THE GOAT. ' 225 



thoroughly convinced thtit we have succeeded, and can continue to f?ucceed, in 

 raising this valuable wool-bearing animal, with its precious fleece, almost any- 

 where throughout our country where sheep will prosper, especially in the 

 higher and colder localities, producing an animal more hardy, with a heavier 

 and more valuable flceco, than the Angora or Cashmere itself in its own coun- 

 try. The specimens of wool in our possession, and raised in this country, are 

 foimd generally finer, more silky and fleecy than the imjDorted and original ones. 



A few quotations, however, from eminent and successful breeders may prove 

 more satisfactory to practical men. 



Colonel R. H. Scott, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser at Frankfort, 

 Kentucky, says : 



" I have a flock of eighty head, of all grades from half-bloods to pure breeds, and there is 

 not a single sickly one among them, and few if any that are not fat enough for mutton. 

 Their food, except in winter, is obtained exclusively in the pastures, and they are so fond of 

 weeds, bushes, and briers, that they will eat them chiefly if they are accessible, and in this 

 way are valuable in cleaning our fields and pastures of noxious weeds and shiaibs. In M'in- 

 ter com fodder is given them on a blue-grass pasture ; and grain, though greedily eaten by 

 them, is never required either for health or condition. So far I have found them entirely free 

 from disease, nothiug like it having appeared in the flock except an occasional humor in the 

 cleft of the foot, which yields readily to the application of turpentine or bluestone. A pecu- 

 liar small vermin has sometimes iulfested them in spring, requiring the application of floiu" of 

 sulphm- and grease along the spine and in spots about the skin ot the body. 



"A warm shelter I think is necessary for theui, as they dislike to be in the rain even in 

 warm weather, and they almost invariably seek their shelter at night, and during storms, 

 without the care of a sliepherd. 



" I have found them not only healthy but prolific, the females doubling their number each 

 season. Grade ewes are more prolific than full bloods, or pure breeds, the former frequently 

 raising three kids, the latter only one. They do not attain their growth until two years old. 

 Their flesh is tender, juicy, and high-flavored, resembling that ot the sheep more than any 

 other auimal. 



"The wethers will weigh from sixty to eighty pounds, yielding from ten to twenty pounds 

 of very white and firm tallow. The saddles, both cold and hot, are regarded as the highest 

 luxuries of their kind. The wool of the same bloods difl'ers slightly, but there is no material 

 difterence between pure breeds and full bloods, the full bloods being five or more a'osses on 

 the common goat by a pure breA buck. 



"During two or three months of summer they all wear a covering of coarse short hair, 

 which in turn drops out giadually, giving place to the fine wool which attains its growth by 

 spring, when it should be shorn after the cold weather has passed, and before the coarse hair 

 has begun to grow into the fleece. The dressed skins are valuable and in demand for ladies' 

 furs, buggy robes, saddle covers, and cradle spreads ; the furs of some animals exceeding 

 them in fineness, but few equalling them in silky richness and glossiness of texture. The 

 skin, or fleece, receives various dyes with great facility. 



" I intend to keep about one hundred full bloods, assured by the experience so far that they 

 will greatly exceed sheep in value of their fleece, which is from tour to eight pounds in weight 

 annually." 



Mr. John Walker, of Fayette, Missouri, a distinguished farmer and stock- 

 raiser, who has a very superior flock of about seventy head, says : 



" We raised most of them in this State, and so far they have done remarkably well. They 

 stood the cold weather of this winter better than other stock we have. They are very hardy, 

 and increase rapidly. The does take great care of their young. The cost of keeping these 

 goats is less than any other animal. TlK'y graze upon coarse herbs that are not eaten by any 

 other stock, such as iron weed, dock, muUen, briers, buds, and broken sprouts. Their wool 

 possesses the highest felting qualities. My buck sheared nine pounds and three-quarters, and 

 my pure bred ewe five pounds." 



Colonel R. Williamson, of Gallatin, Tennessee, agent of the " Sumner Cash- 

 mere Company," and who has a large and valuable flock, has published an ex- 

 cellent pamphlet of 36 pages on the goat, detailing much valuable information 

 on the subject of breeding them, but substantially the same as that already 

 given but says, by letter, that so great has been his success in breeding and 

 selling these goats and their crosses, "that during 1858 we disposed of twenty 



