The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-07

hltN Htitl-hi FORWARD.
When plucking is 10 begin three men eutei
the corral and approach the birds They try
20 gct the one they wish 10 catch up into 4
corner, but "a, the bird soon ..4, that bis b.-f
chance lies in keeping in the open. DE- race
down one side Of the corral and then up III.
other, making IL appear a. though it We're az
almost hopeless task 90 catch hltn. lii, stride
are enormous, lrit hl, great fss m1 the mus
cies of has thighs arc ~ strong TIA, he comes
along with an easy, spfingy giant, ia whicl
very little is seen of the foolish awbwardnc-
which Is the first characteristic to striA,
strangers when they soc the bird al rest
After several quite vain attempt, 20 reach
the bird MS he runs past. tine quickest OF th.
men throws himself upoI one pi tins hus,
wings. anl the FIST time, p,rhap- finds him.
self sprawlng ON the ground with a handful
of broken feathers to reward him lor hi
pains. soon however. somebody T.. fortu
nate enough 10 get cool hold and hy th.
time he has been dragged half way rolnl th'
inrlo,ure the other two men also are o. b.
seen firmly attached 10 some plrt Of the toiy
on wings Of the bird Then a sac. /, rapidly
produced from the belt Of onsoi tAs mel and
Slipped over the head and long neck. at tho
lower end Of which 10 is loosely tied. This
greatly facilitate matters. and it is now no
very difficult job 20 steer the strange looking
creature into "a corner of the corral which hG
been prepared for it, reception. Here ia,
fence has been strengthened with strong deal
boards and another heavy board is all ready
o. De- swung around 90 such way q. to il-
close ihe bird and his captors IN a small cor
ncr in which no great amount Of struggling
Is possible
The first bird plucked was an Old male.
Tie young birds lor the frat two year OF
their life are an the same gray color, which
the ianaies continue fm their lives, but the
males after they are about years old, be-
come very handsome .hcy turn quite black.
thus making very handsome setting for tine
great white p'lmos which adom their wing
and tails Only the wing and tail feathers
are pulled. the curly looking little til. un tbe
breast which arouse the cupility Of some OF
tine Indies being left untouched
TIN. three mon vino have hold Of the biri
force him up tight against the corner 81 tho
nclosurc, and the one of them who is doing
the pluc.ug stands on tine side away from
fhe wing on which he is going 90 commence
operations he raises tbs wing aud, draw
ing DO toward him over the body of the bird,
he selects the feathers which he considers
marketable. aud graspng them ono by one
firmly BOO bis hand gives them % good hard
pull and oui they C1me-hrst the great white
pume-. then THE smaller whites, and then ihc
larger blacks
ltmu,i Dee somewhat painful operation
for the bird. as the feathers Lavo tight hold
and the wing lleall more on less al must
points from which several feathers aliolniug
ono another lave ic.u drawn Every my
aul tu.u a renewed struggle on the part q.
tlco.tlirh. auI au effort u.t always unH4c.
c,s-ful. 90 slai.e on the suck which is over
his head. bears witness TO lis not relishine
the situation.
THE VALUE or A CROP.
As fast as the feathers are pulled, and this
is done very quickly. they mc handed over
iar fsnce to man standing Close by with Is
boss.
Meanwhile the two winsslavebcen piucked.
anil Oh. ilil. which produces feathers shorter
'nan tae ha-t wins p.ame-. hut much ulIrf
such a- ar used for ile best tips. Then Tie
sack i- removed. and thrhoard which iuclo-,>
the party having been swung back. the bird
ls sch loose. % queer, curtaiel looking mon-
sfor. ehHu OF ha glory. hui probably iu a.
day or two much more comfortable -in bot
weather zoo Hny lie-iDi being freed iiou.
t.e burden OF his great. heavy plamcs. Care
BIAS 10 Doe taken again. rs tha ,1c. D. removed
that hc does mot reward bis tarn8utors With
ahick. which. il wcl delivered, would easily
break bone. lu' Dos inability t. kick any
way except straight in from; ot him makes %
mo- difficult matter
Thou the chase is renewed, and tine royal
cous0rf i-. in beer turn. Inundated 10y having
hei proud head onvc'0led in the .aci,, aud -o
The ram. goes ON tlll ail tlia bird, which are
ready for p.ucting have been dealt with
n is very hard work on "a bot day. as noi
only have great agility and considerable
c-urage and perseverance To- be displayed DOB
catching thc birds. bat even holding them in
tie corner while the pluckim- Is going on ii.
wolves am almost continuous struggle. more
or Jess severe The operation takes perhnp.
uhlut twenty minute for each bird after IL
fa. been caught. and in this time some two
hundred o. two hundred and fifty feathers Of
Various sizes are pulled. Each bird is plucked
twice "a year, the plames requiring growth
of about seven months 90 reach perfection
THE feathers If lot retailed on the premi.c,
or boz Los Angeles stores are Sold by weight
\ short time ago they went as iow rs co
pound, but they are NOW going p. the wear
Ing of ostrich feathers in hats ha ng AGAIN
become fashionable a full gown bird VIII
give rather more than a pound Of feathers
between his two plucks, but as they are vora
cious feeders there is not much , oft o. Doe
made ont of keeping them when feathers are
fetching low prices. They are fed mainly IN
alfalfa. supplemented boy corn and almostmy
vegetable food that comes handy. San Fran.
cisco Chronicle.