Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-07-14
Ostrich Farming in South Africa.

storms. etc, aud later on, when thu
{ chicks are hatched out. TO take them
I away. as the iaCkais and eagles swooT
| Oh with them: Tor as long as the hen hs.
two or three around her the rest can
shit ior themselves 10 is ticklish
work going into camp with the old
] bird on the other side OF the fence wait
! ing TO kick the stulhng out OF you and
one needs 20 have arms with long stout
torked poles; and when Mr. Bird makes
| bis rush. catch him 100 the neck with the
] FORK and brace up II you miss him %
Is the case OF the devil take the hinder.
most They Kick straight ont and down
with lightning rapidty and ID they
catch you fair on the breast with their
formidable claws one stands "a good
show OF being discmbowclcd Is mans
| only salvation IS 10 throw himself lIt
on bis lace. ] did Il once and was
black aud blue Tor a week where DE
brute iramplcd all over me trying to
execute "a fancy step dance. the two
brave henchmcn meanwhile being
petched up Ia tree yelling for help.
low cursed Allan Quaucfmain Tor
bus lies about the faithful devoted
slaves Of the "Umsl0pagas" type. !
never have yet found. nor could I 'dnd. a
man who had met a faithful KaHir when
bis skin was In dangor
The busy time Of course Is In the
plucking season, which Gomez around
every nine months. The birds are All
couaIlcd and wcdgcd Ia tight and
forced one by one into the pluckiug
box, q thick bag being placed over die
head. They then are perfectly still
The long, white wing feathers are cut
on (thc quilts being drawn six weeks
later. Then the tails and breast
feathers are pulled The birds present
n very iOflofn and comicai micn. minus
their adommcnt. Il being as good as a
LARGE comedy 90 hear the ringers guy.
ing and making iacclious remark on
the different birds. which had on various
occasions made then roll their white
eycballs and shin up trees.
Sorting the feathers Is the worst i1b
OF ALL When Il Is finished there are
about fifty different classes and varieties.
each leather being covered with lice
50 much so that sometimes you have 20
bake your clothes 10 De nd ol them.
The life Of an ostrich raiser has
iacinaiion which few other possess. Il
IS iull Of Incident aud adventure. Taking
II from financial standpoint Il Is one
continuous speculation; feathers 10 up
and down with the regularity OF the
stock exchange. Maybe Tor six solid
months there Is not a drop Of ram, and
when Il does come d browns half the
birds out. or the flock may take the
notion OF wandering Of into odd |
Corners and dying aud IL seems
rs though no degree Of care and |
pains eau check their latest lad
II one could halter an ostrich aud lead |
him around and get a vet to prescribe |
md dose him. Il would be different. |
But ny TO catch him, and u you don't |
get him on the first grab he IS just as /
liable as not TO break his neck over the |
nearest wire fence, Occasionally the /
Princess Of Wales will appear with n /
Gather Ia her hair or wear little feather /
then the ladies follow suit, /
md up goes the price OF feathers. The |
isifich farmer comes In from a hunt,
iangs up his gun, picks up his mail,
that good times will soon
come again and promptly buys up all
HE hirus he can lay his hands on
GRo. T.. CARrEsrER.