The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-12-21
OStriches i'm New York.

Everybody who went to Central Park
yesterday wanted to see the herd OF
twenty-five ostriches that has Just ar.
rived. They are full-grown birds, and
are the only lot ever imported for breed
ing purposes. 1t was cold day for the
ostrlches, however, and they were not
at home except to few favorite callers.
They are confined in the deer hut, which
is nice md warm. They are quite gen
tie aaectionate, but, being full
gro down on even six-footer.
One to Superintendent Conk-
lin, al. after gazing mildly at him for
minute, a a sudden snap at his
breastpin another at his watch
chain.
''They are worse than a gang of pick
pockets" said he: s.thev won't leave a
button on your coats if you don't watch
them
In fact, several of the party were
minus buttons, on leaving the mild-eyed
strangers. They look little worn by
their long voyage, and will improve in
appearance after few days They are
fed literally with corn, potatoes, and
other vegetables.
Mr.. Protheroe, wealthy Englishman,
who owns them. and has cultivated os-
triches for their feathers for years, told
the SIN reporter how he came to try to
breed and farm them in the United
States. These ostriches,' he said,
''were brought by me to Buenos Ayres
from South Africa year ago. have
large farm about 500 miles from Cape
Town, on the Orange River [ started
an ostrich farm in Buenos Ayres partly
because business and trade had collapsed
in South Africa, where they have just
gone through great panic, and |
thought could make more money else
where. l have about $50 birds in Bue-
nos Ayres, but concluded to try the ex-
pertinent also in the United States. Ten
birds are males, and twelve females.
All are about eight years old. Farmers
IN the United States have ordered os-
triches from me, but did not send them,
thinking they could not survive the pas
sage. shall examine the best places in
this country to start q farm. 1t is Il
mistake to suppose an ostrich can't
stand cold weather and climatic changes.
In South Africa ice forms some nights
nearly an inch thick, and we have snow
also. Both melt during the day. We
leave the ostriches out doors at night.
and never feed them. They live on
grass, twigs of trees, and the like, but
will eat anything. When they can't get
food. however. they die easily. They
swallow large stones to promote diges-
ton, and keep them in their crop until
they wear out.
''Ostriches are of no use for anything
but their feathers. Never tried them
for draught purposes. Their feathers
are picked every seven months from the
time they are eight months old. The
average life of an ostrich is forty wears,
though in Africa they tell stories of cen
ostriches. We get about a
pound of feathers at each plucking. The
pure white are the most valuable, selling
at Sl75 to 5000 a pound. These are
from the wings. Next come the black,
irab, fancy and tail feathers. A fair
average would be sixty dollars a pound.
and at that price | could make 100 per
cent more here than in Africa, where
everything is so expensive. A camp
here would cost twenty times as much
Is here.
81 have eaten the eggs from young
hens. They have delicious flavor.
Eggs from old hens would be too ex-
pensive to eat. These ostriches have
would breed in New York in summer
time, but not in winter. We use incu-
oators in Buenos Ayres, but not in
Africa. l had one camp in Africa of
100 acres. 1t was surrounded by
wire fence four feet six inches high. |
They won't fly and won't jump over a
ence higher than they can feel with their
necks.
''These ostriches stand me in about
300 each," concluded Mr.. Protheroe,
IS one of them made dash at his last
'oat button. Mr.. Protheroe saws that
abulous profits have been made by
breeders. and cited the case of gentle
nan who made $4,000 in year ont of
wo hens and cock by selling ostrich
ggs, besides keeping their feathers.-