CHAPTER VI. 



THE PROFITS FROM OSTRICHES. 



What return do birds give on the capital invested ? This 

 would be the first question asked by any one thinking 

 of going in for farming. It is a question very few even 

 of those that have been at it some years could answer, 

 and of which the public have the most wild ideas, or 

 else the promoters of the joint-stock companies that 

 have been lately started in all directions would never 

 have the barefacedness to advertise prospectuses pro- 

 mising the public from 40 to 100 per cent, per annum 

 on their investment ; including in this even the capital 

 sunk in land, buildings, dams. &c. &c., which give no 

 direct return, and which in England would represent 

 the landlord's investment, and which is subject to scarcely 

 any risk^ the fencing, buildings, wagons, &c., being the 

 only part subject to natural decay. A return on the 

 whole of this part of the capital of 15 per cent, per 

 annum would be a good return. 



Now where the private individual or company com- 

 bine both ownership and occupation, it may be taken 

 that the dead capital, z.e., that which will give no direct 



