The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-05-17
MAKING FEATHERS GROW.
How Japan's Long Tailed Fowls Are
Fed and Coaxed For Results.

Fed and Coaxed For Results.
That the long tailed fowl was early
in Japan is credible from the legend,
evidently of abysmal antiquity, Of
ANA Terasu, the sun goddess, who,
having retired into 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 pheasant
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
leaf blade Of the mystical bamboo.
1t is known that in many kinds Of
birds certain feathers continue to grow
all birds it happens occasionally that
a feather may be molted at an irregu-
lar time. Accordingly it follows that
if fowls can be secured which are IT.
regular in the period Of molting, let US
say, the tail feathers, these will con-
tinue to grow longer for the reason
that they have had a longer time in
which to grow. From this beginning
it is now possible to infer that by q
process of carefully selecting and
breeding from these fowls in which
the molting season Is suppressed in
certain parts of the body it would be
possible to obtain a 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 un-
necessary chances Of breaking the con-
stantly growing feathers. Thus I learn
ed from the fanciers at Tosa that it IS
customary to confine the birds in rela-
lively small cages s-u to feee lem
often and with peculiar food. Details
Of the latter 1 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. I fancy.
though, that any kind Of poultry food
may be used. But in this regard one
is cautious in drawing a 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 a peculiar
fish. And canary birds are given a red
dish color under special conditions, as
by the fanciers in the Harz mountains.
In many cases, in order to avoid ac-
cident to the long feathers, each fam
cier finds it, I am told, convenient to
coil up the longest feathers and wrap
and tie them carefully in soft paper.
so that the bird runs q minimum
chance Of breaking them. High perches
are emphatically advocated. I 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
not possible for it to shift its position.
In this cramped way, with the tail
hanging down behind, bird is said to
be kept penned up miserably for Pc
riods Of months. Certain it is that IN
der favorable conditions the growth Of
the tail feathers can be forced by the
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
a gradual molting Of these long feath-
ers takes place. On the other hand,
molting is more apt to be suppressed
by the unwholesome living Of bird
during the process of overfeeding. If,
accordingly, cock whose tail feathers
are Of the normal maximum length Is
taken in training by skilled fancier,
he can, am told, stimulate a growth
in these feathers at the rate of about
six inches per month.-Professor Basll-
ford Dean in Century.