Live Sftock. Poultry JVild-Ditcks Taking of Geefe. 755 



Ducks are greedy feeders, but not nice in thekinds of food. In the fattening of 

 them, grain either in its whole or reduced mixed Mate is probably the beft fort of 

 food. The ufe of boiled potatoes well mixed with oatmeal is found to bean econo 

 mical and expeditious method. Much, however, depends on their being fed in an 

 cyact and regular manner, and on a proper fupply of water and fand being conftantly 

 given ; while at the fame time they are kept in a perfectly quiet detached Situation, 

 not too much expofed to the action of light, but well aired. When fattened on 

 animal fubftances, which are very expeditious in accomplishing the bufinefs, they- 

 arefaid to have more refemblance, both in the colour and flavour of their flefti, to 

 the wild duck, than in the common method. In the acorn- feafon they are alfo 

 capable of being readily fattened on that fort of food, and are allowed to be well- 

 flavoured in their flefh from it. 



The establishing of decoys for taking of wild-ducks is an object of fome import 

 ance in particular Situations, as where there are extenSive fheets of water in fequef- 

 tered districts at no great diftance from the fea, as in the wilds of Lincolnfhire, Nor 

 folk, and other counties. Much nicety and exactnefs are however requifite in the* 

 construction and management ofthefe, in order to render them effectual, as maybe 

 feenin Mr. Marfhall s excellent defcription of the means of forming them, in the 

 firft volume of the Rural Economy of Norfolk. 



The author of the Middlefex Corrected Report obferves, that &quot; it is clearly af- 

 certained, that ducks might be kept in fuch numbers on corn-farms, as to prevent 

 any fenfible lofs or destruction in their crops by worms, flugs, and caterpillars ; and 

 vet we are always hearing of great lofles occasioned by thofe vermin. The fupport 

 of a hundred or two of ducks on a farm is a trifling expenfe, and might be confi- 

 dered in the light of enfuring the young crops againft being cut off. It is thought 

 that many a farmer receives more damage to a crop in one feafon, than would fup 

 port a fufficient number of ducks to give perfect fecurity for twenty years.&quot; 



Geefe. There are feveral distinct breeds of geefe kept in different places ; but 



the largeft and mod ufeful fort, whether for the purpofe of food or feathers, is the 

 common breed. 



In the choice of Store-geefe, great care mould always be taken to procure them 

 as large in Size as poflible, and from places where they have been well kept. GeeS^ 

 like moft other birds, begin to lay in the fpring months ; and the earlier this hap- &amp;lt; 

 pens the better, as the price of early green geefe is generally high, and in forne cafes 

 it may be poflible to have a fecond brood. Both thefe purpofes may be promoted 



5 D_2 



