GOATS AS ROAD-MAKERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 192, 9 May 1919, Page 9

GOATS AS ROAD-MAKERS

In 'the-forests of California the United States Governitient ure employing.many thousands of goats on road-making. Tor miles into the forests the animals are slowly marching in regular order, and -leaving behind them enchanting avenues —broad, smooth, and perfectly straight. .The idea of thus employing goats is not a new one. As a matter of fact, it is a revival of a custom dating from long centuries ago. The plan- as adopted by the United Statee Government is simple. The herdsman cuts a pathway just wido enough to admit himself, with a goat following at Ins heels. The pathway is ittit for a distance of twelve yards, and the iron peg at the end of the chain is driven into the ground, and it is the duty of the goat to make « clean sweep of nil undergrowth as far as its tether will permit, by the practical method of eating it. The goat is not moved until it has done its job well and thoroughly. Whon one goat is tethered the pathway is extended a further twelve yards and another goatis "slumped," and so it goes on, until thoro is a. line, miles in length, of busy, nibbling, happy goats—or rather several lines, for the uvenuos are from a hundred to. four hundred yards wido. Herdsmen ara continually passing along.the lines, untangling chains and in other respects looking to tin) comfort of their charges, and night and morning the goats are milked. Honnie milkmaids, with buckets and stoods, pour out of log cabins, and presently they aro scrambling back to their romantic habitations with big churns of rich milk, which in due course they will convert into delicious littlo cheeses, for which there is nu insatiable demand. . • .

'L'lio breed of goat employed is Hie exlravngiiiitly-eonted .Angora, and tho venture is returning a very handsome profit. Them is the yield of wool, which •is considerable and of great value, then Hie yield of mil!;, and finally the progeny." When the undergrowth has. all been cleared away the ljip timber is felled and taken oif through the. splendid avenues. In this ivoy immense tracts of forest are being isolated and burnt, and thousands of acres made, ready for (lie ploiich or for a crop of young: timber. Without the help of Hie sharp i'Dsth and the. hrallliy nppeiiies of the goats, preparations for burning, it is «iiid. would 'be ?n ensllv that the job wfiii'd hnrdly 1)5 worth while. The animals pnjny'tiio varied fpre: it is their nntuiyil food.. We in Kngland do not know how to farm goats, jukl tor lor.'! generations we have stubbornly refuser! lo learn. Perhaps now some of us will turn over .a new leif and test the profitableness of the animol on our Rnrse. nnd heatlier-coveve;) hillside. Tt is time these hiindr"(ls of acres were put to. a b?l:|pr use than us ,i cove" fo' , "vmi"- , and i'lw.—T. 0. It.-N., in the "Daily .U:«V

Toronto raised a lolil of -C0.0n0.000. for \v:iv iiiiniflsp. incurred u civic debt of --P2.JTO'.DOa. end made munitio:', for Great Pril.iiii ;"h1 the Allies to the value of .i.'VM.OOO. • '• "

P'vcral ilnvs.before h" ''ii-d Mr, jßnosevelt miucied Hio Pihl' Cross to give UilflSO of its share of his Nobel Pence 'prize to the "French villas near which liis 6011- Qucntin is buried,