S51 



SISSON. La Plume 



Skunks occasionally deptroy poultry and eggs in a small way. 

 but subsist principally upon bugrs. worms, ants, etc.. and are a 

 benefit rather than a damage to farmers. The Skunk is one 

 of the farmers' best friends, and should be protected to the 

 fullest extent. He lives largely upon insects that are detrimen- 

 tal to the farmer. The May beetle and its larvae, that are so 

 rapidly becoming destructive to many of our crops, are es- 

 pecial favorites with him, and unless the wholesale trapping 

 and killing of these useful animals is prohibited by stringent 

 legislation, strawberry growing will soon become entirely un- 

 remunerative in many localities, for it is generally believed that 

 if the Skunk could be let alone, he would keep this pest in check 

 to a very great extent. The damage to the potato crop by the 

 white grub is rapidly increasing, and calls loudly for prompt 

 action to suppress this evil. 



In these days of agricultural depression, when new industries 

 are eagerly sought that offer profita;ble results, we would re- 

 commend Skunk farming. It has been demonstrated that these 

 little animals can be grown to an almost unlimited lixtent, and 

 at the same time afford a pleasant and lucrative employment. 

 Our American ladies delight in wearing the excellent fur of 

 these little animal.";, although usually under the assumed name 

 of expensive furs of animals now nearly extinct. The pelt of 

 a black Skunk will bring from $1.50 to $2.00 each, and the oil 

 of a fat Skunk $1.00. They are as prolific as swine; they usually 

 breed twice in a season, and drop from six to twelve at a litter; 

 they are easily domesticated and become as gentle as kittens, 

 and can be handled with impunity, if the tail is used as a han- 

 dle. Unlike our farm stock, they require no feeding in winter; 

 they hibernate, only making their appearance at rare intervals 

 when the weather is mild; their food is refuse meat and bones 

 from the butcher's shop, mush made of wheat bran and cows' 

 milk. When they are ready for slaughter, they are first chloro- 

 formed, and when the oil is extracted they can be fed to the 

 rest of the herd. The Ithaca Fur Company, of Ithaca, N. Y.. 

 have perhaps the most extensive Skunk farm in the United 

 States, situated about seven miles from that city, where sev- 

 eral thousands of these useful animals may be seen at any 

 time during the summer months by those who care to inves- 

 tigate this comparatively new and unique enterprise. 



