December, 19 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



A bunch of saffron blossoms in a copper 

 bowl is beautiful enough to attract the most 

 fastidious. The thistle-like flowers hold all 

 of the shades of yellow from the deep 

 orange red to the lightest shades. They 

 keep a long time in water and are satisfac- 

 tory in all ways. 



Two other things are an addition to any 

 flower garden : One is the white snake root 

 (Eupatorium). It grows wild in abundance 

 near here in most places and takes kindly to 

 civilization, and it is especially desirable 

 since it grows and blossoms well in shady 

 places. It is very good for cutting and 

 makes a nice border and is a most effective 

 background for salvia as it blooms at the 

 same time. 



Another plant that we find along the river 

 is the False Dragon Head (Physostegia). 

 This, too, is a splendid garden plant three 

 to four feet high. It bears spikes of bright 

 but soft pink tubular flowers that some- 

 what resemble immense heather blossoms. 



OSTRICHES IN THE UNITED 

 STATES 



ACCORDING to data contained in the 

 speech of Congressman Carl Hayden, 

 of Arizona, in the House of Representatives 

 February 7, 1913, the first ostriches were 

 brought into the United States in 1882. In 

 that year Dr. Charles J. Sketchley started 

 from South Africa with two hundred birds, 

 but only twenty-two survived the journey. 

 These birds were taken to southern Cali- 

 fornia, and the first American chick was 

 hatched on July 28, 1883. In 1884 Mr. E. J. 

 Johnson arrived in San Diego with twenty- 

 three birds, and in 1886 Mr. Edward Caws- 

 ton brought in forty- two birds, which he 

 took to Los Angeles, where he now has an 

 ostrich farm. In November, 1884, the Cape 

 Government imposed a duty of $500 on each 

 bird and $25 on each ostrich egg taken out 

 of the colony, but this tax did not discourage 

 Dr. Sketchley, who, in April, 1886, again 

 brought thirty-three birds to the United 

 States. From these four importations have 

 been bred all of the ostriches that are now in 

 this country, with the exception of a few 

 birds, which have been obtained from north- 

 ern Africa to improve the stock. 



The number of ostriches in the United 

 States, according to the census returns, was 

 684 in 1900 and 5,361 in 1910. Their value 

 for 1910 is given at $1,696,140. It is safe to 

 say that at the present time there are 8,000 

 birds in this country, and eighty per cent of 

 them are located in Maricopa County, Ari- 

 zona, where I have the honor to reside. To 

 give you an idea of the comparative import- 

 ance of the industry I will state that in 1911 

 all of the ostriches in Maricopa County were 

 assessed for taxation at $232,000, while all 

 of the horses were assessed at only 

 $248,000, and all of the stock cattle at 

 $242,000. Southern California has the next 

 largest number of ostriches, and there are 

 a few farms in Texas, Arkansas and Flor- 

 ida. 



Including the value of the farms devoted 

 to ostrich farming there are now more than 

 $2,000,000 invested in this industry in the 

 United States. While this amount is not 

 large compared with the other live-stock in- 

 dustries, yet we have just as good a start in 

 the business as they had in South Africa, but 

 there is no reason why we should not pro- 

 duce a large part of the feathers used in 

 America. The industry need not necessarily 

 be confined to the Southwest, because with 

 proper care ostriches can be successfully 

 raised almost anywhere in this country, and 

 particularly in the Southern States. Like 

 chickens, they must be properly protected 

 from cold and dampness. Carl Hagenbeck 



i^>- 



A 



In 



Touch 



With the 



Kitchen 



Without 



Climbing 



Stairs 



You 



can easily imagine the 

 convenience that you would 

 enjoy if you had an Inter-phone in your home. Up-to-date houses 

 are now built with Inter-phones installed instead of speaking - tubes 

 and, fortunately, their simplicity and very moderate cost make 

 them quickly and easily adaptable to any home, old or new. 



Western < Electric 

 Inter-phones 



are made in the factories where all of the Bell Telephones are made. That 

 is sufficient to establish their quality. 



As many different rooms as desired may be connected in one system, but the 

 simplest and perhaps the most used is the con- 

 nection as shown in the pictures — between 

 bedroom and kitchen. This system can be set 

 up in any house by an inexperienced person. 



This outfit, consisting of two Inter-phones with 

 the necessary wire and supplies, with full direc- 

 tions for installing — all packed in a box ready to 

 be set up — can be bought of your dealer at $15. 

 If he cannot supply you, we will ship it direct. 



Perhaps you are not yet convinced that you need Inter- 

 phones in your home. Perhaps you don't realize in how 

 many ways they will save steps for you. Then, by all 

 means, get a copy of the little book we have prepared. 

 This booklet — "The Way of Convenience" — will certainly 

 throw a new light on the problem of housekeeping. It 

 will show you where to begin to apply scientific manage- 

 ment in your home. Get a copy. Ask for book29-Z. 

 It's free for the asking. 



WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY 



Manufacturers of the 7,500,000 "Bell" Telephones 



Main Office: 463 West Street, New York City. Branch Offices: 



All Principal Cities of the United States and Canada. 



Agents Everywhere. 



m 



THE HEW : 



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The eleventh revised and enlarged edition, just 

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