180 



YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Jiiva sparrow, gray Java sparrow, cut-throat tinoh, and saffron tincb 

 Some; h3'brids have been produced Ijv breeding canaries with gold 

 iinches, linnets, and other birds, thus securing well-known and greatl| 

 valued nuiles. 



OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICAN I.n'tERPRISE. 



The large and rapidly growing demand for tanaries and other cagel 

 birds that has sprung up in the United States and that is now satisfied 

 by importations from abroad suggests the possibility of establishini 

 the industry of raising birds for market on this side of the Atlantioj 

 It is more than likely that interest in the keeping of cage-birds will 

 continue to spread, and that its growth will lesult in the developmeni 

 of societies, periodicals, annual shows, and othei' features that marls 

 its advance in Europe. Breeding canaries for market brings, as ha4 

 been shown, several hundred thousand dollaraannually to the peasant^ 

 of the Harz Mountains of Germany; canaries of fancy shapes that comj 

 mand high prices are regularly bred in England, Scotland, Belgium, anc 

 other countries; and it is important to note that in nearly every instance 

 the pursuit is carried on as an adjunct to some other occupation. Then 

 is no reason whj' the American market shaiild not be supplied bj 

 American breeders. The need already exists-; imported birds are notj 

 so well adapted to our climate as those raised here, and home product 

 tion would obviate the large losses incident to the ocean voyage. 



Man}' diflBculties must be met. Captive birds are subject to numer- 

 ous diseases and, under the most favorably circumstances, requirel 

 careful treatment. Attention to diet is important, particularly in the! 

 case of soft-billed l)irds, whose food is chiefly insects. Questions of I 

 suitable temperature for aviaries, of securing sufficient open-air exer- 

 cise without undue exposure, of preventing destruction of birds orl 

 their eggs by cage-mates, of inducing birds to breed, and many other! 

 problems constantly tax the patience and skill of the avicultmust; and! 

 owing to climatic differences between Europe and America many of I 

 these questions would doubtless have to be settled anew. 



But American ingenuity and energj' should be able to meet and] 

 overcome all obstacles and establish the business on a paj'ing ba.sis. 

 Due weight should be given the fact that the experiment requires! 

 little capital. It can easily be started at small expense and extended] 

 only as the profits justify extension. The field is a promising one. [ 

 The success attending cage-bird breeding in Europe, the great demand 

 foi- birds as pets in this country revealed by our large importations, 

 the superior value of those bred in America, and the facility with I 

 which the business can be established and inaintained offer strong I 

 inducements to American enterprise. 



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