South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-12

y E OnlIed oLaLeS government Is con-
considering plans to put ostrich on
the everyday menus of everyday
families The intention is to make the ostrich
help out the hen, not only in its task Of pro-
viding white and dark meat, but also in eggs.
To this end an investigation just completed
shows that the average ostrich is the equiva-
lent of IT'S broilers-this includes the long
neck and legs, much of which can be used
for soup-and that one female ostrich will
lay the equivalent of 600 hens eggs per
year.
Furthermore, great parts of our south
western desert region provide ideal places for
ostrich farms. Thus, the Government will
point out in its report, not only can a new
food staple be added, which will bring the
cost of chicken down and with it, It's own
price, but put into use vast stretches of land
which now raise nothing but sand, sage
brush. lizards 'rattlesnakes, bugs, horned
toads and cactus.
Curiously enough, the thing which turned
attention to the real possibilities of the
ostrich was discovery not long ago. of the
egg of a prehistoric ostrich in China. This
egg is now in the American Museum Of
Natural History in New York, and it was
the comparison of its size with the size of
eggs laid by modern ostriches that set the
wheels of inquiry going.
1t was known by scientists that the ancient
eggs were much larger than those of to-day.
But in making the comparisons 1t was dis
covered that while ostriches in the wild state
Law eggs equivalent to 20 hens eggs under
ideal conditions and intensive cultivation,
they have. within twenty years, increased the
size of their eggs to the 5-pOund mark that
is, an equivalent of more than 30 hens eggs.
Furthermore. it was found that under Guilt
walton. in the same time, the birds have in
creased one-third In size and weight
This remarkable response, not only IN
growth of body. but of egg content under
aomesticitv. set the Government experts
thinking OF course. there would be limit
10 growth both of bird and egg, but it seems
that ostriches can be bred double the size
they now are and with truly monstrous eggs.
equivalent to perhaps sc to so of those of the
hen
All this can be done simply by giving them
proper environment-and. as has been said.
the American desert regions offer an ideal
location for their breeding-the taking of
parental care of them, shielding them from
the rigorS IF nature curbing their own ten
denotes OF destroying and manning one an
other u their natural fierce combats, and
supplying them with proper foods.
But what does an ostrich taste lke9 AL
though western cities have been enjoying
ostrich meat on their tables for several years,
the novelty was first introduced In New York
by the large hotels last New Years. EpicureS
voted the meat as superior in flavor to that of
veniSon or turkey.
The female ostrich averages fifteen eggs
annually, the equivalent of $50 hens eggs.
equally delicious as food and equally as
valuable for all culinary purposes The
ostrich as market Supplyer however. pre-
sentS no such possibilities as its keep. like
that of hens or other domestic animals in the
back yard 1t is, like cattle and sheep, an
animal of the ranch. to be grown in herds
and cared for by keepers. The bird thrives
principally upon alfalfa but In addition,
likes vegetables, fruits, etc, where it is pos
sble to get them. In addition, it requires
quantities of ground glass or an equivalent
of gravel which makes for its digestion
The cost of keeping an ostrich is the same as
that of a COW
OstricheS 60 in pairs. the male solennly
taking a wife and keeping her during life
1t should interest the romantic mind to know
that the male courts his choice as regularly
and as lovingly as man is himself supposed
10 do, but without mans materialism of
financial and social demands Thus the mat
ter of keep, cost of keep, foOo supply, mating
and housing are matters of well settled and
established principles.
As to possible waste from the long legs and
neck of the ostrich, there is no concern, since