POISONS.
There are several plants which will poison goats, but very little is known about them. Some of the laurel family are responsible for the death of a good many goats yearly, and some milk-weeds will kill if taken in sufficient amount at certain times of the year. These plants should be avoided as much as possible. Treatment has been rather unsatisfactory. If the poisoned animal is treated at once, an active purgative may rid the system of the irritant. Epsom salts and crotin oil have given relief.
Mr. Schreiner describes an epidemic of pleuro-pneumonia which destroyed many flocks of Angora goats in South Africa. The disease was effectually stamped out in that country, and it has never appeared in American flocks. Mr. Thompson has described a disease called Takosis, which was supposed to have caused the death of many goats in the Eastern States, and along the Missouri River Valley. Some claimed that this trouble was caused by change of climate, others thought that it was starvation or lack of proper care. There is very little evidence of it now in the United States. All in all, the Angora goat is the healthiest of domestic animals.
| Our Own Flocks. |
In 1865, Mr. C. P. Bailey started in the Angora goat industry. There were then very few Angora goats in the United States, and those in California had originated from two thoroughbred bucks secured from Col. Peters of Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1866, Mr. Bailey secured a pair of Angoras from W. W. Chenery of Boston, Mass. There were two other pairs secured at this time for other parties, and these three does were the first thoroughbred does brought to California. The first two goats cost Mr. Bailey $1000. The first thoroughbred Angora kid dropped in California was by Mr. Bailey's doe.
In 1869, Mr. Bailey furnished money to bring the Brown & Diehl importation to California, with the understanding that he was to have first choice. The Angoras secured from this lot were the best goats which had been brought to California up to that time.
In 1876, Mr. Bailey selected the best buck of the Hall & Harris importation, and paid seventy-five dollars service fee for three of his Brown & Diehl does. Later he purchased forty-one head from Hall & Harris. Some of these were the Brown & Diehl goats, and some from the Hall & Harris importation of 1876.
Twelve years after Mr. Bailey commenced breeding Angoras, he moved his entire grade-flock, consisting of about 1000 animals, to Nevada, and maintained his thoroughbred flocks in California. By careful selection, rigid culling, and strict attention given his flocks, Mr. Bailey had brought them by 1892, to an excellence beyond any of the imported stock.
In 1893, Mr. Bailey imported two fine bucks from South Africa. An account of the buck Pasha will be found in this book.
In 1899, another direct importation from South Africa was made, and the great sire Capetown was secured.
In 1901, Dr. W. C. Bailey secured four of the best Angoras obtainable in Asia Minor, by personal selection, and added them to the Bailey flocks. This was the first importation made in America from Asia Minor for twenty-five years.
During all these years, since 1865, Mr. Bailey had been constantly at work with his Angora flocks. There were many hardships to overcome, and most of the original Angora breeders gave up the struggle. We honestly believe that if it had not been for his perseverance the Angora industry would not be in its present prosperous condition.