The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-05-10

Is from $500 to 500. The birds ara
plucked before they are . year old. but
the age at which they cease to Weld
their periodical harvest Of eraceful
plumes has not apparently been vet de-
termined. There are 0sfriches on Nj.
Douglass's farm which have been robbed
OF their feathers at proper intervals for
10 years, and yet the quality Of their
piumage does not depreciate. When
plucking time has come, the necessary
number Of birds are enticed by q liber-
al display Of mealies-as maize or Indian
corn Is called in South Africa-into :
pen, one side Of which Is movable. The
bircs will 60 willingly after mealies.
and will run about their paddocks after
any one they see, in the expectation Of
these delicacies. When the pen Is full.
the movable side is run in, 50 that the
birds are pressed together BE-
yond the power Of violent struggling.
They can not spread their wings, or
make the dart forward which Is ems
tomary to them when about to kick.
Then men 60 in among them, and, tax
ing up their wings, pluck or cut their
feathers. Both processes are COM
mon, but the former is most 30, as be-
ing more profitable. There is heavier
weight to sell when the feather Is pluck
ed, and the quill begins to grow again
at once, whereas the process is DELAYED
when nature Is called upon TO eject the
stump. Apparently the ostrich suffers
but little when his feathers are drawn.
for he takes scarcely any notice Of the
operation. The plucking has to be en-
dured by the victim twice year; that
IS, the tail, and the primary wing feath-
ers, which are the only white ones. ara
plucked, and also the secondary wing
these being the black ones,
which are valuable, but not so much 50
- the others. When the harvest of
plumes has been collected they are taken
INTO the feather-room and sorted into
ots of various qualities. The white
primary rim from under the birds wing
produces the best plumes. These are
frequently sold for as high price as
s125 per pound.
1t Is said that the present demand for
ostrich plumes has made the business Of
producing them 50 profitable that it not
yields an advance Of so
'er cent. annually on the capital invest
d. Yet, on the other hand, large sums
4 money have been lost by persons who
AVE tired It and been unsuccessful. An
hony Trollope, who visited Mr.. Doug
ass's farm in 1877, adduces the follow
ne reasons which, as he says, renders
he business of ostrich-farming q preca-
ious one: 1.-THE birds are of such val
e, . full-grown bird in perfect health
eng worth as much rs Els, that there
re OF course risks Of great loss. And
doubt whether the industry has As vet
xisted long enough for those who en-
10y 1t to know all its conditions. The
vo great things to do are to hatch the
9gs and then to pluck the feathers, sort
hem, and send them to the market. I
link l may say that ostrich-farming
Tithout the use of an incubator can new
produce great results. The birds in
ire their feathers by sitting. and It
very Matching lose two months. There
!, too, great uncertainty as TO the num-
or Of young birds which will be pro-
uced, and much danger as to the fate Of
le young birds when Matched. An in
lbator seems to be necessity for os-
Yet, in spite Of the difficulties to be
intended with, Mr.. Douglass has been
labled to make ostrich-farming in his
vn particular case a complete success.
; said elsewhere, there are now at his
Establishment about 800 birds, which.
uniting both young and old, are worth
'out $50 apiece. These produce, on
! average, feathers to value of S75
II annum. The labor about the place
performed by coolies, except that
hich falls to the lot of the owner and
70 or three young men who are with
m, and are learning the work under
3 instruction. The coolies live each
his own hut with his wife and family.
hey receive sum amounting to about
per month and rations; these consist
two pounds Of meat and two Of
ealies a day. He is also given per
ission to build his hut upon the place
d to burn his masters fuel. Coffee
may buy from his masters store, pro-
led he desires the luxury.