FARMER'S ASSISTANT. SOfT 



some, appears barbarous; yet it is found that they thrive 

 better by* repeated pluckmgs, than where they are permited 

 to shed their feathers in the natural way, which is at the 

 time of moulting. 



In Lincoln county (Greatbritain) where they are raised 

 in the greatest numbers, they are plucked five times a year; 

 the first at Ladyday, for feathers and quills, and four times 

 afterwards, between that and Michaelmas, for feathers only. 



Tame- ducks, of which there are varieties, are the same 

 as the wild. They begin to lay early, and afford a consider- 

 able number of eggs, which are nearly as good as those of 

 Dunghill-fowls. About twelve is enough for a Duck to sit 

 on. Ducks are greedy feeders; but not nice, as to their 

 food. They are quickly fated on animal food, of which they 

 are fond, and their flesh then tastes like that of the Wild- 

 duck. They are usetul in turnipfields, while the young 

 plants are liable to be preyed on by insects. 



Poultry is most easily fated when kept in a dark place; 

 and boiled grain is generally best for the purpose of fating. 



PUMPKIN. A new, and very large, species of the 

 pumpkin has lately been cultivated in this part of the coun- 

 try, which promises to be very profitable for cultivation, if 

 it can be naturalized to our climate. At present, it requires 

 early planting, in order to ripen it. Upwards of five hun- 

 dred pounds of this pumpkin may be readily raised from one 

 seed. 



Allowing even every square rod of ground planted with 

 .it to yield this amount, the product of an acre would be 

 forty tons; a greater and more valuable product, for the 

 purpose of feeding and fating cattle, during the Fall, and 

 begining of Winter, than can be raised, from the same 

 ground, of any kind of cabbage, or root, whatever; at the 

 same time, it can be raised with not more than half the 

 trouble and expense, to the acre, which the raising of cab- 

 bages, and roots, require. Time, however, must test the 

 value of this new plant, which, from present appearances^ 

 bids fair to be a great acquisition to the Country. 



Pumpkins are probably nearly, or quite, as valuable as 

 the same weight of most kinds of roots, for the purpose of 

 feeding Milch-cows, and fating cattle; and as they are easi- 

 ly raised, and still easier gathered, it would seem that rais- 

 ing, even the common kind, might be made profitable. 



In raising a crop, the hills should probably stand about 

 seven feet apart; and, though the crop would require as 

 much ploughing as other hoed crops, yet the expense of 

 hoeing would be but trifling. 



The crop would not be half so expensive to raise, and 

 gather, as a crop of Indian corn ; it would exhaust the soil 



