282 FARMING FOR LADIES, [chap. siii. 



similar gland, except that species ludicrously 

 called " the rumpkin," which is entirely de- 

 ficient of both tail and rump ; yet, both the 

 substance which it contains, and the object 

 to which it is applied, are disputed, and it 

 is somewhat singular that naturalists have 

 not been able to set the point at rest. 



Both geese and ducks are indeed peculi- 

 arly valuable to the farmer, and profitable 

 to the cottager, or to any person living by 

 the side of a common, as well as desirable 

 to all country families, both for their excel- 

 lence when brought to table, and for their 

 hardihood of constitution, and the ease with 

 which they may be maintained. They are 

 also more easily managed than chickens and 

 fowls ; for they are less quarrelsome, and 

 unless the garden be well fenced ofi" from 

 the poultry-yard, either by a very close 

 hedge or by high paling, the fowls will 

 assuredly effect an entrance, and commit 

 great injury by scratching up the beds in 

 search of seeds and insects ; while, if ducks 

 be admitted, they will only seek for those 

 slugs and worms which are to be found above 

 ground. 



