der should walk ahead of the leaders of the
flock, so that they will not travel too fast, or he may walk upon a
nearby elevation, so that he can see that the flock does not separate. A
flock will sometimes string out over a mile. The goats should be given
freedom. Too often a zealous herder overworks himself and keeps his
flock poor by crowding them together. A good sheep herder soon learns
the nature of the goat, and when he understands the animal he would
rather herd goats than sheep.

[Illustration: Prize winners at the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904.]

DOGS.

In some sections of the country sheep-killing dogs have proven a great
nuisance to sheep-breeders. To say that the Angora goat will prevent
dogs from killing sheep, and that they will drive the dogs away, would
be a misstatement. Bucks and grown goats will protect themselves to some
extent. If a strange dog attacks a flock in a field, the goats will
usually huddle together and the bucks and grown animals will keep the
dog at bay. A mother will fight bravely to protect her kid.

[Illustration]

KIDDING ANGORAS.

An experience of years has taught the Turk that if he wishes to save
many kids, he must have them come late in the season. The changeable
weather of the Turkish spring, the frequent cold rains and the lack of
proper shed accommodations, have more than once not only destroyed the
increase, but also killed the grown goats. The Turkish methods of
handling kids are of little practical value. They know how delicate the
kids are when they are born, and they usually bring the kid and its
mother to the house as soon as it is dropped.

The Turkish Angora goat men usually range small flocks, and they also
have a surplus of help, so that this is a comparatively easy method. The
kids are allowed to go with the flocks as soon as they are old enough to
travel. The principal objection to letting young kids go with the flock
is that the kids go to sleep, and sleep so soundly that the flock feed
away from them. When the youngsters awake they are lost. If there be
wild animals about, the kids may be killed, or they may starve before
they are found. The Turk, however, has so many herders with one flock
that they usually discover the kids before the flock has strayed.

In America the kidding season is the most important time of the year for
the Angora breeder. If he would raise a large increase, he must be
properly prepared, and he must be constantly alert.