THE GOAT.
The Book of the Goat. By H. S. Holmes Pegler. (Upoott
6s.)—There are a quarter of a million goats in Ireland, we learn from the Dublin Department of Agriculture, but no man knows how many exist in England and Scotland. Some day our Board of Agriculture may be moved to find out. Meantime the increasing exhibition of goats at the agricultural shows, the success of the Goat Society's monthly paper, and the publication of the work before us, following upon the attainment of a second edition by another goat-book last year, unite to prove that the number of owners of the "poor man's cow" in the United Kingdom must be considerable and growing. Mr. Holmes Pegler has been secretary of the Goat Society since its foundation thirty years ago, and his book, as now issued, is a carefully rewritten edition of a manual to which every experimenter with goats has been indebted. Our only criticism of it is that the format is by no means so pleasing as it
might have been. But this is no doubt the publisher's affair. In looking through Mr. Holmes Pegler's pages wo are most struck by the rise in prices since the preceding issue of the book twenty-four years ago. " Very satisfactory animals," it is stated, "may frequently be bought for between £3 and 44." There are differ- ences of opinion as to what constitutes "a good milker." Mr. Holmes Pegler says she "should supply close upon two quarts a day, and continue this for three months or more." We note with interest that the author of The Book of the Goat believes that the Angora goat, if intelligently looked after, would yield a profitable fleece in England. As to goat-farming on a large scale for milk, we do not gather that as yet any degree of success has been attained here. But as a means of supplying non-tuberoalous milk for the household a goat or two may be financially satisfactory. Goat's milk will bear dilution with water, and then be as good as much cow's milk. Residents in the country are particularly well placed for goat-keeping, but many good goats live and thrive in the suburbs of London. The tethering of goats is always a risky business when trees or a garden are near, but it is possible to keep the little animals in vigorous health in quite a small enclosure if a variety of food is supplied. We are glad to know that year by year more cottagers possess goats. The way in which in many districts labourers' families are deprived of milk is a serious matter, and rural residents who realise the value of goats do well to encourage the keeping of them.
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