New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-15

taken. As q rule the only feathers removed are the
longer ones from the wings and tail, but there are
farmers who brutally strip feathers from the oack
thus exposing il TO the painful etfectsof the weather
IN the wing is row Of about twentyfour large and
long white feathers known az primaries" lhese
are the choice feathers of the bird, and their snowy
whiteness IS SO preserved and concealed by thc
covering of the other feathers that they are OFTEN
entirely hid from view unless the wing is raised.
From this row forward, the wing, the feathers
become more less intermixed with gray TILL they
finally terminate in black thorough gray, accord
ing to sex. But very often birds are possessed OF
two, and sometimes four. rows Of pure white
feathers numbering sixty or seventy. SucA bros
are naturally highly valued not only for their
wealth of plumage but for the hope OF their breed
ing chickens similarly endowed. Tail feathers vary
much in size. length and number and do not realz"
so much 10 the farmer on account OF their liability
to become extremely soiled or off. but the
dresser and dealer realize much out OF them by
mani ulatlOn.
The first feathers then are taken off at about one
year: the subsequent clippings are taken about
every eight months thereafter. though some clip
only once q year. Formerly 1t tine practice to
pluck the feathers but II was brutal method, a.
when the 0uls We're little green" blood was
drawn in the operation, and the poor BIRDS skin
was left III such state that liberation frequently
followed. Ii was IN most cases desirable 10 draw
the feather WneD scarcely MatuItU III OIutF
the tips from being worn away. ami therefore many
farmers. out of humanity. adopted the process OF
clipping the quill about two Inches above the root
with pair of stout shears. Then, when the stump
was developed and dry II was pulled out. Many oil
the farmers, however adopted clipping not from
motives OF humanity, but simply because the brutal
process resulted time in the production OF twisted
ald distorted feathers Tor out OF the root OF n
feather thus jerked and twisted the new feather
grew. awry aud disiigured as II the agony OF the
operation had stereotyped the result in that manner
or the plume.
The process of clipping is carried out on most
farms follows: single bird from the troop Is
driven into pen small that II Is able to move
about but little, and an old sack or bag Is placed
over its head, leaving only a breathing hole. The
operation IS then begun by lifting the wings AMI
clipping a feather at a time, the bird sometimes re-
naming passive. at other times thrashlng about
with such furious energy as either to Dreak the
pan or break its own legs Thus the BIRDS are
driven III one by one until the whole troop Is
pucked
SORTING AND MARKETING THE FEATHERS.
The farmer whose birds may number from
% to 200. or more according 10 his wealth
then sends lis feathers-subject to slight
extra charge for carriage when sent by IaI-to
town to some feather agent. The agent sorts them
out into the ten fifteen qualities or kinds known
TO the dealers, ald they are thus taken in bundles
10 the market. Here, ranged IN the various depart
mcnts of White and black male and female, primes
ana seccuds tails, etc, on long tables, they are *
ahmed by the shrewd, active and speculative
buyeYs. They are sold by auction at all the mar
kcts, and then, having been preserved from yermin
by a sli.nt sprinkling Of camphor, are packed III
stont cases and shipped TO London. At Port
Elizabeth nearly al the feathers are TINS sold
through agents and tie transactions of a single
dav IN this market amount to from T21,OOo 10
$50 900. At the inland towns tie farmers are
generally their own sellers, and the transactions
are of c0llr.r on "a much smaller scale. In many
towns the buyers are simply the agents OF the buy
ers nj Port Elizabeth. Whose transactions generally
govern the pr.ces of the inland markets.
Attempts are now being made 10 Introduce the
Blrbary ostrich into the Cape District. LIS
VIII IN al probability be successful and IN such an
event south Africa viii rot only produce the bulk
al the feather, OF the world. she does now, but
also produce the best 10 quality.