FORTUNE FROM FEATHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 5 (Supplement)

FORTUNE FROM FEATHERS.

The development of the ostrich-rearing industry in South Africa is being regarded with the greatest satisfaction by people in other countries interested in the business. There is scarcely a homestead in South Africa where one will not hear people talking of the profits of ostrich farming, and there is no doubt that judicious investment in this business is productive of sound profit. In • twelve months 547,7091bs of ostrich feathers, valued at £1,500,000, was exported from South Africa, and these figures are steadily rising.

As a matter of fact, this really wonderful export industry has been the cause of the distribution of upwards oi two million pounds among the population of the Cape. And even though the output is still increasing aid promises to increase at an even greater rate later, this marvellous market still bears up, says the East Africa Standard. The ostrich-rearing industry has established hundreds, even thousands, of persons on the land who could never have succeeded without its aid, for ostriches can be reared on pasturage and naturalized veldt which would be quite insufficient for cattle. And the difference between driving live stock to market, across mountains and plains, is vast when compared with the fact that a year's crop of feathers from an ordinary holding can be taken out in a Cape cart drawn by a pair of horses. According to the latest results which have been obtained, it appears that a good plucking bird fed on lucerne can generally be depended upon for three crops of feathers in two years, and as an acre of lucerne will easily carry three birds, the profits, say, at £5 to £7 per plucking, are quite sound, taking one seasou with another. And ostrich farmers in South Africa have now acquired such a knowledge of the birds that by judicious selection of mating they are able to • send feathers to market which command very high prices. It is found that birds thrive best, are freest from disease, and give the strongest and richest feathers when subjected to varied food and conditions— is one of the secrets of successful ostrich farming.