34 FLIGHT FROM THE CITY 



two or three quarts of milk daily. Twenty was too 

 much of a good thing. We had no intention of living 

 on milk alone, nor of going into the dairy business. 

 For a family of four, the cow was evidently not the 

 best solution of the milk problem. With a family of 

 six or more persons, it would perhaps have been differ- 

 ent. But for us, using a cow to produce milk was like 

 using a sledge hammer to drive carpet tacks. We sold 

 the cow and decided to try Swiss milch goats. 



The milch goat is still somewhat of a novelty, 

 handicapped by the fact that the goat is supposed to 

 be funny. In our judgment it is an ideal solution of the 

 problem of producing milk for use within the family. 

 Its milk is richer than cow's milk in butter fat, and 

 easier to digest. When the goats are properly fed, it is 

 hard to distinguish its taste from cow's milk. We have 

 repeatedly fooled friends of ours who were prejudiced 

 against it. We bought one pure-blooded Toggenburg 

 doe, and one grade doe. The grade doe was probably 

 a half-blood; there is no reason why one should go to 

 the expense of buying pure bloods unless one intends 

 to go into goat-breeding. Properly selected grade goats 

 will give practically as much milk and are much less 

 expensive. Two does, however, should be purchased. 

 Goats are evidently very gregarious; they fret and 

 hold back their milk if they are without companion- 

 ship. The buck is a smelly and obnoxious animal, and 

 the does should be taken to a buck when ready for 

 breeding. Unlike a cow, which is a perfect nuisance 

 when in heat, bellowing and carrying on in a most 



