Goat-Farming. 265 



excepting, perhaps, my herd of dairy Red Polls, the goats 

 are the most profitable. This may be judged by a 

 reference to the prices obtained, a list of which I append. 

 It will be seen that in the course of the last six years I 

 have sold 103 goats to the value of ,721 25. 6d., i.e., 

 about 7 a head on an average, reckoning goats and 

 kids : 



GOATS SOLD. 



1 6 (Goats and Kids) 



22 



18 



18 



10 



1903-4 



1904-5 



1905-6 



1906-7 



1907-8 



1908 to \ 



June 20, '09 j 







122 

 IO4 

 102 



155 

 80 



19 



155 



11 On the debit side the expenses are low. I reckon 

 each full-grown goat costs me during the five summei 

 months on an average 6d. a week to keep, and during the 

 seven winter months about is. a week. It must be borne 

 in mind that I grow my own hay and roots and thresh 

 my own oats (the only corn I use, and that only in winter). 

 During summer I find my goats milk better on pasturage 

 and hedge-trimmings. My cost of feeding would thus be 

 less than half of that reckoned by yourself as the expense 

 for food when everything except garden produce has to 

 be bought. Other items of expenditure are very trifling, 

 except that of sending to shows and exhibiting, but as I 

 do not put down the prize-money obtained, which has 

 amounted to a good deal in the course of a season, I do 

 not take these items into consideration. 



"As I do not keep a separate account of my herd 

 of goats I cannot show a complete Dr. and Cr. statement. 

 I can only repeat that knowing how low are the expenses, 

 and setting these against the receipts by the sale of stock, 

 I find goat-farming now decidedly profitable." 



