SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 



705 



fed daily. In addition to the grain an amount of fine grit equal to one- 

 sixth of the weight of the grain, and chopped green clover equal to 

 one-fourth the bulk of the ration were also fed. All the feed was mixed 

 with water to a crumbly mass and fed in troughs. No water was 

 allowed expect for drinking purposes. In this test corn meal, cut bone, 

 and grit were each rated at 1 cent per pound and wheat bran at 0.9 

 cent per pound. Account was also taken of the value of the clover 

 fed, the eggs set, and the food of hens carrying tke ducks. The diicks 

 weighed 2 ounces when hatched, and 4 pounds 15 14 ounces at the close 

 of the test. The cost of a pound of gain was 5.05 cents; that is, the 

 ducks cost on an average 25 cents to fatten and were sold for 50 cents 

 each. 



Experiments at the New York State Station already noted in this 

 series of bulletins showed that ducks did not thrive and make rapid 

 growth unless they ware fed a considerable amount of animel mattep, 

 the most rapid and economical gains being made when from 40 to 50 per 

 cent of the protein of the ration was supplied in the form of anintal 

 matter. 



The above experiments were made for different purposes, but the 

 inference may be ftiirly drawn from all that ducks cfeja be profitably 

 fattened under pr»per conditions. The standard breeds of ducks have 

 been described, and the feeding, management, and markteting of diaAss 

 discussed at length in a recent bulletin of this Department. — C. F. 

 LANGWORTHY. 



45 



