254 THE GAME FOWL. 



rats are exterminated, as in all cases they should be, there 

 will be no trouble in raising almost as many Ducks as you have 

 Eggs. One year, from 94 Eggs, I had 91 hatched, and raised 

 87. Twenty-four of these were Musk, or Muscovy Ducks, as 

 they are erroneously termed. In speaking of the prolificness of 

 Ducks, I don't think this variety should be included. They 

 lay comparatively few Eggs. Ducks come early to maturity, 

 being nearly full grown, and in fine eating order at three months 

 old, far excelling, in this respect, all other Poultry, except 

 Geese. 



Of the large white Aylesbury, and the still larger Rouen 

 Duck, I know nothing but what I have read. 



But of all Poultry, Geese can be raised with the greatest 

 ease, in the sluwtest time, and at the least expense, provided you 

 live in the country, or in a village where grass grows in the 

 streets and alleys. I have only reared them once, but I am 

 certain Goslings can be brought up on grass alone. Though, 

 of course, they grow much faster if better fed. I fed mine 

 well, on Indian meal and milk, and sometimes on corn this 

 in addition to good pasture and see the result. They are 

 of common blood, and not remarkable in size. At 33 days 

 old, one weighed 5| Ibs. ; at 47 days, 6 Ibs. 15 oz. ; 54 days, 

 8 Ibs. 3 oz. ; 64 days, 8 Ibs. 14 oz. ; at 93 days, 11 J Ibs., 

 when I killed them. For Eggs, Geese are no " great shakes ;" 

 but, to use a Crockettism, they're on a grow. 



You have not asked my views on Turkeys ; but what little 

 I know, I may as well impart. I raised two broods, last sum- 

 mer, by way of experiment. The first lot, to the number of fif- 

 teen, were hatched in June, under Hens. With these I was very 

 successful, having lost but one. The Gobblers now weigh 11 or 

 12 Ibs.; the Hens, 7 or 8. I was very careful of them, feeding 

 them on the curds of milk, and waste bread, soaked in milk, 

 until they were four or five weeks old. After that, I was not so 

 particular : I kept them in the garden, and by the time they 



