The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-08
MILLIONS IN SKUNK FARMING.
An Official Of tho agricultural Department Illus
haiss a Col. Sellers SChsme.

Washington, Sept S.-"There's money
in a skunk farm" said an official Of the
Agricultural Department "and skunk
farming will some day be a great in
dustry i'm this country. There's a bar
rel OF money in the business and yet
the man who suggested IT was regarded
as out OF his head. II does not take a
prolonged and expensive investigation
10 demonstrate rhe truth OF what | as
sart. IL Is not necessary 10 send a lot
of special agents from this department
hehfer-ekelter over the country 10 gath
er facts and figures. Not a bit. All
that is necessary is 10 get one Of the
old-tine fellows who has spent his life
on the farm and In the woods. and who
e. a close observer OF the habits Of
"varmints" and VINO can give all the
information needed.
IAN old fellow of this kind can tell
YOU when the first skunk was dlscOv-
cred on the American continent how
often they have young. how many how
Fast they grow, to what age they live,
and. as / said. tell all that is needed.
From such Information as this b, Is
easy TO figure out the facts you wish.
Coming from such a source there can
be no doubt OF its accuracy.
while thsre are no official Statistics
on record. IL is known that skunks-
the American skunk-wll begin breed
ing alt one year old They breed twice
each year, and have litters of from five
To thirteen. an average OF eight 10 the
litter. II is said that skunks can live
on as little as any known animal, so
there is little expense in raising them.
They are of different disposition to
the coon, squirrel and many other small
animals. in that they cannon be tanned,
and I do not suppose that many people
would care to have one as pet.
There are two distinct species OF the
American skunk-the jet black and the
black and white striped. The latter is
regarded as one OF the most beautiful
creatures OF the animal kingdom. Its
pelt is highly PRICED as II makes the
| preutiest OF muffs wraps and neck
boas The Jet black psh is also highly
| priced, but is not so valuable as the
black and white striped. The pelt OF
the latter can always be sold for one
dollar. The oil from the skunk is worth
fifty cents an ounce, ana Is used in Sc
we're cases OF Group. colds and kindred
diseases The oil does not have the un'
pleasant aroma OF the skunk.
Now. il has been figured out tha
a man who understands skunk farming
can begin on twenty skunks--tifteei
females and FIVE males-and in yer,
few years will have large and health.
bank account. 1t is easy TO calculat
how rapidly Nhese twenty skunks VII
increase in, number. If you begin op
erations ON the farm in The early faI
the skunks will breed in December
Right from the jump estimating the
increase at the rate OF eight to the III
ter, you have an increase of l2O skunks
Well. in June they breed again and a.
the same ratio OF Increase AT the eN'
piration of one and one-half years yol
Will have 7.495 skunks In four years
without m'shap. your skunks viii have
increased To 3.7S0.000.
This is a good big drove of skunks
and VI the petts are worth 81 each. the
pelts OF 200 male skunkS would brlns
I'm open market 5000 and the oil at D
cents an ounce would be worth $500
Then figuring as we did on the increase
OF skunks, at the expiration OF one anf
one half years you could Rll d,iV
! male skunks. the pelts o. which W0ul1
be worth just as many dollars az
skunks killed. The amount OF oil gath
cred from this number of skunks woult
amount TO %. 600 ounces. worth Just Sl4
500. At the expiration OF four year
You would have killed 100000 mal'
skunks. the pelts OF which would bi
worth 81 $50 900 and the oil-l3.l2O.OO
ounces-s7. $50 600 and you would stil
have 100000 skunks left TO cont nu'
business with.
These figures are not az all eXtraVa
giant. and II will not be long befor'
some of our enterpris.ug citizens WI
be embarknng i'm the skunk farmnI
business 7 do not know 81 anytn M
which will produce money faster thai
.RI A. .f H.
takes only a small sum % begin with
III discounts raising five cent cotton %
any other agricultural pursuit that
know of.