The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-07-15
OSTRICH FARM.
A Picturesque and Profitable In
dustry in Florida.
The Eggs Of The Big Birds Fetch
Twenty-Five Dollars Apiece.

he was in Atlanta, bought fifteen os-
triches, seven females and eight males,
and carried them to his Indian river
home.
This wns the initial move toward
the establishment of this most pictur-
esque and profitable industry in the
South. The ostriches soon became ac-
climated and are now as happy and
thrifty n colony as one would wish to
see. Thirteen of the birds we're raised
on farm in southern California, and
the other two were raised in South
Africa and were imported to this
country. The hens have been laying
since early last spring and foriy-two
eggs are now Matching.
Major Tiflin uses an ordinary chicken
incubator for Matching, and just forty
two days are required to hatch an
ostrich egg. A number of eggs are
being hutched by the hens in the
nests.
The incubator is heated by n kero-
sene lamp with thermometer attach
ment. A temperature of 40 degrees
will kill the eggs, and an electric bell
contrivance warns major Tiflin in his
house of any undue rise in the tenn
perature. "Mineral WOOL" a compo-
sition of Stag and other rocks, is used
as packing around the eggs. The
vitreous substance is converted into
fibrous condition for this purpose. In
appearance it consists of innumerable
tiny air cells formed by the inter-
twining of the fibres.
The birds are separated by pairs,
each pair or family requiring n half
acre run. The runs or lots are pro-
vided with plenty of gravel, dry sand
and grain food. A hose furnishes cool
and fresh water for the pool and stall
in each run.
The gravel was secured in Atlanta.
The ostrich house is round structure,
sixty feet in diameter, and is located
in the centre of the ten-ncre farm.
r, dating from the centre of the house
are sixteen stalls extending to the limit
of the enclosure, giving each bird
room to itself, the sixteenth stall ex-
tend ing into the house yard Of major
Tiffin and serving for an avenue into
the ostrich domain. In the very CEN
ter of the ostrich house, under large
central draueht shaft, is a circular cham
Der, with doors opening into each stall
thus affording n means of transference
from one stall to another without CO.
ing outside of the incosure, and
through which the ostriches may be
changed at will. A three.foot open
ing extends along the walls Isar the
caves. A similar opening is left in
the cupola, and these openings will be
screened with fine netting. The house
entrance to each stall is closed by
heavy door, thus shutting up the os-
triches at night and keeping the mos
quitoes ont. The ostriches are per-
mitted to run during the day, and at
night they are confined to their rooms
for repose. A female ostrich begins
laying usually when she is five years
old, laying after that period during
each year exactly 80 eggs, weighing
"a ounces each. These eggs sell for
$50 apiece anywhere in the world that
there is market for them. Thus,
after hen reaches her fifth birthday
she earns by her laying 81, 900 year,
as much as railway clerk or as
much as some bank cashiers-to say
nothing of a newspaper correspond
ent's earnings.
This is not all the earning capacity
OF this famous bird, for the ostrich
feather is always sold at good prices.
The fertilizer that is obtained from an
ostrich farm is very valuable, and
major Tifiin will hereafter use it ex.
clusively on his extensive farm.
Major Tifiin will soon begin the train
ing of two of his ostriches to draw
cart on his farm. In Africa ostriches
are frequently put to such use, and
the same is done in California to some
extent Of late. The ostrich is very
strong, standing from five to six feet
high, and is sometimes vicious and un.
manageable. A careful and experienced
trainer soon gets even the most vi
cious of the birds in control, after
which the birds become much attached
to the keeper. Atlanta Constitution.
New WOman's Year.