182 OSTRICH-FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



many that he must have better buildings for his 

 chicks. 



He has now reached the second great critical time 

 in his affairs : if he can carry himself successfully over 

 it, he is a made man. On the one hand, to track to 

 another farm will throw his stock back, and in every 

 way cause him serious loss ; on the other, to purchase 

 the farm he is on will cause him to incur a very heavy 

 liability ; but if the o^^^ler will sell at anything like a 

 reasonable figure, and give him extended credit, with 

 very little to be paid down, this is his wisest course : if 

 the owner will not sell, he should endeavour to get a 

 suitable farm on a short lease, with right of purchase at 

 a fixed price and fixed terms of payment. In either case 

 he is then in a position to make what improvements are 

 absolutely necessary for the well-being of his stock, but 

 in this he must use the utmost discretion and economy. 

 His position financially is not nearly equal to what it 

 was as a tenant, the transfer dues and first instalment 

 will have walked off with his spare cash, the interest on 

 the unpaid portions will probably be more than what he 

 paid as a rental, and he has the portions of the purchase- 

 money to meet every six months. 



Let him not be too sanguine ; let him bear in mind 

 the chances of change in the commercial barometer ; 

 let him turn over every shilling two or three times 



