making millions of
pounds of wholesome meat to feed
and millions of pounds of fine mohair
TO olothe the people. Being a very
hardy, ~self-reliant animal and a
browser, one will soon Fl I'D his billy
and rough districts, which are TO- day
of no value whatever TO any other
industry, filed with this useful ami
nal. They r comparatively free
from diseases. A sheep fence will
hold them.
"They T shorn in the spring, at
the same time and in the same man.
Q as sheep, but be careful TO keep
them out of a cold rain for a week or
two after shearing, The fleece of
mohair weighs from two and one
half TO four pounds on average good
goats, while extra fine, pure bred
goats will often sheAr aiDhE Or ten