Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-05-08
] MAKING FEATHERS GROW.

MAKING FEATHERS GROW.
How Japan's Long Tailed Fowls Are
Fed and Coaxed For Results.
That the long tailed fowl was early
In Japan is credible from tile legend,
evidently of abysmaI antiquisssg Of
Anna Terasu, the sun goddess, who,
having retired into a cavern, to the in.
tense discomfort of the world, was
nearly enticed out again BY the crow
ing of a long tailed cock to remind
her, no doubt, that it was her usual
hour to appear. Another somewhat.
ghostly evidence of the antiquity Of
the breed has been cited in the hoo
bird, which was pictured in Japan as
early as the eighth century. This fab
ulous bird resembles both epheasant
and peacock, but it has clearly the tail,
and a very luxuriant one, OF the fowls
of Tosa, in which every feather, as the
poetical Japanese remarks, resembles
q leaf blade of the mystical bamboo.
It is known that in many kinds Of
birds certain feathers continue to grow
until they are lost by melting, and In
all birds It happens occasionally that
a feather may be molted at an frregu-
lar time. Accordingly 1t follows that
II fowls can be secured which are ir-
regular in the period of melting, let us
say, the tail feathers, these will con-
hnue to grow longer for the reason
that they have had q longer time In
which to grow. From this beginning
1t is now possible to infer that by a
process of carefully selecting and,
breeding from these fowls In which
the melting season is suppressed In
certain parts Of the body it would be
possible to obtain variety in which
the tail feathers would be much longer
than in other fowls.
A second but very important part of
the process consists In feeding the bird
to the maximum degree in order to
stimulate the growth Of the feathers
AT the same time the bird should not
be allowed to dissipate its energy by
leading an active life or to run I'M
| necessary chances Of breaking the con-
stantly growing feathers. Thus learn
ed from the fanciers at Tosa that 1t is
customary to confine the birds in rela-
lively small cages and to feed them
often and with peculiar food. Details
| Of the latter was unable to secure,
although certain hints were given me
as to the virtue of boiled unhusked
rice, of an occasional scrap Of eel and
Of diakon (giant radish) leaf. fancy.
though, that any kind of poultry food
may be used. But In this regard one
Is cautious in drawing hard and fast
conclusion, because it is known that
feathers are subject to modification in
various ways dependent upon food.
Thus the color of the feathers Of GER
tain parrots has been strikingly chang
ed by the south sea islanders, who feed
the birds upon the fat Of peculiar
fish. And. canary birds are given red
dish color under special conditions, ais
4 by the fanciers in the Harz mountains.
In many cases, in order to avoid ac-
i Gident to the long feathers, each fan.
cier finds It, I am told, convenient SSto
coil up the longest feathers and wrap
and tie them carefully in soft paper,
SO that the bird runs "a minimum
chance of breaking them. High perches
ares mphatically advocated. / have
been told, not on the best evidence,
/ However, that in some cases the bird is
/ confined in a tight cage, so that it is
mt r,oseihla fors II - 81; 81 ~, ~,
In this cramped way, with the tail
hanging down behind, a bird is said to
/ be kept penned up miserably for pc
RODS of months Certain it is that un-
1 der favorable conditions the growth of
/ the tail feathers can be forced by the
I fancier. Under ordinary conditions o
cock whose tail measures five or six
feet will rarely grow longer feathers,
for, by active life, it is probable that
q gradual Noting of these long feath-
/ ers takes place. On the other hand,
/ mofing is more apt to be suppressed
i by the unwholesome living of a bird
1 during the process Of overlooking. IF,
accordingly, a cock whose tail feathers
i are Of the normal maximum length is
taken in training by skilled fancier,
he can, I am told, stimulate a growth
In these feathers at the rate Of about
istx inches per month Professor Bash
ford Dean in Century.
h. The Coat of Many Pockets.
stDid ever tell you Of the time my
4 friend the tailor gave me clew that
4 enabled me to land one Of the most