Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-05-17
Pheasant Farm
Near Silverton
Is Big Success

- Aa a. oSnsou became VIC
tim of ridicule by many people in this
community when he started a nheas-
ant farm at his place one mile west of
this city. starting with twelve nheas.
ants purchased from the state sama
farm at Corvallis but today his indps-
try is attracting the attention of peo-
pie from the four corners of the UniA
ted States, Canada and Mexico. He
has established a business even beyono
his own expectstions, and it all devel.
oped from the encouragement given nv
that famous game lover, Homer Dav-
enport. and ]. X. Mount, who always
maintained that the game farm could
be successfully conducted in this val
ley.
Homer Davenport. shortly before
his death. had one of the largest game
farms in the world. situated in New
Jersey. which was stocked with pheas-
ants originating on farm in the Wal
do Hills. Mr., Mount was the first in
Sflverton to undertake the business
and he had developed quite an extern
sfve flock OF birds when he was Obliged
to abandon the industry on account OF
other business matters. But he urged
Mr.. Benson to pursue the vocation,
which he did. Amid discouragements
by numerous people who had tried and
failed in the undertaking. and who
knew it to be impossible" Carl saw
future for the wild game farm which
he had long dreamed of, and by care
full study and persistency he has been
remarkably successful
The place is widely known as Ben
sons Pheasant Farm and is located on
what is commonly called the Poor
Farm" road between this city and Sa-
lem. The pens cover about seven
acres of land, and the equipment has
been constructed at cost of $40, 900.
This year Mr.. Benson expects to raise
$500 pheasants for the market. At
present he has about three hundred
matured birds. Five hundred Near
Bantam hens are covering 1909 pheas-
ant eggs and brooding about 1000 lit
tie pheasants. OF these there are two
varieties. Ringneck and Mongolia
pheasants. Next year he expects to
add wild turkeys, grouse and perhaps
native quail to his flocks. Experience,
he says, has taught him that hen
Matched pheasants are stronger and
better than incubator Matched birds,
and far more successfully brooded.
Pheasants require much more care
than chicks, because they do not seem
to understand the call nor manner of
their foster mother and unless watch
ed carefully will leave her and finally
die. And they also require more care
full feeding. To a novice Mr.. Benson's
process of making natural food for the
infant birds is truly interesting. larvae
he says, is the only successful food for
the young birds, and away back in an
obscure corner of his farm he has con-
structed what he calls the ely barn"
where larvae is daily produced by the
bushels. Fruit growers, said Mr.. Ben.
son, are not the only ones to suffer
from the cold last winter and in spir-
it Of humor he remarked that many of
his choicest green backs" died from
exposure. In the early part of the
season he found it difficult to manu-
facture larvae, hut the warm days OF
the present are favorable for the pro-
duction and his choice herd of flies
are working over time. To verify the
statement he exhibited many bushels
of insects in the prepared state.
The farm is equipped to Aanufac-
ture the crates and supplies necessary,
grind bones, chop foods and every !
thing is successfully accomplished at |
home.
Last fall Mr.. Benson shipped 1000 |
birds to eastern states and about four
hundred In Oregon. Daily he receives
orders for birds and eggs but will not
be able to fill the orders this season
that he has already booked. This gives
of an idea as to how well he
has succeeded in the vocation
An Airdale hound acts as guard
over the flock of birds and seems to
think that is her only mission few
nights ago the animal was making
terrible.protest at an outer gate. Soon
she returned to the house. said Mr.
Benson, with piece of cloth in her
mouth, which he had apparently re-
moved from the seat of some fellows
trousers. He remembered seeing a
man wearing pair of pants made Of
cloth Of corresponding color, hat the
fellow may only have been looking at
he birds. mo, the boys don't steal
said Carl, they all know
he hound" The dog need not dis
visitors, however. They are
treated with courtesy and Mr. Benson
finds pleasure in explaining the mer-