OSTRICH FARMING. 
97 
The advertisement enclosed is one by Mr. A. Douglas, 
of Bilton, near Graham’s Town, offering artificial 
hatching machines for sale. The following is Dr. 
o o 
Atherstone’s report : — 
“This new and important branch of industry is 
beginning to attract considerable attention here, and 
deserves the serious consideration of all interested in 
the welfare of the colony. The export of feathers is 
rapidly increasing every year in quantity and value, 
not so much, I believe, from wild feathers, indicative of 
the progressive destruction of the ostrich, as from the 
increase of the domesticated birds and their more 
successful management, by which the feathers at one 
time considered vastly inferior to those of the bird in 
its wild state, are now proved by market value to be 
equal if not superior in quality. I have, myself, seen, 
during the last 18 months, upwards of 500 domesticated 
ostriches in different districts of the colony in the 
Eastern and Western Provinces, under varying con- 
ditions as to soil, climate, and management, some in 
enclosures, some herded in large flocks like sheep, 
without enclosure or shelter of any kind ; and, from my 
own observations and the inquiries I have made, I am 
of opinion that the success of ostrich farming, like that 
of sheep farming, depends more upon the character of 
the veldt (or soil and grazing ground) and diet than 
upon climatic conditions. Exposure to wet and cold 
does not appear to be injurious to birds in full health 
and vigour, but it kills them if weak or out of 
condition. It is advisable, however, to protect them 
by shelter of some kind from the cold rains of winter 
in the domesticated state. The natural home of the 
ostrich and antelope is found in the Karroo plains and 
H 
