DOLLARS WASTED IN FEATHERS 



453 



feathers, though very often carefully selected white turkey feath- 

 ers are sold as high as the best grades of goose feathers. The 

 body feathers from white chickens come next to duck feathers, 

 and some grades compare favorably with goose feathers. 



The down and very finest feathers from geese often sell for a 

 dollar a pound, and are used for quilts. The finer body feathers 

 of ducks and chickens are used for pillows, beds, cushions and 

 so on. Tail and wing feathers, those with quills, are used mostly 

 in making dusters and screens; feather boas are made from 



{Courtesy V. S. Dep'l Agriculture) 

 Fig. 288. — Removing small feathers while the birds hang by the feet. 



hackle feathers, or from feathers curled with a hot iron; thou- 

 sands of pounds of feathers are glued together in the forms of 

 wings and breasts in imitation of birds of paradise, which are 

 no longer permitted to be imported, and sold to milliners; and 

 large quantities are used in the manufacture of feather flowers, 

 fans, muffs and toys. For decorative purposes the feathers of 

 peacocks, large turkey feathers and the tail plumage from chick- 

 ens are in great demand. If you stop to think a moment, numer- 

 ous other uses for feathers will present themselves. Feather- 



