The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1882-03-10
OSTRICH FARMING.
Introducing In America mn Industry shat
Pays FnbuIousIy When It Pays.

Pays FnbuIously When 1t Pays.
The American consul at Buenos
| Ayres, Mr.. Eli Baker, IN a recent re-
port to the state department, takes up
the subject of ostrich-farming and
raises the question of the introduction
of the industry into the United States.
There is no doubt that 1t will be dis
cussed and probably tried, for Ameri-
cans have fancy for all such expert
ments, though of similar attempts dur
ing the past few years that at acclima-
ting the silk-worm has been much
more successful than that at rearing
camels for the great American desert
and the waterless plains toward the
Mexican frontier. or at cnltivating the
| tea-plant. There was some talk about
| ten years ago of introducing the ostrich
into this country, and the wits made
merry at the prospect Of pasturing the
noble bird in stone-quarry and, after
prohtab1y plucking his feathers for
years, utilizing his legs for base ball
bats, but nothing oame of it. The
feathers represent the sole commercial
value of the bird, as, though the flesh
is eaten by the Indians of the Argen-
tine Republic, it is decidedly too tough
and strong to please civilized palate.
Until very recently the sole method Of
procuring the feathers was by killing
the wild bird, and the slaughter long
continued has made it extinct in Arabia
and almost extinct in South Africa,
while in the Argentine pampas it has
retreated to the extreme western and
southern frontiers. The African ostrich,
which is altogether the more valuable
Lird, stands from seven to eight feet
high, its head, neck anu legs being
quite bareof feathers. The feathers Of
the body are bIackish, while those Of
the wings and tail are white, sometimes
marked with black. The Argentine
ostrich is only from four to five feet
high, and its plumage, which is gray
n grayish black, sometimes tipped
with white, is only valuable for the
manufacture of feathers. brooms and
dusters The yield from feathers makes
very large sum in the course of a
year,
1t is about fourteen years since
ostrich farming was first attempted at
the Cape, and thus far, says Mr. Baker,
. sin spite of the continual drought,
scarcity of grain, and other drawbacks,
it has proved most successful and
can see no reason, iudoins from the
progress which. siss~o IL was attempted |
IN fhe ArgSnsIfle Republic, il has oecn |
ypo1fng here, why IL would not yield |
even greater profit in the United States, |
where the climate is equally suitable.
the pasturage immensely superior, and
all kinds Of grain very many times
cheaper. So far as climate, however,
is concerned, the ostrich will thrive in
the greatest OK xtremes OF heat and cold"
The facts gathered by experienced
ostrich farmers are thus summarized. A |
league OF land (say G, 600 acres) will, in
an open state, readily subsist and ac-
commodate 5000 birds. Almost any
kind of soil will do, though that con-
tanning gravel and small stones is to be
preferred. The birds thrive on the most
ordinary grass pasturage, but an allow
ance of grain food is advisable, as tend
ing TO increase the feather product.
When the farm is fenced properly, no
regular herdsmanip required a material
saving OF expense Says Mr.. Baker
THE female becomes breeding bird
at four and the male at Eve years of
age. Until they are TWO years of age
they can be herded in the open country.
like sheep, two men on foot being able
to attend to one hundred birds they
drive very readily, and can be removed
from one part OF the country to another,
on foot, with great rapidity. After
they are two years OF age they prefer
to scatter or wander singly. and require
more attention, unless they are kept in
incIosed pastures One pair OF birds
will hatch out ten or fifteen chickens,
four times a year. The female will lay
oae egg every other day, and when
fifteen to twenty eggs are deposited in
then nest, she viii sit upon them during
the day and the male bird at night.
The period OF incubation is forty-tWo
days, and il the chicks are removed to be,
brought up by the farmer, the female
will at once begin to lay again. During
the breeding season the birds should
be carefully inclosed and protected and
receive a generous allowance not only
of green stuff but also Of small grain,
such as barley and corn. The young
chicks, for the first few weeks, should
be carefully housed from the cold and
the rain, and especially be sheltered at
nights" More extended details may
be derived from report on South Afri-
can ostrich farming, as follows: "The
ostriches Craze only during the day as
soon as it becomes dusk they sit down
wherever they happen to be and remain
there till morning. They do not drink
much water; if they obtain it once
every few days it is sufficient. They are
easily frightened by any unusual object
or sound, but quickly become accus-
toned to their surroundings. Short
herbage is best adapted for ostriches.
They eat clover short grass, and all
manner of weeds. Any sort Of grain is
good lucern, or alfalfa cut up is excel
lent. They also require salt, small
pebbles. and as many chopped-up bones
as they viii eat. Acorns, onions, car
rots, indeed, almost anything that may
happen to be plentiful and cheap, may
be given these birds W th impunity.
/ During heavy rain, ostriches always sit
down, and it is impossible to move
them. They can be removed from one
place to another with ease. One man
walks in front, him they follow one or
/ two men behind drive them on, which
| is simply done by voice and crack Of
whips. The male bird, when in season,
is very sarage, and attacks man, infiict-
| ing sometimes severe injuries. A little
care is necessary in entering theil
camps. A long brush fourished in the
birds face, or stick forked at the end
for the purpose oil catching his neck.
generally suffices to keep him of. Few
birds when properly cared for die from
any sickness; more are killed by acci
dent, the most common OF which is tht
breaking Of a leg"
4 AS for the feather product, the birf
is plucked when from six to eigh
s months old, and thereafter at periods q
about seven months, its life being esti
mated at from twenty-five TO thirt.
years. The best mode Of plucking thl
. feathers is not TO pull them cut, but Il
cut the quill about an inch from th'
rons The feathers are cut slightly be