350 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



preferable, commonly, to keep the adult males and wethers separate from the breeding flock. 

 The bucks are said to be valuable in protecting the flock from the attacks of dogs, and under 

 my observation the goats are most commonly the attacking party, having seen them frequently 

 charge and drive away a loafing dog. They do not, by flight, invite the pursuit of dogs, as 

 sheep do; and dogs do not seem to have the same disposition to worry or to eat them, 

 which they manifest towards sheep. The goats will often bite, hook, and butt each 

 other, yet they are never cross with other stock, and the males do not fight and injure each 

 other as male sheep often do. 



Hon. Richard Peters of Georgia, says: &quot;The Angoras in this climate shed their over 

 coat of mohair in March or April of each year, if it is not sooner sheared. They continue 

 in their summer suit of short hair or kemp until July, when the mohair starts out, growing 

 slowly until September, then rapidly until January, when it gets its full growth, averaging 

 in length about nine inches. I have owned Angoras from six distinct importations from 

 Asia. I have found them to differ greatly in size, fleece, horns, and the shape of their ears. 

 For over twenty years I have observed the following rules in selecting a stock buck: 1st. 

 &quot;Weight and length of the white ringleted fleece, its freedom from coarse hair or mane along 

 the back and on the neck and thighs; 2d. Size and stamina; 3d. Long pendant ears; 

 4th. Spiral upright horns. By this system of selection I have obtained a flock possessing 

 great uniformity. 



In making other importations, the agent should remain in Angora (the central district 

 of Asia Minor) at least one year, so as to be able to make his selections when the goats are in 

 full fleece; by this plan some fine specimens might possibly be obtained. Several of the 

 importations were doubtless procured near the coast, they evidently being of mixed blood, and 

 in no respect superior to American grade Angoras, called at the west full bloods ; such as 

 are of a higher grade than a fourth cross, or 3 1-32 Angora and 1-32 common short haired 

 native goat. The fleece of the pure-breed Angora males is coarser than that of the females, 

 and becomes shorter in both from year to year after the fifth year.&quot; 



Care of Kids. If the bucks are allowed to run with the flocks, there will be two 

 crops of kids per year, one coming in the fall or winter, which will require considerable care. 

 It is better therefore, to so manage, if they produce but once annually, that the kids shall 

 come in the spring, after all danger from cold winds and rains has passed. 



The period of gestation is from a hundred and forty-five to a hundred and fifty days. 

 Until young kids have suckled they are very sensitive to cold, but having once had their 

 nourishment, their vitality seems wonderfully increased, and is greater than that of almost 

 any other domestic animal. &quot;When about three weeks old, castration should be performed on 

 all males not designed for breeding purposes. The kids are easily managed at this period, 

 and the wound rapidly heals. The treatment should be similar to that of castrating lambs. 



Food of Goats. Goats will pick up a subsistence where almost any other animal 

 would starve. They like best to browse among the rocks on briars and bushes, and will soon 

 clear a pasture of them, which is a cheap and easy method of clearing such lands. They 

 will never feed on clover or grasses as long as they can have access to such coarser herbage; 

 in fact, if highly fed on clover and the cultivated grasses, they will not thrive. 



Grades, etc. It is better to maintain the flock pure, although by breeding a thorough 

 bred buck to the common goats of the country, a fine grade can be produced in five or six 

 years that, to al] appearance, are nearly equal to the pure bloods; but these grade bucks 

 should never be used to perpetuate the herds, for if they are, disappointment will be the 

 result. Only pure bred bucks should ever be used, as the grade bucks will deteriorate the 

 flock, however good specimens of the breed they may appear to be. It is to this mistake of 

 using grade bucks that the greater part of the failures of the Angora goat culture in this 

 country is due. 



