Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-07-05

number had increased to % 247 ostriches.
Then the industry began 10 attract gen
eral attention. The demand for oirds
| for farming purposes was so great,
es pecially for the next few years, that
fabulous prices were realized by those
who had binds to sell. There are now more
| than 10000 ostriches in South America
The value of the expectation of feathers
from Africa was st last accounts, the
enormous sum of 81 ,OO0, 900 per annum:
of this amount it is estim ated uhat AmerI-
ca absorbs s., ,000, 900 at least. The Nv
York importers have long enjoyed a
monopoly in this business, and many
large fortunes have been made by them.
The North America or Barbary feath-
ers are superior to those OF South Africa,
and command higher price in the mar
ket. If the American feathers should
prove superior it will create fueor in the
feather market. From North Africa
there is large expectation of feathers
annually amounting to about 100000.
The Barbsry feathers are shipped
chiefly from Tripoli through Marseilles
to Paris or London. The feathers before
shipment are "roped" for the market,
that IL, they are sorted into grades, prime
whites, first whites, second whites, tipped
whites, best fancy colored and second
fancy colored. The choicest are picked
out and sold privately. The South Atri-
can plume is characterized by its breadth
of barb, and each individual barb has a
richer floss, but the barbs not being set
SO close rs those of the North African
birds, the plume has thinner appear
ance. The shaft, though full as long, is
straighter and less than Bar barry plume,
I'M oav -,
bleaching to a far purer white. The
great point of natural beauty ID teath,
or, in addition TO its richness of plum
age, is the graceful curve taken towards
the tip.
To compete with the Barbsry feather
trade the North African birds are being
imported to South Africa. When these
become acciimate1 the Cape dealers hope
to export "the fines: quality of feathers
i thu world"
The united testimony of those compe-
tent to Judge is that the American birds
are larger and finer than tkeir African
progenitors. Com pared with the African
progeny, California chicks are superior
to most in Africa They are larger, more
vigorous, and of better plumage, owing
doubtless to better care.
DR.. Duncan, who prepared the paper
on ostrich farming for the department, is
an enthusiast OF the general utility OF
the ostrich. Cstriches can be utilized as
food, and may come to rank high IA an
article of diet when SO numerous as to be
profitable in that direction. The egg has
been regarded as a rare delicacy in Africa.
When an ostrich in South Africa is
killed, from accident or other causes,
every part of the bird is utilized. The
first step is to remove the skin so as to
preserve the feathers uninjured. The
next Is to melt the fat, which is poured
into bags made of the skin of the thighs
tied at the lower end. The grease or fat
of the bird in good condition will fill the
skin of both legs, which hold about four
gallons; not only Is it eaten with bread
and used in the preparation OF "kookoo-
500" and other foods, but the Arabs re-
gard II as useful application in certain
malsdies. In all cases of rheumatism or
acute Pains it is used by being we'll
rubbed in, and then the affected parts
are covered with sand.
Those who have tasted ostrich meat
state that it is both wholesome and pal.
ataole, although as might be expected in
the wild bird, it is somewhat lean and
tough. When the birds have been do
mestlcated, however, and fed on clover
and grain, the meat becomes juicy and
tender.
Experiments have been made from
time to time with view to test the capa-
bility of the ostrich in drawing and
carr Jing burdens. DR.. Sparryman, cen
tury ago (1775) saw mounted ostriches at
the cape; and before him Moore had re-
corded his having seen an knglishman at
Joar travelling long distance upon a
brided ostrich.
When domesticated in Texas, as they
doubtless will be, says DR.. Duncan, we ex-
pect to hear that the cowboys utilize os-
triches in herding cattle. Their fieetness
should make them excellent mounts for
scouts and couriers.
Even the skeleton of an ostrich com
mands good price for public museums.
Prof. Ward, of Rochester, asks 1925 for
a full mounted ostrich skeleton