Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-02
tFrom the ospetown (south Africa correspondence
Of the New York Tribune.l
OSTRICH FARMING.

HATOHING-HOw THE OsTRICHEs ARE BRED,
GROWN AND PLuCKED.
Among the most interesting as well as
profitable of recent agricultural enterprises
has been the ostrich farming of South Africa.
This industry, which was only fairly started
about twelve years ago in the Cape colony,
has developed over South Africa in manner,
perhaps, unparalleled in the history of farm
ing ventures In 1865 there were only 80
tame ostriches returned, in the Cape colony
in 1875 there were about $1,000, and now
there are certainly not less than 100000 OF
these birds in the South African colonies, the
industry having spread during that time from
the western province of the Cape, where it
was at first adopted, throughout the colony
and into the Free State, the Tansvaal and
Natal.
About 1868 tame ostrich feathers first figured
in the trade returns of the colony, while dur
ing the first quarter of the present year the
export of feathers was at the rate OF $4,000
900 annually And what may seem surpris-
ing to many is that the value Of feathers has
not perceptibly decreased since the industry
began. OF course, with the present enormous
rate of increase, the worlds market must be-
come better supplied, and some decline in
price must take place in time. There is
very large margin of profit at present IN the
business. With regard to the business as a
means of investment, it must be borne in
mind that in the nature of things such
trade, dependent on the general prosperity of
the world and its ability to indulge in luxury,
must be liable to greater fluctuations than
trade in articles of common necessity.
Since the beginning of ostrich farming
much has been learned with respect to the
habits of the bird but this belongs rather to
Al. al, fs.ala Of
farming. The ostrich, though capable of ac-
cmatization on the soil of moist and cool
lands, thrives best on the arid and seemingly
barren districts of the south and interior of
Africa 1t may now be found in almost ev-
cry part of the African continent, and has
been hunted far within the borders OF Sahara
itself If possible, the ostrich farmer pro.
cures his first stock of bird or wild chickens
from two to three days old, the whereabouts
of the nest having been traced by some acute
Hottentot, who sits on the plain all night to
listen for the ''booming" of the parent This
is a noise uttered during the breeding season,
and said by travellers to be very like the
roaring of lion; but perhaps the booming
of the bull-frog would be nearer COMPARE
son.
MATCHING AND REARING.
For the first three days the chickens
which are about the size of a common hen
and very handsome in appearance-eat moth
ing, and the first substance to come in con-
tact with their gizzards is gravel or coarse
sand, and ever afterward pebbles OF various
sizes from that of a pea to a walnut are to be
found in their gizzards, to assist in the tritu-
ration of food Grass and leaves and lizards,
snakes and insects form their first food, and
as they develop they take to diet Of mealies
Indian CORN and other grain and the feshy
leaves of the prickly-pear or American aloe,
in which the land abounds These latter
form the staple food through life. If the
chickens are Matched on the farm they are
allowed to run with the old bird for week
or two and then taken away for fear of their
getting unmanageably wild. Their tendency
to wildness soon mauifests itself when left 20
themselves, and many of the most domesti-
Gated birds are liable to desperate panics, I'M
der the influence of which they may bolt
straight against any object in their way, such
as a.fence or wall But most birds are now
Matched in the incubating machine, which
has been brought to great perfection within
the last five years. Ostriches can now not
only be Matched with the greatest success in
this manner, but artificial ''mothers" provide
every security against exposure to the wealth
er till the young ones can be let out to shift
for themselves.
The period of incubation with the ostrich
proves to be just twice that of the common
hen, or AZ days, and during that time the
eggs are turned over once day until the
chicken is brought to maturity. About the
forty-frst or forty second day, if a movement
can be distinctly observed when the egg is
placed on a table, or il breathing can be
heard and the chicken still remains many
hours without breaking the shell, it is assist
ed out of its captivity by the gentle tapping
Of hammer. The chicks on coming out
are placed either in dry warm house, in an
artificial "mother" box, OF are put with some
old bird having other chickens. At the end
of week or two the chicks are taken away
from the parent and allowed to run about
during the day and at night are shut up in a
warm dry room, on account of their liability
to rheumatism. After a month or so they
are allowed to wander about the plains or
among the bushes like old birds, being taught
to return to the 'kraal" (pen) at stated inter
walls for food or for sleep. AS rule the
strong demands of appetite are sufficient to
prevent them from becoming too shy or wild,
MANNER AND PROFITS OF OSTRICH BREEDING.
At eight or twelve months of age many
birds are as tall as they appear to get, but it
takes from two and half to four years be-
fore the pairing instinct is developed. AT
this period the cocks beak assumes a red col
or of various degrees of brilliancy, according
to health and condition, and the large scales
on the legs at other times pale looking, also
assume a red color. The cock then selects
his sometimes two-and they are pair
ed off in a kraal for breeding DurnOses Then