The National tribune., 1882-01-28

OSTRICH FARNING.-This comparatively new
industry is being prosecuted to considerable
extent in South Africa and, it is said with profit
There is no apparent reason why these birds
should not be imported and "farmed" in Texas
and other States after establishing the climatic
and other conditions necessary to success. We
have recently perused work on ostrich farm
ing by J. De Mosenthal, which was printed at
London a few years ago, and from which we
take few extracts which we think may interest
some of our readers:
although ostrich farming as at present sys-
tematically carried out in South Africa is of
comparatively recent date, yet more than cen
fury ago travellers mentioned that many farmers
at the Cape had a number of tame ostriches on
their farms which supplied their owners with
plumes which were used in driving away mos
quitoes, and it has long been known that various
tribes in Central Africa catch and keep ostriches
for the sake Of their plumes, which they barter
with traders, and thus find their way into Egypt
But it is only within the last few years that the
subject has come to engage serious attention. In
1859 the Acclimatisation Society of Paris offered
premiums for the successful domestication of
the ostrich in Algeria or Senegal and for breed
ing Ostriches in Europe. The first of such
measures was to some extent successfully car
ried out at HANNA, Algeria, by NJ. Hardy, who
received the premium. About the same time
Prince Pemidoff commenced similar experiments
near Florence, which resulted in his rearing, for
the first time in Europe, two young ones in 1859
and six the following year. The example thus
set was ere long followed in other parts of Europe
notably at Marseilles, Grenoble and Madrid, and
it soon became demonstrated that there is no
great difficulty in inducing ostrches to hatch
eggs in confinement and rear their young.
at would seem that the first instance of do
mesticated ostriches Matching their eggs in Cape
Colony was about 1866 and from that time to
the present the new industry of ostrich farming
has spread and thriyen more or less throughout
the colony.
"The Cape Argus in 1870 published a commu-
nication from Mr.. w. Kinnear, who had twenty
nine ostriches on eight acres of garden ground,
which he sowed with lucerne, in order to pro-
vide food for his birds. Other breeders have
given their birds the run of their lands trusting
to careful herds and the attractions of daily
feed of corn at the homestead Mr. White. of
Albany, at one time gave an inclosure of 500
acres to twenty-three young ostriches Mr. Muir
ray, Of Colesburg had ninety birds within 900
acres fenced in, and he has now an incIosure of
nearly 5000 acres for his larger focks 1t NAV
be considered settled law of ostrich farming
that free space and good fences are essential to
success. Sheds and houses are also necessary,
not only for safe-keeping artificial Matching,
and feather-gathering, but also for shelter from
the cold and wet. The grazing ground best
suited for the ostrich is that in which the soil or
plants are rich in alkalies. When this is not the
case the needful element must be supplied.
1t has been found that wire fences are sufficient
for an ostrich Enclosure. 1t is an erroneous idea
that because the ostrich is very long-legged
bird it would require very high fence to keep
it in bounds. Such is not the case; substantial,
ordinary wire fence is quite high enough. An
ostrich in motion does not rise upon the wing;
he skins, as it were, along the surface OF the
ground and if he meets with any obstacle, such
as fence he will skirt along it, but never attempt
TO cross 1t, although he will cross creek, the
TWO banks Of which are nearly on level, by
hylng. The ostrich is a solitary bird, and OF
lonely, shy habits. Ostriches are never found in
large troops like other game; seldom more than
siA are seen together, and they run more fire.
4uehAy In pairs Or singly. Their sense of smell
Is very acute, as well as their sight and their
powers Of digestion are astonishing. concluded
in next number.
RAISINS IN CAIJpopUr. oon