THE SO-CALLED "NATIVE GOAT" 7 



again comes into her own as the superior of the dairy 

 cow. For where space is at a premium, and feed is 

 costly, the well bred goat proves her ability to produce 

 milk on smaller rations per gallon than any cow, and she 

 fits happily into many situations where her larger and 

 more clumsy rival could not exist. 



So in spite of the low estate into which the milk goat 

 had fallen in the United States, we find as early as 1898 

 that the Department of Agriculture was aware of her 

 possibilities, and was making an effort to rouse interest 

 in the subject. So poor, however, were the prospects 

 offered by the stock in this country, now called the 

 " native " or " American " goat, that the eyes of the 

 champions of the milk goat turned towards Europe, and 

 especially towards Switzerland, as a source for supply- 

 ing the need which they foresaw. 



QUESTIONS 



1. How far back in history do we find the goat mentioned? 



2. Tell what you can of the goat importations in colonial times. 



What became of these importations ? 



3. Discuss the reasons as to why milk goats did not make progress in 



the U. S. during the Ipth Century. 



4. How has the development of the dairy cow industry differed from 



that of the milk goat? 



5. What success did early Spanish importations meet with in North 



America ? 



6. Name at least three reasons for the renewal of interest in the 



milk goat during the 20th Century. 



