162 THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 



the demand. The market value of the goat skins now an- 

 nually imported is approximately $25,000,000. In the rais- 

 ing of goats for their skins, however, it is not the skins alone 

 that yield profit, though these are primary. The whole ani- 

 mal is sold flesh, tallow, horns, hoofs, bones, viscera noth- 

 ing is wasted, so that the by-products more than pay for the 

 cost and keep of the goats, leaving the skins as so much clear 

 gain. 



If it is asked where the new industry may be inaugurated 

 with a fair prospect of success, a conservative answer would 

 be, "Almost anywhere in this country." The United States 

 does not contain anywhere within its continental boundaries 

 a region where the goat would not thrive. Of course, where 

 the cost of his care is least, there is the locality where the 

 profits of his raising are most promising. The goat is one 

 of the most hardy, enterprising, agile and self-confident of 

 creatures. He is quite capable of living in any reasonable 

 condition of climate and country, though his choice is a rocky, 

 wild and elevated land. Wherever, therefore, there is a rough, 

 rocky, overgrown region the goat will pick up a good living 

 and grow fat. They feed upon brambles, weeds and under- 

 growth of all kinds, are usually well able to take care of 

 themselves, need less attention than sheep and are a healthy 

 and long-lived race. Where large numbers are herded, how- 

 ever, they should be provided with an attendant, but since 

 this work is merely that of watching and requires neither 

 strength nor skill, it is apparent that this item of expense is 

 nearly negligible. Likewise in rendering the various prod- 

 ucts marketable the labor called for is only of average quality, 

 and this work, instead of being continuous, is seasonable, like 

 the harvesting of grain. Practically all the work connected 



