New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-01
FOWLS or GIGANTIC SIZE.
SUCCESS OF CALIFORNIA OSTRICH FARM
ING.

PRECIOUS EGGS AND RAvESOUs APPETITEs-THE
ENTERPRISE TO DE GREATLY EXTENDED.
IRON AZ OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENTS or THE TRIBUNE.
Los ANGELES, Cal, Oct. 81 -" There is no
product required by civilization but what can be
supplied from California" This the remark once
heard enthusiastic Forty miner make; AMI rs one
studies the resources and capabilities OF the State. such
broad statement found to be the truth than at
first sight appears possible In their attempts to roslize
tho large profits now which matter Of course In
the Argonautc days, CaliforGans developing some
from an Fasteners point OF startling and bizarre
Particularly Is this the In tho southern
portion OF the State Liverpool salt is quarred from the
Colorado Desert Dos Palmas; mills in the Motabe
Desert convert the stately yucca into paper pulp;
Cashncre goats pasturng by Southdown sdeepj
alfalfa fell and thoroughbreds from Sunny Slope
and Santa Anita proving themselves formidable
rivals Blue-Grass bred horsencsh; San Diego
and Los Angeles abaono dealers supply Paris button
makers with n Tart Of their material; SILK indus
tries developing and tea coffee cotton and rice only
cheap labor - become profitable Among the most
novel apparently profitable. of the newer pursuits
il ostrich farming DIR. Sketchly, the manager OF the
principal farm In this county few years ago
proprietor OF large aud profitable one In South Africa
During Transvaal his rancho dew Ostated by
the Beers aud Zulus, aud thinking that Southern
California might possess the necessary qualifications.
hs came to spy Out tho land. Hc fOun1 everything
Cape, ami less than three years ago brought back
twenty two birds, ten males and twelve hens Sincs
has raised forty birds. which, considering the
many dihsuucs he hal contend with aJ first, is
satisfactory progress His rancho Is about twenty
miles south OF Los Angeles near tue village OF Norwalk
on a spur OF the Southern Pacific Railroad.
the visitor reaches tao entrance, two sgnbOards
meet his gaze. The first rule, Ia III visitor will DO
charged 50 cents" mado necessary by tho crowds
that poured into the place. Tho other All dogs
found on this rancho will 10 1t once destroyed" was
occasonod by tho fact that the bcstbrcd dogs will
sck eggs and when eggs sell for 81 cach and
good ones are worth from $50 20 800 each, the un
de.irabty OF dogs Ia apparent The farm consists OF
200 acres OF which eighty are sown to alfalfa, thirty
In corn. aud tho remainder occupied by the pens,
corras. employees quarters. etc.
The first object OF interest rather large corral con-
taining flock OF sixteen. month old birds. They stand
about six feet high. and are quite tinl These birds
were puckel three months ago. ami their plun0ge Is
abundant ana glossy already. Ny guido told ME that
only sove. months time necessary for tho new
plumage to mature ill., and that these chicks pr-.uced
feathers their last pluckng over two feet long. which
heats the record in Africa Next tho pons where
the adult birds KEEP, Each pair allowed space OF
about twenty by forty feet. The females are OF q
speckled brownish color. and have honely domestic
appearance The males tho contrary are brilliant
glossy black with ono OF superb white feathers
fringing each wing and the tail They are rakish.
gallant looking fellows. and can comfortably stretch
their necks over the eigns foot fence which forms tho
rear OF their Iens barrier In front OF the pens keeps
visitors mt safe distance from them, a. these older
Dir Is always dangerous. Tho superintendent told
mo that he knew Of several men being killed and three
horses disembowclled by them Their feet are armed
each with two toes ono OF which Is very long and has
nj ia extremity an immense claw. Their mode OF attack
IA always by kicking and a. they are known 10 be able
10 maintain for long time gait faster than that OF
any horse the muscular power of their legs can he
Imagined. ono OF the keepers TO show Inc their
fcruclty approached quite near one OF the pens b0th
birds immediately assumed ali the appearance OF intense
rage Each plume erected, tue wings wcfo half
extended and their eyos flashed, but there not
symptom OF fear about thcm. 49,
I asked how the picking OF thete Dig ones was
We'll We catch their in forked stick. draw
leather stocking their heads aud four or hye OF us
grab them. Put It's fun eau tell you, for ono
square Kick would send fellow TO kingdom come too
Strange ~ say they make attempt to jump over the
fence, but when very much excited or enraSeI s brush
like much paper che only use they make OF their
alleged wings Is steer themselves around corner or
sharp curve; during which operation they look much
like u sail boat when 1t )" luis."
Up 10 recently patent ncubators were used but so |
unsatisfactory they that the birds are now permit
ted t. Increase aud multiply IN tho orthodox manner.
Each pair is expected to hatch three broods year. the
hens averaging fifteen eggs setting, but sometimes
running up many thirty About six weeks Is tho
or SO old which we're large prize turkeys; the
parents most aectionate and soeitons In the care
we're with evident Misrepresentation
The expense or Keeping LDcse nuSe
uarutiycly small each bird getting daily ration OF MY
pounds Of cut alfalfa, little corn ana nni nTa
water and they appear TO have made themselves ~
home and apparently have come 10 California to stay
could obtain little inforartOn as to the proht OF ING
undertaking. 7 have met OF the st0cknOlders auu
from him could get figures or satenont beyond me
fact that the company has prcDase nnoner lng 90 VI
400 acres IN Los Feliz rancho, and Will soon send Dr.
Sketohy to Cape for supply OF BIRDS 10 stock IL
with which certainly appears II tho prospect must DO
satisfactory The outlay Of capital must be considerable
I'm the first place since the first lot was exported te
Cape Government has imposed an export duty OF SoOo
ner bird Add to the prime cost which varies from
mn 10 the thousands and the freight from the Cape
TO New orleans aud thence to Los Angeles ana the
overnvo cost per par low calculation must De put
AZ roln 81 500 to 600 In Africa the profit must Do
very large Dr. sketohy cited one Instance where trio
of birds yic III year revenue Of over $4,000
i'm onapriny and feathers; d tbcre seems 10 DO no
reason Wy tho business should not DC even more 10,
unrrntye in California for domestic producers nave
the benefit OF a 30 per cent AL yaornm tarin
ssiny curling :and eooring tho feathers chehy
confined TO Hew.York and Paris dealers, who, ~ Is
Inserted arc hoslle this California enterprise Inc
company far from being discouraged by this, u arrang
Ing 10 import lot of feather dressers from far nna
deyelop It's own market. Should this 10 inc case,
husbands and fathers who over iilinery s may
he consoed with reflection that The price oil eahers
nkaly In iall suu