The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-08-15
TELLS ABOUT
GARDEN GOAT
An Agricultural Depart.
ment Expert Studies
Despised Animal.

iiiu'eoh handled by the great packing
houses. and by Wholesalers and retail
ers all over the country, SAYS the Wash
ihgtoh star, is nothing in the world but
goat, according to a bulletin issued by
the Department of Agriculture.
IL mas been a long, long time since
the common garden variety of goat has
been treated with such respect and con-
sideration as is shown in the denar+-
ments circular. There is no undue
prominence given to the animals gas
Economical peculiarities, although the
bulletin says that a couple of active.
able-bod1ed goats n good health and
with normal appetites, can clear a tract
OF land of brushwood, briars, stubble.
grass, tin cans, waste paper and other
foreign substances more quickly and
economically than the same number of
men working double time. 1t also gives
a list of the animals virtues that make
it appear as one of the most ill-used
anu liiloJuuScu creatures eACa1C.
For several years the experts of the
bureau of animal industry of the de-
partment have been bothered by in
quiries as to the possibility of creating
a goat industry in the United States.
The experts maintained a dignified ST.
lence until some time ago, when Mr..
George Fayette Thompson. editor of the
bureau, turned himself loose and pre-
pared to give the goat a send-off.
GENEALOGY OF THE GOAT.
Mr.. Thompson studied the subject at
great length. He looked up the pedi-
greeS of Angora and other registered
goats until he had a genealogical tree
about as high as a California redwood.
Then he devoted his time and attention
to the common goat.
Mr.. Thompson believes in doing
things thoroughly. He didn't send out
and have goat brought to him, as he
might well have done. He went to the
goat He visited the large cities, To-
Gated the vacant lots and studied the
goat at home.
He counted goats, measured goats and
photographed goats, and finally he lived
for week on goats milk, roast goat,
boiled goat and goat a la Newberg.
Consequently Mr.. Thompson's associ-
ates in the bureau think that his utter
ances on the goat question should be
heard with respectful attention.
Mr.. Thompson says that the inquiries
as to the possible creation of a new
industry in the United States come
principally from persons with consider
able capital, a good deal of worthless
land and plenty of time to think. He
believes that when these people learn
that the United States imports $25, 000,-
900 worth of goat skins annually and
that conditions in this country are eX-
they will surely sit up and take notice.
The bulletin devotes considerable
space to explaining that the term
common goat doesn't indicate any
special breed, and isn't meant to be
contemptuous, but that it covers all
sorts of mongrel goats without regard
to size, conformation, color or char
acter. =
According to Mr.. Thompson there
are about 100000 goats in the United
States, 100000 of which can recognize
their parents. New York has 1916 with
in its borders, as compared with near
ly 100000 for Texas Rhode Island can
boast of only twenty three They are
all common goats, but twenty-five of
them have risen in the social scale and
now furnish the motive power for
similar numbers of go-carts. The
twentythird has a bad reputation.
GOAT AS A DELICACY.
Expert Thompson makes the follow
ing serious reflection on goat as a
table delicacy:
ut is generally agreed among those
who speak from experience (Mr.
associates say that his i'm
manner of putting this is due
to modesty and not to goaD that the
kids of all breeds of goats are table
delicacy. 1t is true that among the
great masses of the people of this
country there is a remarkable and
prejudice against any
thing bearing the name of goat.
Within the environments of the
larger cities are found many kids, and
it Is evident that only a few of them
ever grow to maturity What becomes
of the rest? Butchers and meat deal
ers answer this question by saying that
they are sold as lamb. No meat deal
ar has ever heard complaint against
the quality of such lamb.
"a considerable number of middle
aged and old mongrel goats are pur-
chased by the packing houses of the
larger cities. They are purchased as
goat, but are sold as mutton, and many
Of those who so strenuously condemn
goat have eaten it a score of times
Mr. Thompson adds that the elderly
goat is not as good as good mutton,
but that it is not any worse than bad
mutton. He insists that the prejudice
gainst it would disappear if people
would only make test and eat goat. |
rs goat instead of as lamb. He is not
-ery hopeful. however. of such re-
suit |
THE GOAT AS A LAND CLEA MEX |
Mr. Thornpson reportS that after an