The Washington herald., 1909-03-10


to be made by raising goats, and in con-
sequence much attention is being directed
10 this industry. The interest is divided
between Angoras and mich goats. though
the trade IN the former has been longer
established It is conservatively esti-
mated that there are at present over l.
100000 Angora goats in this country, and
they are to be found in every State and
Territory, including Alaska.
The great value Of the Angora goat lies
IN its fleece. or mohair. which hangs
from all parts OF the body in long white.
silky ringlets, sometimes to the length OF
eighteen inches. though the average is
about ten. From It are made the popular
and duraole mohair and brilliantine dress
goods. blankets. robes. sail cloth. under
wear, and mittens On account Of its
luster IL is often substituted for silk. The
plush which is used in the seats and
cushions Of cars is made from the fleece
OF this lille animal Rain coats and
bathing suits are now being made OF
mohair cloth. The long hair OF the An
CORA is also used 70 make all kinds of
wigs. switches nets and hair ornaments.
II properly prepared. the pelts can be
made into beautiful rugs and robes, and
are used as a trimming for coats and
furs
The average registered goat clips from
three TO five pounds OF mohair, the price
varying from is cents to 81, as de-
termined by the fneness. Two prize win
ners exhibited at the St. Louis Exposi-
ton were remarkable for their heeces.
One yielded fourteen pounds. greatest
iengti.- eighteen inches. which sold for
$43. The other sheared sixteen pounds.
most Of il over twenty inches ten pounds
going at $ a pound. Both Of these goats
were from New Mexico. In the South
Of Africa it IS a common thing 10 pay
from $500 10 5000 for a fine buck. but
It is out Of the question 70 try TO buy one
in Turkey. They can be had in this
country for from few dollars for the
lowest grade up 10 $3.50. The African
breeders are not particularly anxious 10
part with their stock at any price, as
they passed a law providing an export
duty OF el00, about S4S7, on each Angora
goat shipped from the country.
The Introduction or the Angora goat
into the United States was during the
administration OF President Polk The
Sultan OF Turkey sent for A man who
could experiment with the raising OF cot
ton in that country The choice fell upon
Dr. James =. Davis. Of Columbia. s. C,
and his work was so satisfactory that on
HIS departure from Turkey the Sultan
presented him with nine Angora goats.
Later these were sold 10 Col. Richard
Peters. Of Atlanta Ca who added more
TO the flock and thus laid the foundation
for the Angora goat industry in this
country.
From that small herd many more were
started in the South and Southwest, and
a few in other regions. However the
outbreak Of the civil war checked the
progress which was being made. partic-
ularly in the South. wnere the largest
herds were located. The man who has
owned more Angora goats than any one
breeder in the world is Mr. Bailey, Of
California Originally from Wisconsin. he
was ordered West on account Of III health.
and went 10 the Pacific Coast. where he
taught school. Seeing a government bull
letin which stated that mohair was valu-
able, he decided 10 give up teaching and
devote himself to raising goats. After
many trials and vicissitudes. he sue
ceeded in starting a herd.
The first clipping from his flock was
sent 10 Bradford. England. the principal
mohair market, and was sold at a good
profit. Mohair factories had been estab-
lished. but up to that time there had
been no use made Of goat skins. SO Mr.
Bailey Incorporated a robe and glove
company in San Jose In few wears
this concern handled 10000 skins annually.
and ready sale was found for all the
gloves that could he made AS Mr.
Bailey's interests grew. and government
lands became sCarcer. he bought a large
tract in Nevada, where at one time he
had over 1900 goats. The raising OF the
standard Of the AngOra In America is
largely due to this man. In spite Of the
prohibition OF the Sultan, he managed 10
secure four fine specimens Of goats from
Asia Minor. and now. although the prod
uct, taken as a whole. is better in Asia
Minor the United States has finer in
dividuals and its herds yield a greater
income than those OF Turkey.
The demand in the United States for the
best quality Of mohair IS much greater
than the supply. and It is necessary to
import large quantities. In 1907 four Of
the leading mills bought over 1000 OOo
pounds from foreign lands. The factories
IN the United States are all situated IN
the East. principally in New York and
Boston. tt was at first supposed that a
warm climate was necessary TO the we'll |
being OF these animals. coming as they
originally did from the province Of An
CORA IN Turkey. but in 1900 a New HaDn- |
shire man determined to experiment with |
them IN his climate with its rigorous win
ters. Accordingly, he bought a small |
flock. and after careful study and work |
ne found that not only did they thrive |
but their heece grew heavier and longer |
= q
means OF livelihood the raising Of goats is |
peculiarly adapted to women. as II re-
quires very little care or labor, except AT |
the semi-annual shearing.
Another valuable asset Of the Anpora |
goat IS its usefulness in clearing land
covered with brush and weeds. Anv GOAT
Is good for this purpose, but the AnTora |
Is preferred because at the same time n |
is clearing the land, II is growing A fleece
or great value. When put on an over
grown piece OF ground. the goats first |
eat every lear and twig and piece OF |
brush within reach. then destroy the can
lings by peeling the bark from, then, II |
put back the second year they will finish |
the good work by eating every sprout |
which has put out from the old stumps \
and leave the place ready for cultivation
AS test OF their powers. twenty-four
goats were put on a fOUr-acre Enclosure |
so overgrown with weeds and blackberry |
vines as to be impossible without an AZ /
In less than two months the plot Vas
completely cleared. not a vestige of its 4
former condition remaining Iowa WIS 4
the INST State to use goats as land clear 1
ers.
The success OF goats as land clearers 4
has led the United States government TO
experiment In another direction. The
Forest Service will use 5000 Angoras in