THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PROPER FEEDING 183 



variety of grass, weeds and brush. No instruction need 

 be offered for the use of this feed. If there is variety 

 enough, the doe will balance her own rations with a sure 

 instinct. A word may be needed, however, in regard to 

 poisonous plants on the pasture or range. Goats appear 

 to have an unusual sagacity concerning harmful plants. 

 In a well fed herd, whose range contains an abundance 

 of wholesome feed, and whose hay racks and grain pens 

 at home are reasonably well supplied, in such a herd there 

 will be little danger from poisonous plants. Only pro- 

 longed scarcity and hunger will drive them to eat what 

 their instinct teaches them to avoid. 



Another question sometimes comes up in regard to 

 pasturage. How many goats can an acre support? 

 Many factors, of course, enter into this question, but 

 one may make a few general statements in reply. If 

 the conditions of our eastern United States are in mind, 

 where the doe is housed and stall fed six months of the 

 year, and the pasture is used only the remaining six 

 months, one may figure on two goats to the acre, pro- 

 vided it is good pasture, renewed by summer rains. If, 

 on the other hand, the range conditions of our western 

 states, especially California, are to be considered, where 

 the herd goes out almost every day of the year, and where 

 the feed becomes rather dry and scarce during the long 

 summer drought, it is safer to figure on two acres to 

 one goat. 



