POULTRY. 



1103 



Ducks may be profitably kept on any farm that has a 

 pond, swamp, or stream of running water within its limits, and 

 is within reach of a city market; but the farmer who has not 

 the advantage of a city market can hardly make it pay to keep 

 ducks, unless he wants the eggs, meat, and feathers for home 

 use, or can sell eggs for fancy prices. In large cities ducks' 

 eggs will bring extra prices just before Easter; but at country 

 stores "an egg is an egg," and ducks' eggs that weigh from 

 three to three and one-half ounces each will bring no more per 



dozen than hens' eggs that weigh two ounces each. City deal- 

 ers will- pay from twenty-five to thirty-five cents per pound for 

 prime live duck feathers, country merchants and peddlers about 

 one-third as much. Prime young ducks will command paying 

 prices in most city markets; in remote country places it is dif- 

 ficult to sell them at any price. 



Ducks can be raised with only plenty of water to drink; 

 but, after all, they are water fowls, and do best when they have 

 access to a pond or stream, for, aside from the enjoyment that 



