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SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



lean at this time, they will not lay well or early in the 

 spring. Young pullets, nine or ten months old, are the 

 best for laying in the winter. Ducks are both useful 

 and profitable ; they clean away much unsightly offal, 

 will travel a great distance from home in search of food, 

 require but little at home, and lay a great number of 



eggs ; but they are not good mothers, and seldom rear 

 half their brood where there are many hedges and ditches 

 in the neighbourhood. They likewise frequently drop 

 their eggs in water, if not carefully watched when they 

 are expected to lay. A hen answers better as a mother 

 to ducklings, than their natural one. Not less than a 

 drake and two ducks should be kept." 



Geese and ducks belong to the family of flat-billed 

 birds. Ducks, as being the most common, may be 

 noticed first. Their natural place is on rivers, ponds, 

 or other fresh waters ; but they are often kept in spots 

 where there is not enough water for them to swim in. 



