The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-10

of the United States have awakened to the fact that there Is a great deal of money to be made by raising goats, and in consequence much attention Is being directed to this industry. The interest Is divided between Angoras and Milch goats, though the trade in the former has been longer established. It Is conservativoly estimated that there are at present over 1.ooo.ooo Angora goats in this country and they are to be found in every state and ter ritory, including Alaska.
 The great value of the Angora goat lies in it's fleece, or mohafr, which hangs from all parts of the body in long white, silky ringiets. sometimes to the length of eighteen inches, though the average Is about ten. From 1t are made the popular and dur able mohair and brilliantine dress goods blankets robes, sail cloeh, underwear and mittens. On account of its lustre it is often substituted for silk The plush which is used In the seats and cushions of cars Is made from the fleece of this little animal. Raincoats and bathing suits are now being made of mohair cloth The long hair of the Angora is also used to make all kinds of wigs. switches, nets and hair ornaments. If properly pre-
  bea utiful rugs and robes. and are used as a trimming for coats and furs.
 The average registered goat clips form three to five pounds of mohair. the price varying from sixteen cents to a dollar as determined by the fine ness. Two prize winners exhibited at the St. Louis Exposition were remark able for their fleeces. One yielded fourteen pounds. greatest length ali The other sheared sixteen pounds. most of 1t over twenty inches, ten pounds going at five dollars a pound. Both of these goats were from New Mexico. In the south of Africa 1t is a common thing to pay from $2,5o0 to S3,oo0 for fine buck, but it is out of the ques- ton to try to buy one in Turkey. from a few dollars for the lowest grade up to $1,350. The African breed CTS are not particularly anxious to part with their stock at any price. as they passed a law providing an export duty of 100 pounds sterling. about $487, on each Angora goat shipped from the country.
 The introduction of the Angora goat into the United States was dur ing the administration of President Polk. The Sultan of Turkey Sent for a man who could experiment with the raising of cotton in that country. The choice fell upon pr. James B. Davis, of Columbia, South Carolina and his work was so satisfactory that on his departure from Turkey the Sultan presented him with nine Angora goats. Later these were sold to Colonel Richard Peters of Atlanta, Ga, who added more to the flock and thus laij the foundation for the Angora goat industry in this country.
 From that small herd many more were started in the South and South- west and few in other regions. However, the outbreak of the Civil War checked the progress which was being made. particularly in the south, where the largest herds were located. The man who has owned more Angoras than any one breeder in the world Is MT. Bailey of California. Originally from wisconsin, he was ordered west on account of ill-health and went to the Pacific coast where he taught school Seeing a government bulletin which stated that mohair was Vaiu- able. he decided to give up teaching and devote himself to raising goats. After many trials and vicissitudes ne succeeded in starting herd.
 The first clipping from his flock was sent to Bradford, England. the prin-, cipal mohair market, and was sold at A good profit. Mohair factories had been established. but up to that time there had been no use made of goat skins. so MT. Bailey incorporated a robe and glove company In San Jose. In a few years this concern handled 100. 900 skins annually and ready sale was found for all the gloves that could be made. AS MT. Bailey's interests grew, and government lands became scarcer, he bought a large tract In Nevada, where at one time he had over 15, 900 goats. The raising aof the largely due to this man. In spite of the prohibition of the Sultan he man aged to secure four fine specimens of goats from Asia Minor. and now. al- though the product taken as 8 whole is better in Asia Minor. the United States has finer individuals 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 1t Is necessary to import large quantities. Tn 1907 four of the leading mills bought over 100000 pounds from for eign lands The factories in the United States are all situated In the East. principally in New York and Boston. It was at first supposed that warm
  ing of these animals. coming as they originally did from the province of Angora in Turkey, but In 1900 a New Hampshire man determined to eXperi- ment with them in his climate with its rigorous winters. Accordingly he bought a small flock and after care full study and work he found that not only did they thrive. but their fleece grew heavier and longer as a protec- ton from the cold. As a means of livelihood the raising of goats Is peculiarly adopted to women, as 1t re- ouires very little care or labor, except at the semi-annual shearing.
 Another valuable asset of the An gora goat is its usefulness in clearing land covered with brush and weeds. Any goat Is good for this purpose. but the Angora is preferred because at the same time 1t is clearing the land. it is growing a fleece of great value. When put on an overgrown piece of ground, the goats first eat every leaf anJ twig and piece of brush within reach. then destroy the saplings by peelins the bark from them If 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 cultiva- ton. AS test of their powers, twen- ty-four goats were put on a four-acre enclosure, so overgrown with weeds and blackberries vines as to be im- passable without an axe. In less than | two months the plot was completely l cleared not a vestige of its former condition remaining Iowa was the first state to use goats as land clearers.