PKEPARING THE FEATHERS FOE MARKET. 85 



hand, and presses on the top of the bunch with the 

 other ; if there is a broken feather in the bunch it is 

 at once felt. 



Every Ostrich-farmer should weigh his feathers 

 before sending them to market. He can buy agate 

 beam scales, including a set of weights, for £2, which 

 a single feather will turn. The weights, however, must 

 be assized, as there is no depending on them as sold. 



The sorter should avoid making an unnecessary 

 number of lots, as each lot has to turn the scale, 

 causing a loss in many lots of nearly a quarter of an 

 ounce. 



FEATHER WASHING. 



This is a very simple process, and can be done by 

 the black women, but it requires careful supervision. 

 Have two baths, put in a little washing-soda, shred 

 into the one about a quarter of a pound of soap, and 

 pour boiling water upon it, stirring until it is dissolved, 

 to make a strong lather ; in the other bath put half the 

 quantity of soap, to make a weaker lather. When the 

 hand can be borne comfortably in the water, take a 

 few feathers and rub them well with the hand against 

 the side of the bath, taking care to rub towards the tip 

 of the feather. When the dirt is pretty well out, wash 

 them in the same way in the second bath, then plunge 



