The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-12
Ostrich Farm Described BY a
Former Mankato Lady.
Lovely PIumage Is of Great
Commercial Value.
Mother Kills Young When They
Do Not Obey.
Little Chicks Are Very Pretty
and Interesting.
From Tuesdays Daily.

| From Tuesdays Daily.
Miss Alice Davis of Oakland, Cali
fornia, once resident of Mankato, and
formerly a teacher in the Garfield school
at Minneapolis, writes to The Free
Press as follows, concerning her trip to
an ostrich farm:
"The day was perfect and after the
heavy rain, the grass was green and
glossy.
"The Japanese ounce was decked in
pink, the almond in delicate pink, and
white and the pear, peach and cherry all
arrayed in pure white, reminded a MIN
nesotaian of pure white snow.
"The distant blue mountains standing
so majestically, were ever adding to the
landscape and helping to uplift the
ideals of the admirer.
"But here amid all that was beauti-
ful. the poor ostriches were closed in by
an exceedingly high fence, in order to
keep the passers by from getting a
glimpse of them. After paying small
fee we were allowed to enter.
"The ostriches' eyes were large, pleas
ing and the only attraction about them,
until suddenly they decided to run
across the field and then the beautiful
feathers of commerce concealed under
their wings were the attraction. How
graceful they appeared even with those
ungainly feet
"The male bird was glossy black and
the long beautiful feathers under his
wings pure white. The contrast was
very decidedly pleasing. His wings when
spread looked like fan, the most
handsome you have ever seen. The fe-
male mad grayish brown feathers, but
resembled the male in all other respects.
The body was egg shaped covered with
short feathers and balanced upon long
bare gray legs. The head was hattened
and poised on long, sinuOus neck, on
which was growth of gray down. The
neck was covered in various positions to
suit the within or convenience OF the
bird.
..The neck seemed to be constantly In
motion and our party enjoyed watching
them eat their finely cut green alfalfa
so much, as it descended that long neck
that the ostrich farmer gave them an
orange which was swallowed whole.
"Then we were taken to see the little
chicks. We had in mind the story of
the Ugly Duckling, by Anderson but
were agreeably surprised, for they were
very pretty. Such fringy little balls
stripped in tan and brown. Their heads
and necks were covered with down
Their mother was not allowed to care
for them, for she didn't appreciate theil
value, and killed them if they didn't
obey her.. They grow very fast, foot
a month In seven months they are
full grown. They weigh about three
hundred pounds. When only week ole
they are worth twenty dollars
apiece and when four years, two hun
bred and fifty dollars apiece.
each ostrich furnishes the farmer
with crop of feathers every eight
months. On a perfect bird are foun(
: twenty four feathers under each wing
Five of these perfect feathers are serv
{ ed together to make one plume.
, "Next we were taken to see the os
r trich eggs. They were from seven t.
| eight inches long and from three t.
| four inches wide and weighed three tt
, four pounds. The nest was only a yer.
' shallow hole in the ground. 1t hat
D eighteen eggs in it. The mother bir'
y had now set twelve of her forty days
e The farmer told us that at night, sh
: was relieved by the faithful male bird
She had no fear of being deserted TO
the ostriches choose their own mate
and are forever loyal to their frs
choice.
d lastly we went in to see full lin
of the most luxurious and fasnionabl
: articles which can be worn. The full
and fluffy ostrich boas were beautie
and the fans were exquisite. The plume
of all shades varied in length from six
teen to twentyfour inches and in prize
from three and onehalf dollars to foul
teen dollars.
1--WE were shown the difference be
tween a poor and good feather. TIL
quality and thickness of the bards give
the feather its value.
Eve all felt fully repaid for our tri
and wink wnen we purchase feathers j
the future, we will be more intelligen
customers"