The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

with that sympathetic understanding OF
animal nature which the true breeder
should possess. will enable him to raise
a large percentage Of the young to ma
turity.
Would Establish Goat Industry.
Hundreds Of inquiries regarding the
possibilities in the United States Of a
great goat industry are now reaching
the Department OF Commerce and Labor.
These inquiries are the result Of a re-
cent statement by the Bureau OF Statis-
tics Of that department that Ss5O. .ooO, 900
had been sent out OF the country in ths
last decade to purchase goat skins for
use In this country, and that the COM
mercial value Of the 5000 900 goats
which these skins represented would.
had they been grown in the United
States, have Appropriated 81, 600 000, 900.
These suggestions, coupled with the fur
ther fact that goats Of the class supply
Ing the skins IA question, could be grown
upon semi-arid and semi-mountaInous
lands in the United States, now prac-
ticaIly unutilized, have added to the in
terest indicated by the inquiries now be-
ing made.
The statement OF the Bureau Of Sta
ustics as to the number and value OF
goat skins now being imported was
coupled with extracts from a statement
BY United States Consul Canada, at
Vera Cruz. Mexico. originally published
by the Bureau OF Manufactures, Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor In this
report Consul Canada says:
Goats are raised IN every State Of
the Republic OF Mexico. The in
dustry Is largely confined to the central
table lands, though the animals
thrive everywhere, and can be raised az
a good profit over a wider range OF ter
ritory than that on which cattle may
be successfully raised. The dry
plains Of Nuevo Leon, with scant growth
OF brush. are able to support large hocks
OF goats. though these same plains will
not produce corn. cane, or grass unless
water IS supplied for irrigation.
The extent OF territory which could be
given 10 the raising Of goats without in
any way interfering with agriculture Is
very large. Vera Cruz has tens OF thou
sands OF acres OF land so steep and
rugged that II cannot be farmed profit
ably. but these rugged mountain sides
furnish ideal feeding grounds for goats.
The value Of the goat depends
upon three things-meat, tallow and the
skin. The matter Of fresh meat
in the farming districts Of the hot coun-
try Is greatly simplihed by the breeding
OF goats. In small Isolated communi-
ties IL is risky 10 slaughter an OK or
cow. as the flesh Is liable 10 spoil before
II Is consumed. The small carcass Of a
goat makes II entirely practicable to kill
frequently without risk or loss. In the
State Of Tobasco the inhabitants are
never at loss for fresh meat on plan
tations where goats are raised. and
where formerly meat was almost IN
known. The flesh alone would
make Il a profitable industry. for the
carcass OF each animal will bring from
81 to S1.5O Fats Of all kinds are high
priced in all parts OF the country.
At two years n fat goat will yield six
10 ten pounds Of clear talIow, which will
oe worth 75 cents to $3.50. The
most valuable part OF the goat 5 the
skin. worth S1.95 TO l6n and the con-
slant trend Of prices is upward" CThess
fgUreS OF values are presumably in Mex
can currency. in which the dollar is
equivalent to about. 80 cents in United
States currency
Goats Increase Rapidly.
The consul adds that the increase in
he number Of goats is very rapid since
hey begin breeding at from six TO eight
months old and breed twice a year.
ringing forth two and not infrequently
hree kids Mt each breeding season. A
inEle shepherd. It is said. will look after
{ least 1.OOO goats. He adds: "A careful
Investment Of 5000 well looked after can
ertainIy be counted upon to double
,self inside Of two and one-haIf years
nd TO give at least 80 per cent per an
.um from the end OF the second year"
he report Of Consul Canada closes by
resenting the result Of a three years
experiment. in goat raising on a farm in
he State OF Guerrero, Mexico, as fol-
ows:
In 1874 the manager Of the farm re-
eived 5000 goats. including large and
mall, at valuation OF $3.50 each. equal
. S99,00O. From the produce Of these he
old during nine months Of 1904 and the
ears 1895 and 1875 5000 head at $ each.
quail TO S25o.o10. and had at the close Of
~ S,o0n head on the farm. being l20O)
lore than he started with. The result
'as. counting the value Of the -. 80 IN
-ease at $50 each with the foregoing
ales. the investment Of S99. 000 produced
less than three years S2S3.O0O. Besides,
le original stock OF 66.OO1 goats was
ltaCt." Figures in Mexican currsncy)
The number Of goats now produced in
le United States IS small compared with
lat Of many other countries. The latest
:
le number in the United States IN 1910
about 5,OON.OOO: in Mexico 425N.O00;
turkey, in Asia, 800 100; British South
frica, 1900, 600, and British India, 81
0,OO0 The importation OF goat skins
ITO the United States was in 1911 stated
values from India nearly T.)0Noo0
orth; from China. little over 100000:
ON Mexico. over S2,ONOO or: from Brazil
,666 90: from Argentina. Sl,o0e.o COZ, and
ON England. Sl.O0O.OOO For the current
seal year. ending with the present
onth, the total value OF this article
lported will approximate s2LOoo.ooo, the
Imber OF animals represented by these
lportations being about S45,0OOo0O.
The number Of goats in the United
ates, according TO the census OF 1910.
creased about 81 per cent in the last
cade. n very large proportion OF the
OO OOO enumerated by the census OF 1910
ing In the Southwestern States.
MOdeSty and Modern Girl.
ON the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Addressing an audience OF girls at
10 charities conference, Miss Beulah