MIL C H- GOATS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—It is pleasing to see the interest shown by "A Wanderer" in the Spectator of November 13th in the subject of goat culture, and it may interest him to know that some years ago I tried the experiment which he suggests,—of importing goats from Malta. The results of this experiment are related in my book upon milch-goats (Messrs. Vinton and Co.), but were not entirely satisfactory, probably owing to the severity of the winter of 1893-94. Importations from Gibraltar were much more successful, and some of the goats I had thence in 1892 are still living. None of these Southern goats, however, will milk in this country as they do at home, and some Indian goats I have had were quite useless. The goats of Switzerland are those which best repay importation, and to these my herd is now confined. "A Wanderer" is within the mark in saying that "comparatively speaking, goats give a larger quantity of milk than cows," and the quality is also superior, the only difficulty being the uneven supply. The superabundance in spring, however, can be utilised for butter, and very excellent butter too, though quite colourless. Last spring my little herd yielded some- times seven pounds of butter per week, after feeding a dozen hungry kids and supplying my household of thirteen persons. Were I not afraid of trespassing too far upon your space, I could write much upon this subject, but these remarks may serve to supplement those of " A Wanderer," and help to show that there are dollars in " the poor man's cow."— I am, Sir, &c.,
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