1905.] THOROUGHBRED POULTRY VERSUS MONGRELS, 15/ 



The Aylesbury is the most popular market duck in England, 

 and is grown there very much as the Pekin is here. It is a 

 pound heavier than the Pekin, and pearly white in color, with 

 flesh-colored legs and bill. The Pekin plumage is creamy 

 white, and so differs from Aylesbury in shade of color as well 

 as in shape. The Aylesbury carriage is more horizontal, and 

 body should be rounded without keel. As with chickens, the 

 American market demands the yellow legs and bill of the Pekin. 

 The Aylesbury is a good layer, and fattening quickly, is a 

 very desirable duck. 



The new Swedish duck seems to be at a standstill, and not 

 gaining in popularity. Indian Runners, too, have not taken 

 hold well here. They may lay more eggs than the larger 

 varieties, but their small size is against them. 



All other ducks are more or less ornamental. Any farmer 

 whose land borders on a lake, or who has a brook or pool on his 

 farm, can add an extremely attractive feature, as well as a 

 money-maker, by building a pen and stocking it with Wood, 

 Mandarin, or Call ducks, or some of the species of Teal. 



Any duck classed as practical, will prove profitable as a 

 market bird, and will pay back a good income from a compara- 

 tively small investment. 



Geese, turkeys, and Guineas are all sources of profit to the 

 farm, and, more are raised in small flocks by farmers' wives 

 throughout the country, than are grown in any other way. 

 There are few farms where unusually large flocks of either are 

 kept, but a large number that make a good profit from their 

 flocks. 



If one has a low, marshy meadow bordering on a stream 

 he cannot find a way to make it more profitable than by turn- 

 ing a flock of good geese loose to graze on same. 



The Toulouse is most popular, with the Embden a close 

 second. The former are gray, laced with white on back and 

 breast, solid gray heads and necks, and white underneath. 

 They are a big, low, firm-set goose, and an invaluable variety. 



My choice is the Embden. Their pure white plumage, 

 orange bill and legs, and clear, bright blue eyes make a very 

 attractive combination of colors. Their carriage is a trifle 

 more graceful than that of the Toulouse, and they are exactly 

 as large and equally productive. 



The African is a good goose, and it is claimed will lay 

 more eggs than do the Toulouse and Embden. 



