Historical Sketch of Farming in Albany. 271 



In 1866 lieaitwater first appeared among the Hocks of Bathurst 

 and Lower Albany, which in a few 3'edrs caused such ravages among 

 the sheep that tliese parts of the country became quite denuded of 

 sheep, and up to the present day they liave been abandoned as slieep 

 runs, and it is only now, in the central parts of Albany, that farmers, 

 by resorting to constant dipping and dosing, are able to farm witli 

 sheep with any tlegree of success. This diminution of sheep in Albany 

 is greatly to be deplored, for it is a recognised fact now that some of 

 the finest, if not the best, wool that reaches the London market is 

 grown in the Albany district. 



Some of the leading farmers have improved their breed of sheep 

 by importing from Australia and Tasmania, which has greatly helped 

 to bring the wool industry up to its present standard. 



After the diamond mines were opened in 1870-71 there was a 

 large carrying trade conmienced, and many of the Albany farmers 

 turned their attention to transport riding, and during the good times 

 made as much as £100 per wagon from Port Elizabeth to the Fields, the 

 journey then, to and fro, taking them about three months, and some 

 of them who understood their business made considerable sums of 

 money ; but their farming operations suffered in consetjuence, and in 

 some instances were totally neglected. 



Just at this time farming was at a very low ebb ; everything was 

 extremely cheap and prices did not improve until the railways were 

 constructed, which enabled farmers to send their produce to the various 

 large markets. 



When things were just at their worst, in 1875, ostrich farming 

 (which was practically started by the late Hon. Arthur Douglass) came 

 to the rescue of the Albany farmers, and by 1880 the industry was 

 considered at its best — pairs of birds realising £200, and chicks a few 

 days old as high as £10. Feathers were very high, and I saw primes 

 sold at £100 per lb on the Grahamstown market. 



This state of things induced a mania for ostrich farming. Com- 

 panies were formed in every town and village, and the talk was nothing 

 but ostriches. 



Man}' farmers sold their wagons and oxen and bought birds, 

 which were rushed on to the market from the Oudtshoorn district, and 

 sold at fabulous prices. They were put up in pairs, some of which 

 turned out to be pairs of cocks, much to the disgust of the owners, 

 who found out the fraud when the birds moulted. 



In a few years the ostricli industry was overdone, chicks were 

 hatched out by the incubators by thousands, but tliousands died during 

 the drought of 1883-84 of a virulent fever. 



In the early days of ostrich farming the ({uality of the bird was 

 not so much considered ; for as long as it was healthy it was all right ; 

 but when birds began to increase to such an extent and the produc- 

 tion of feathers was almost glutting the market with an indifferent 

 class, the more intelligent farmei-s turned their attention to the im- 

 provement of the (juality of their feathers, by selecting the very 

 best birds as breeders ; and those farmers have held their own right 



