Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-17
A CANARY FAD.
Ms. Frederick Vanderbilt Said to b
Responsible for tie Idea.
4 KINGS DAUGHTERS CAHARIES.
How Intlerentlsnt Young Women Are
Rearing Birds To Sell Mt Fancy Prices
- Pets of Swelllom.
CORRESPONDENCE OF the Dispatch)


NEW YORK, May 12.-Raising canary
birds is one Of the new things taken up
by the young women OF GOTHAM WI"
want to earn 4 little money without go
ing conspicuously into the open heios Oh
labor.
The idea il said TO have originated with
Mrs. Frederick Vanderbilt. who belongs
to a circle Of Kings Daughters AZ New
port, and who desired to assist one OF
her circle without I'm any way offering
charity
Take this pair OF canary BIRDS" said
she. "and raise little nest OF them. Next
summer / can sell them for you at
good price"
The Kings Daughter so the story goes
not only raised a NEST OF birds. out
taught them to perform little tricks as
well. so that when summer came they
were trick-birds ready to eat out OF ones
hand. or swing upon a broom-splint, or
come out OF their cages and sing when
hidden. They would even wear uniforms
and chirp vigorously when told to
speak
These accomplished creatures brought
such an excellent price that II encouraged
the young trainer TO try for another sea-
sons sale with more birds and more ac-
complishments
Far UP town there is a little bird
farm" II isn't very large-just one fair
sized square room-but 1t Is filled with
chrping families Of yellow songsters; and
II all goes well there will be many an
accomplished canary bird introduced into
the families Of New York sweldom this
winter; it Is only wealthy people who can
afford the luxury OF these exclusively
raised birds.
THE CANARY FAD.
1t Is as present fad among rich New
Workers. to own pet canaries. They go
to a deal OF trouble about IT, and when
ever they hear of one very accomplished,
they want To adj II to their collection.
as stamp-collectors want new stamps or
autograph-hunters try for rare sigma
ture.
The people who own fine canaries are
numerous, and II you walk up Fifth ave
nue. you will see birds in their gold cages
az boudoir windows; ana even hopping
free about the Conservatives, perching
upon the plants and pecking at the
flowers.
Miss Grace Dodge has fine canaries: so
have the Gould children; and the Sloane
Shepard Nanderbilt-StOkes cousins have
whole windows filled with them. and carry
their birds away for the summer, bring
ing them back to town again in winter
one Of the prettiest canaries In this
country belongs to little Ruth Cleveland.
who has her pet hung in the nursery
window. In the front upper corner Of
tho White HNn-a MI fy
beautiful singer. and such an active. am
bilious little creature that the Presidents
wife has had 10 shirr a piece Of white
Swiss muslin across the lower part of
the cage 10 keep him from flirting his
seed far and wide. Before the windows
were closed for the winter. he scattered
II down upon the White House veranda
and upon the heads of visitors in the
most impolite way imaginable
Another exquisite bird belongs to Chief
Justice Fuller, Of Washington. Still an
other was purchased by Madame Patti
who dearly loves brds--to 20 with her
across the ocean over to the castle In
Wales TO be company for the famous
Polly Patti, pet Of which every one has
heard
In New York there is a bird store that
weekly sends its agents thu rounds Of the
fashionable quarters Of the city for bird
orders. but all this Is irrespective of the
fad for raising them for private sale.
CANARY CULTURE
There are learned treatises on the raising
of canary birds. but as ttesc m, Dive
more or less expense, and presuppose the
existence OF a great deal of space for the
business, few words on bird culture as
carried on by the young women who are
% tariper tn fachfan.kta H.,
| available.
None Of these have bird-houses. The
most that any one has is the light sunny
! room possessed by the Kings Daughter
whose apartment Is not over twelve feet
square. yet who manages to raise a grea,
many birds.
The food Is bread crumbs. hard-boiled
| eggs crumbled to powder, and chopped
| celery and onion. mixed sometimes with
little boiled bird-seed This Is given 10
the young birds until they begin TO fly
and look out for themselves; and then
! they have the regular bird seed with two
or three hemp seeds a day, and little
sand to sharpen their feet upon, and as
! an aid TO digestion.
! As soon as they are fully matured their
food Is varied Some days they have the
/ pleasure OF pecking for an hour upon a
! FIfIOuttb Oiiiol hbdll tttN nave u taste
| of lettuce, with always a third OF ap-
/ pie twice a week for a general tonic.
Birds treated TO this variety become
very strong and are more intelligent: they
| really seem TO learn discrimination along
/ with a variety in food.
/ Canary birds mate early and are very
| faithful companions for the season.
II is generally necessary TO partition of
the separate families. giving each about
| three square feet OF space. or they Will
! not thrive we'll.
When the mother bird Is sitting 1t is
we'll to keep a supply Of egg always
around; ard also water for fresh bath
in case she should be attacked with the
bathing vagary when no one Is near. IL
is not difficult TO cause a mother canary
10 desert her eggs, and every inducemen'
has TO be offered TO make the business OF
| matching varied and agreeable.
When the young birds appear. 1t may
be necessary to partition of the father
bird with a wire screen where he can
see his family, but not reach them, as
very often he Is mischleyous and VIII
make havoc of the nestlings. picking them
TO pieces, apparently for the pleasure oil
3 doing something unusual and without any
I malice toward them.
Later, when he rejoins his family a
/ little dish OF fresh dirt may be placed IN
the cage, and all will enjoy the bugs
and will feast upon things not discerna'
1 Bile TO any but a canary bird.
AS the FANNY grows many httle sur
prises may be planned. baking pan may
be filed with earth and scattered WIZ
grass seed When the seed Is sprouted
I little supports may be stuck In the grouhc
and a canopy OF mosquito netting placed
over the pan a few inches high. Inc
this green park family may go Tor q
few hours recreation to be replaced OS
another family next day.
Such care. with avoidance OF draushts
and plenty of sand and fresh water aHore
all that is needed for successful canary
bird culture even II carried on upon
large scale.
PROFITS.
To raise a bird from the egg taxes less
than eight months, at which time NJ
will begin TO sing, and De marhetaoie
and his cost will have been small, al
Sor the first months II Is not calculabl'
at all. go ,
birds thus "handraised." are superior
IN others. and readily bring s.. as tbs
lowest sum, while they have mounted vi
IN five times five II taught tricks Cam
he has