The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-04-24
An Experiment With Goats.
BY A NEW ENGLAND WOMAN.

Mrs. Walter H. Coombs, of Belfast,
Me-, has developed in her spare time a
unique, health restoring, remunerative
ssvocation. For a year now she has been
experimenting in raising goats for the
sake of their milk as fooi for invslids
and children.
Il found that the prejudice against
goat milk was easily overcome as
serted Mrs. Coombs. The local physl-
clans are on my side, and have found the
milk from my goats OF great service for
rebuilding tissue both in anemic children
andrun-down grown ups.
When asked ii raising goats was a
strenuous occupation for woman, Mrs.
Coombs replied, "Of course, it means
time and strict routine, also study OF
goatlore. 1t is the same with goats as
with cows. They must be grooned,
have plenty of fresh air and clean sur
roundngs. 1t is also necessary that the
woman who raises them should herself
be in good health and understand by
gienic conditions for milking and milking
utensils. If care is taken, goats milk
will have no disagreeable taste"
Mrs. Coombs merely took up goat rails
the open air. Gradually her neighbors
anu lCIlOW toW RCOplC SoillS W oCPCIo
upon the milk from her goats to so great
an extent, even as substitute for cream
in coffee, that she enlarged her stock,
until now she has an even dozen Toggen-
burgs and Spanish. Opposed TO the cur
rent belief that goats must have free
range over wide areas, Mrs. Coombs' !,
stock live as contentedly in her barn
yard as if they had the run of the whole
town of Belfast. They are affectionate
little creatures, although timid, but with
such gentle dispositions that with firm
hand over them they can easily be cared
for by any woman who loves animals
Really, they prefer the barn yard, !"
confessed this woman goat raiser. son
summer days they are tied outside to
feed on grass, but | notice hat they are
always GLAD to get back into the yard
again. The weeds, the stub5le, the hard
ground inside, is more to their liking.
! At night, when they go inside the barn,
some Of them stay downstairs and some
of them climb up stairs to the room
above. 1t is funny to see their efforts,
but the stairs do not trouble them after
couple of lessons. They learn the coy
corners in the loft, and scamper to their
second-story quarters as knowingly as DO
those who choose the ground floor.
They are very knowing and quickly
learn where the grain boxes are, and
that if these are not weighted down they
can be lifted with their pointed noses.
"But it is not we'll, advised Mrs Coombs,
''to let goats have as much as they want
to eat. Grain twice day is enough.
Vegetables of all kinds they can have at
noon, but even then it is better to limit
their rations. If they are allowed to
stuff themselves, they will be sick tor
days."
! About the little kids, Mrs. Coombs was
very enthusiastic, declaring that they
are veritable pets. In the spring group
comes to join the barn-yard company.
Sometimes there is only one for the
mother goat to look after; but generally
there are twins, and sometimes an extra
brother and sister. They love to come
into Mrs. Coombs' kitchen and lie dc .n
under the warm stove, where they
stretch their unsteady little legs and doze
as comfortably as kittens.
''Such adaptable little animals says
Mrs. Coombs, with so many good points
in their favor, are well worth the spare
time of any woman. Through New Eng
land there are few scattered focks of
goats from three to fifty, but two factors
still hamper the pioneers in goat raising
the scarcity in this country of good
breeding animals and the prejudice
against their excellent flesh and milk.
Time and perseverance will overcome
both of these drawbacks where there is
SO much to be gained in the end. Farm
Journal, Philadelphia, Pa.