THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



facilitated. A creep like those used for the 

 lambs is fixed up in the goat-house, and a mix- 

 ture of bran and ground oats is kept in a 

 trough, so the little ones can run in and out 

 and help themselves. Clover hay is put into a 

 basket made of ordinary two-inch wire netting, 

 and suspended inside the creep. The amount 

 which disappears before the babies are two 

 months old is convincing proof that something 

 more than the maternal supply of food is en- 

 joyed and required. Kids are marked on the 

 inner side of the left ear with the doe's num- 

 ber and year; on the right ear their own num- 

 ber is inscribed. We use ordinary marking 

 ink and a fine, stubby camel's-hair brush. The 

 youngsters will pass through the dangerous 

 time of infancy in safety if they are guarded 

 from damp and allowed plenty of light and 

 air, but this same rule applies to goats all 

 through their lives. Zero weather, if bright 

 and dry, is positively beneficial to them after 

 they are two months old, but rain and snow 

 are disastrous to health and fleece, for which 



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