102 OSTRICH FARMING. 
a year. In rainy weather they do not even reek the 
slight shelter of the walls, but group themselves in the 
open ground, not appearing to care for cold or wet. 
The rocks, soil, and herbage contain alkalies in abun- 
ance, and the water is brackish, as the name of the 
farm implies. Sheep and Angoras and cattle thrive 
well, and no bones are eaten by the stock ; they lie 
scattered about everywhere. The contrast between 
the farms is very marked, and their comparative fitness 
for ostrich farming. Ostriches require, as a rule, I 
think, ‘ sweetveldt ’ variety of food, and a large extent 
of grazing ground to roam over, to keep them in 
health and vigour.” 
“The Wimmera district, as I am informed by 
Mr. E. J. Dunn, geologist, who is intimately acquainted 
with the district, is ill adapted to the successful 
rearing of ostriches, although when reared they 
may thrive very well with artificial food. Mr. Dunn, 
who has lately travelled a good deal in our 
colony, and knows the peculiarity of our sweet and 
sour veldts, recommends the banks of the Loddon, near 
Baringhup, as better adapted for experimental ostrich- 
farming ; it is, he says, sweetveldt, and the high banks 
and the rich flats along the river, and the high banks 
and stony ground above it, are more likely to suit the 
birds; the lucerne also growing luxuriantly there, 
which is one of the best green crops for ostriches. My 
brother gives 2001b. to 300 lb. lucerne daily to his 
birds, besides mealies, or Indian corn (] lb. to each 
bird). With regard to plucking the feathers, which 
unfortunately are in prime condition at the period of 
incubation, when the plucking of them would interfere 
sadly with the birds, different opinions are entertained 
