1138 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



number of feet he would have to dig, and 

 then stop. 1 leave it to you, my readers, is 

 there either sense or science in the above 

 rigmarole? Well might the Pladn Dealer 

 say : " Nothing has ever been invented to 

 detect the presence of vpater in the earth but 

 common sense, the possession of which does 

 not depend on the divining-rod." 



GOATS AND GOATS^ MILK — SEE P. 997, OCT. 15. 



The following, from the editor of the 

 Angora Journal, 306 Davis St., Portland, 

 Ore., will answer a number of questions 

 from many kind friends : 



Replying to the latter portion your article in 

 the October 15th issue on goats and their milk, the 

 alkali in goats' milk does not form curds in the 

 stomach as in the case of the acids in cows' milk, 

 hence its superior digestibility. Prejudice against 

 the odor said to be present in goat milk is imaginary; 

 for if two glasses, one containing goats' milk, the 

 other cows' milk, were tested by drinking from 

 each, it would be impossible to tell the difference 

 unless one could detect the richer, sweeter taste 

 of the goat milk. There is no odor to the does, 

 altho the bucks are objectionable in the breeding 

 season. The Nubian breeders claim immunity from 

 this drawback ; but the does of all species are free, 

 likewise their milk. Excellent cheese ijs made 

 from goat milk, several goat dairymen in the V^est 

 having marketed the product since the rise in price 

 of European cheese. The familiar brands, such as 

 Neufchatel and Roquefort, are made of goat milk. 

 As to the uncouth appearance of which you speak, 

 the pure-bred animals are deer-like in appearance, 

 with alert Intelligent expression, and, being harm- 

 less, make excellent pets for children. When thus 

 petted they are improved in quality, and increased 



flow of milk has been noted. The goat which you 

 noted in Michigan, hitched to a cart, was probably a 

 Mexican or native milk goat, of the straight-haired 

 variety — a very sturdy and fecund animal, much 

 used in crossing the strains of both milk goats and 

 -Angoras. A. C. Gage, Editor. 



STILL MORE ABOUT GOATS. 



Tell A. I. Root that I should like to pat him on 

 the back and whisper in his ear " good doggie " for 

 that milk-goat write up, October 15. I take three 

 goat papers — all that are published, but have no 

 goats as yet. It is well to study the subject and 

 avoid loss when one gets the goats ; also to have a 

 book on goats. A. I. Root should secure some 

 Saanen goats and have better and safer, also cheaper 

 milk. Goats' milk, if used by mothers, would blot 

 out 90 per cent of infant mortality, I think. Raise 

 the " kid " on goats' milk and honey, and have the 

 undertaker's bill reduced 90 per cent. This would 

 help some on the " high cost of living." Anything 

 that spreads disease broadcast over the land is dan- 

 gerous. That's what cows' milk does. I refer to 

 the "great white plague." Goats are almost free 

 from this disease. If I could get A. I. Root to " rise 

 and shine " once he would soon have some milk 

 goats. C. A. Neal. 



Jonesboro, Ind. 



Many thanks, my good friend, for your 

 kinds words; but if you will give us the 

 names and addresses of the three goat-milk 

 publications a lot of our readers will be 

 greatly obliged to you. Ever so many are 

 Avanting to know where they can get a 

 periodical on goats and goats' milk. 



I should be pleased to have A. I. R. dine with us 

 and be served with a leg of nice fat goat. I thirk 

 he would view the goat in a different light. 



Harrisville, Mo. D. H. Plank. 



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HIGH-PRESSURE GARDENING 



TOMATO SEED FOR FLORIDA BY THE HUNDRED 

 POUNDS, 



The letter below properly belongs, per- 

 haps, in the Kind Words department ; but 

 as it gives a glimpse of the tomato industry 

 both in Ohio and Florida, I have thought 

 best to put it here. In visiting the Florida 

 tomato-fields and admiring the fruit I usu- 

 ally ask where they get their seed when so 

 much depends on the variety in getting 

 crops that go away into the thousands if 

 not the millions. The reply is, almost 

 every time, that they do not dare take a 

 chance on any seed except that grown by 

 the Livingstons. This illustrates the pos- 

 sibilities in any business that is handed 

 down from father to sons, and possibly to 

 the grandchildren. I might add that I an- 

 ticipated what would happen with Irish 

 potatoes in Florida when they are $2.00 a 

 bushel here in Ohio. Two different seeds- 

 meji who make a business of furnishing 



potatoes to plant in the fall were sold out, 

 but I finally secured a peck, and Wesley 

 tells me that my Florida potatoes are up 

 and growing "just fine." Riglit here my 

 stenographer suggests that Florida is not 

 the onlj/ place in the country where pota- 

 toes " are up." 



Dear Mr. Root: — On opening your letter this 

 morning, right glad was I to see the personal signa- 

 ture of A. I. attached to it. I presumed you were 

 in Florida some time ago, and had your winter 

 garden under way by this time. 



In this connection why would it not be a good 

 " stunt " to put in a crop of extra-early Irish po- 

 tatoes as early Ohio or Irish Cobblers, and push them 

 along as rapidly as possible for the northern mar- 

 ket? But may be you cannot grow good potatoes 

 in your section of Florida. 



Intensive gardening is being adopted and looked 

 into as never before, and this increases the demand 

 for reading-matter on the subject. 



I am sending you a packet of Honor Bright to- 

 mato, and want you to note the solidity of this 

 variety in its mid-state. The color is a waxy yellow, 

 and reminds me of honeycomb or beeswax. We 

 had an exceedingly productive crop of it on our 



