The Pheasant. —America's 100-Acre Farm.—

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 76

The Pheasant. —America's 100-Acre Farm.—

Artificial breeding of pheasants and the stocking of coverts with birds that are quite tame is a recognised industry in this country. But it comes somewhat as a surprise to find America claiming that it has the largest pheasant farm in the world, and that too, within a few miles of Chicago. A High School hoy, named Evans, started the farm to fill up his spare time, but js now making » laig© . income from ■4t. —A New Industry for America.—

The 100-acre farm which is devoted" to the~ culture of the English pheasant and many other varieties of choice game birds is situated near the banks of the Desplaines, and part of it is still covered with the primeval forests which formerly extended over all Chicago. That tfie cultivation A \ the English pheasant in America is destined to become an important industry is apparent from the /interest which has been taken in the experiment of Mr Evans from its inception. The English pheasant is known to be the wildest of game birds, and the particular demand for it m America, is for the purpose of stocking private preserves, as is done here, in Belgium and Germany. In the last two" years the interest in the English pheasant has grown to such an extent that the Game Commissioner o r Illinois has been experimenting with the birds, and two game - farms are maintained where pheasants are raised to be liberated later for the benefit of the sportsmen of Illinois. / —Difficulties of a Breeder.— The entire farm is surrounded with aj fence of fine wire netting to prevent the birds from getting out into the surrounding country, and to prevent predatory animals such as minks, raccoons, rats, etc., from getting in and destroying the valuable birds. Mr Evans is obliged to wage a continual warfare against these animals, for one mink getting within the enclosure would kill 50 or 60 birds in a night. A visit to the farm of Mr Evans proved both interesting and instructive. leading the way across the creek and over a. bridge, Mr Evans opened a gate which led into the field where the pheasants themselves were kept. He has in all about 4000 young English pheasants, and 2000' Silvers, Beeves, Goldens, Amhersls, and Yersi^solours. The young English pheasants are. kept in a. 'field which occupies fully 15 acres. It was the hour_ for feeding the English pheasants, and the sight as Mr Evans summoned them towards him was nev..-r to be forgotten. From ever.y corner and in every part of the stubbly field, fronr down beneath the brown dried grass the birds appeared. _ There must have been fully 160'j of them advancing-'towards thd feeder, a mass of brown atoms. Some of the young cocks showed pust a hint_ of the gorgeou* plumage ■ which they will sport whea they have passed their period of adolescence.

— Work for Women. —

Women seem to have a better knack of handling young and delicate creatures thah ■men, and one who takes naturally to poultry could raise at, least 50 pheasants on the first season's trial with no greater a percentage of loss" than she would have with fancy chickenß. Anyone who has a liking for game bir_ds could start to .breed th»«e birds on a small scale and with a good chance of success. The smaller the number the less liability to disease there is; tho chance? are much better for a few Dir'Js to find the kind of subsistence they netd. As soon as the birds begin to be numerous the selling should commence. It does u>.t require a large space to rear- pheasants. A small covey ia confinement can be reared in a few hundred feet of land. — P.T.O.