New-York tribune., 1900-04-22
"CORNER" IN OSTRICHES.
FARMERS WIFE EXPLAINS COOPER
ATIVE HOUSEKEEPING AS CARRIED
on BY THESE BIRDS.

Phoenix Arz. April 16 (speciaD.-While the av-
erage feminine brain rarely concerns itself with
corners and deals" leaving that for the con-
sideration Of the masculine intelligence the an
nounceraent that there IS a "cCrner" in ostrlches
will doubtless reach vulnerable spot Women
have always been credited with special devotion
10 their bonnets and when not only the picture
hat" but the popular feather boa well is threat-
ened with "a raise" loud will be the lament
For years the majority OF the ostrich feathers
used in this country has been brought from the
Dark Continent. the Importation Of feathers INTO
the United States amounting to S30o,o(l annually
exclusive Of a 30 per cent tariff. Naturally al
present. with the in progress. all of the South
African Industries paralyzed, including ostrich
cultivation.
In the United States there have been four feather
farms-the largest at Phoenix ATtz.; another at
San Antonio Tex; another at Jacksonville, Fla
and a smaller lot at Pasadena, Cal. The last men
toned contained the first ostrches brought 10 the
United States by Edwin Cawston, wealthy En-
gshman who embarked in the business for fun.
Last month resident of Phoenix, who has made
exhaustive study of the ostrich in his native
country and believes that the conditions in the
Salt River Valley Ariz., better for II
than in Africa. consu-1mated a gigantic deal that
has put him e. absolute control of the ostrich IN
dustry of the United States. During the last year
he has expended over 100000 in ostrches, and now
owns all except about hundred. which are kept
purely for show and cannot be bought AT any price
he has. however. made a contract with the pro-
prietors Of these birds under which he VIII nave
the product of all chicks at the of two months
He has purchased 800 acres Of land nine miles be-
low Phoenix the Yuma road. and Is already
moving his birds into it, Ten carloads are on their
way from California, which will bring his stock
up TO nearly eight hundred birds
The farm will be continued under the care OF
r J Icka who has rad large experience with os-
triches in South Africa. Mrs. IcKe, an English
woman. who with her husband IN Africa mas
| also an important snare in the work Of the farm
] h.ra he
little chicks so Mrs. Icke and her children look
after the interests OF the baby ostriches These
run about the dooryard and kitchen door with the
same fearlessness that distinguishes The doWnY
broods OF the hen.
"Ostricbes never seem to get attached to US"
! said Mrs Icle the other day. They VIII follow
whoever feeds them, but as soon as they are grown
they are as treacherous and dangerous as they can
/ be My husband. who has been with them lor
/ wears wouldn't dare go through the paddock Where
/ the older ones are without long pole Ihls mas a
! notch on one end. and when he slips that around
/ the neck the bird cant kick. An ostrich mas ire
rendous power in its legs. and never hesltdles 10
| attack anv one Both of its feet are armed with
/ lorg charm claws capable infiicting fatal
/ wounds The males frequently get 10 hShths To-
/ gether and lacerate each other so severely lndt
! they have be killed.
! The ostriches are pucled every eight months,
/ and though they would wreak no end OF vengeance
/ on one another and the hands engaged in pluck1nS
/ Them if they had the opportunity. the cIoseheSS
| with which they are crowded into the clipping hoX
/ prevents them from using their legs contrary 70
general opinion the process of pucking Is NOT al
All painful In each wing there are usually couple
of dozen long white feathers besides all tAe o2cA
ones Tho feathers clipped with palr ol ctL.'-
ming shears leaving the qullls some Loul VI ~ Z
1 inches long These dry ana IN aoout mum Il
faU C1,r 50 thai there IS really no pain ABOUT IL
"A fter the tpIucking' the feathers have all 10 ne
sorted and rieG up In Africa Il Is OFTEN necessary
10 wash the plunes before sending them 10 MARIE l.
/ the birds there being infested with Fernlh ~ u
these clean alfalfa fields. however there Is ne, suN5'
+ro11hla and the fea theirs sent Just as clppe'
/ All rb4- feathers 10 be curled ana most OF
! rIern coiored before they are ready Tor use ne
ITGite pIures when colored black are really DeIIer
than the natural black A bird yieids ahI1udI!s
( bour $50 in feathers. the pumes selling reauLy ~
Eastern cities at from 30 10 80 d Pouhu' d tii~
that returns large pronts. -.
CONTRARY the experience or FARMERS III ALIlctt,
whore Ine cstriches suffer from many mysterious
ills the birds here thr1Te without any
! more ca re than one would give 4 hen- IheE get
! their own living off the alfalfa in the paddocKs'
/ though they at all averse TO fruil OF pep-
/ bleS. .,---. Won 70
There are some Of ostrich life that are eX-
/ trenely interesting. AS race they are monog-
/ ar1iets C)uarreS there frequently 10 the
death but the survivor, It is claimed, never selects
| "A hole is kicked in the sand, and here Madame
! Ostrich LAYS eggs which average three POUNDS ~
| weight When the gets comfortably tu!i OF
| eggs-a dozen fifteen being the usual number
| the incubation begins The male bird takes upon
| tinues forty-two days He assumes the care OF the