The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-06-27
FOR SALE At YOUR GRocERs.
A NEGLECTED INDUSTRY.

The value of the goat as domestic
animal and a beneficial factor in the
agricultural industry has at various times
been discussed in these columns. Our be-
lief in that value has been based on the
habits of the animal and its natural adap-
tation to the conditions to be found in
our farming sections, especially in New
England. According to our Washington
dispatches, already published, similar
condition has been borne in upon the
minds of some Of our Federal authori
ties. The bureau of statistics of the
Department of Commerce and Labor
shows that we have been importing goat
skins from various countries during the
past decade at the rate of fifty millions
year. This shows the extent of the
market for one of the items in the goats
potential value.
But the department has also been i'm
pressed by consular testimony with re-
spect to the worth of the flesh as an adj
dition to the meat supply of the country
and suggests that for such purpose
alone goat raising would be profitable
industry. We are somewhat inclined to
doubt that, but the main question does
not depend upon proof of it. The meat
is certainly wholesome. We have scrip
tural. authority and precedent for that,
and doubtless it would be popular were
it's use more common. But why not,
suggests the bureau, keep within our
own country the twenty-five millions
that we pay for the skins alone? Then
there are the feeces, for which there is
a steady and growing demand. To grow
these at their best no doubt requires
care, as it does to produce almost any,
thing of good quality, but there is war;
rant for exercising it in the fact that it
pays.
Thus in direct inventory we find meat
for the eater, deeces for raiment and
skins for shoes and other goods, with
possibly side line of very digestible
milk for infants ard invalids. But that
is only part and perhaps not the most
important part of the case that can be
made out in favor Of the more general
use of these too much neglected animals.
The goat has been represented as having
fondness for tin cans and old junk of
various kinds as articles of diet, This is
giving him more credit or more criticism
than he deserves. While his appetite is
healthy and his digestion excellent, he is
purely vegetarian, though within that
limitation he is very thorough There is
hardly New England farm of average
size on which a flock of goats could not
be kept for nothing during seven or
eight months in the year. From the
time that the leaves appear on the trees
and underground in the spring until they
depart in the fall the goat will take care
of himself if let alone
1t is for this reason that he is able to
render great service. Not only does he
live Off the country but in doing SO he
enriches instead of impoverishes it. He
is broWser rather than grazer, pre-
ferring leaves to grass, and supports
Astounding life on what the farmer not
only does not need but does not want
He forces back the constantly invading
army of brush and if the flock is large
enough it will clean out the growths
about the trees of the forest and i'm
prove conditions generally. They are
natural foresters, fact that has been
recognized by those in charge of some
OF the western reserves, where they
have been employed to eat fire lanes for
long distances. If goats were stationed
in sufficient numbers in the woodlands
OF Massachusetts we should not suffer
from forest fires to the extent that has
been our portion for some years past.
because they would leave little for the
fire to feed upon. What other servants
can the farmer find that will work dill
gently through the productive season to
improve his land, protect his forests and
keep emselves?-Boston Transcript.