Year: 1878

men on nOfseDack; put of late years the demand for the feathers of these birds has elevated the breeding and raising of ostriches to the position of one of the great industries of Southern Africa. Ten years ago a gentleman named Doug lass, residing near Grahamstown, in Cape Colony, conceived the project of what is now know as ostrich-farming. Having experimented with a few wild birds, and found that they would lay in confinement, he next set to work to de- wise some method of artificial matching. For three years he met with but little success, but finally he invented the pa- tent incubator, since when he has pross- cuted his scheme ill manner that has made him famous.

 By means of the incubator the eleven birds with which the experiment was first tried have been increased to 900, and these being scattered throughout the district, have made ostrich farming nearly as popular among the residents of Cape Colony as diamond mining or sheep-raising. The farm of MT. Doug lass is situated short distance from Grahamstown, and occupies about 1, 200 acres of rough ground, formerly devoted to wool-growing. The country around was, until within a short period, used as sheep walks, but certain deterioration in the grasses rendered it improbable for such purposes. The quality is yet, however, sufficiently good to satisfy the ostrich-a much less fastidious creature than sheep.

 There are at present on the farm about 300 birds, which are allowed to run in large enclosures. One of these is 5000 acres in size, and has within 1t troop of 240 birds. Once a week they are all hunted up by men on horseback, armed with large boughs of thorn to keep the birds of, as many are very savage. and their kick is dangerous. One man goes in front, with pack-horse loaded with Indian corn, to lead them. The farm it. self IS divided into paddocks, and, with those which are breeding, one cock with two hens occupies each paddock. The young birds-for they do not breed till they are three years old-or those which are not paired, run ill fiocks of thirty or forty each. They are subject to dis eases which, of course, require atten- tion, and are apt to damage themselves, sometimes breaking their own bones and getting themselves caught in the wire fences. Otherwise they are hardy crea- lures, which can stand much heat and cold, can do for long periods without water, require no delicate feeding, and give, at existing prices, ample returns for the care bestowed upon them.

 The first necessity in artificial ostrich matching is to procure the eggs. For this purpose the farmer provides himself with an assortment of dummy eggs, con- sisting of egg shells blown and filled with sand. By means of these he is usu- ally successful ln alluring the hens to lay. The birds are so large and the land is so open that there is little difficulty in watching their man9uvres and obtain ing the eggs as soon as they are in ex- istence. AS each egg is worth from $2O to $25, there will in course of time be naturally much temptation to theft. As yet, however, there is no market for the reception of the stolen goods, and to steal an ostrich egg with no means for matching it would be useless piece of dishonesty.

 The incubator is rather an awkward piece of pine furniture, some eight or nine feet long, and standing on four legs. At each end there are two drawers. The eggs are first covered with some arrange ment of flannel, and are then laid in the drawers, the latter being connected with n screwing apparatus, by means of which they are raised or lowered to the extent of two or three inches. Above the drawers, and extending over the whole of the upper part of the machine, is tank filled with hot water. Each drawer, which contains about fifteen eggs, when filled and closed, is screwed up so as to bring the side of the egg in contact with the tank. In this way the necessary warmth is applied. Below the machine and in the centre of 1t lamps are placed, which keep the temperature of the water up to the right degree. The incubating as not to be affected by change of wealth CT. Here several incubators are at work. The work of matching the eggs is most complicated, and requires not only care but capacity for tracing results, which is by no means common gift. The ostrich turns her egg frequently so that each side of it may receive due attention. The ostrich farmer must, therefore, turn his eggs. This he does about three times day. A certain amount of moisture IS required, as in nature moisture exudes from the sitting bird. The heat must be moderated according to circumstances or the yolk becomes glue and the young bird is choked. Again, when the mo- ment arrives at which the young ostrich is ready to emerge from its shell 1t is frequently necessary to assist in this difficult performance. After they are introduced into the world the young os- triches require the most tender care. Deprived. of the attentions of their nat ural guardian, it becomes necessary to replace her by substitute, who is usual ly chosen from among the coolies con- nected with the farm. To each lot of about thirty birds man is told off, who from sunrise to sunset goes about in the lucern fields with them, cutting up the lucern for them, or breaking bones for them, and finding them gravel and water.