1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 137 



feeling certain that if the introduction of wild stock is a new feature 

 to them, they will thank us for the hint. 



Mr. D. R. Gates, of Worcester, Mass., has one turkey, eighteen 

 months old, which weighs thirty-two pounds, and is still growing. 

 We understand that the above was the produce of a pure wild fowl 

 crossed on our domestic turkey. 



Aylesbuky Ducks. — William Bent, Cochituate, exhibited a 

 handsome coop of those ducks. It was the only coop of domestic 

 ducks, and we did not regret this, believing as we do, that this is one 

 of the few only worth raising except as ornamental poultry. The 

 Aylesburys attain to a large size, and if well fed while young, on meal 

 and refuse meat, are ready for market at less than two months old. 



Geese, Bkemen. — Of thi^ variety there were quite a number of 

 coops, the best, however, belonging to W. G. Lewis, Framingham. 

 The committee had never seen so large and handsome a pair of Bre- 

 mens. Even the venerable Col. Jaques viewed them with evident 

 satisfaction, being as they were descendants from stock which he 

 imported more than thirty years ago ; (here is a nut to crack for 

 either advocates or non-advocates of in-and-in breeding,) and not- 

 withstanding this breeding in-and-in, the Col. says they are more 

 sizable than were the parents he imported. We understood the 

 Col. to say, that he had in his possession (or recently had) one of 

 the original pair. 



Geese, India or African. — This is one of the largest varieties of 

 recent introduction, and proves much more prolific than the Bremen or 

 any of the common geese seen about the country ; it is a stately looking 

 goose, of a gray upper plumage, with white under the bofly, and any one 

 not having a large dew-lap or pouch, should be rejected as less likely 

 of attaining to the largest size. And here again, we would give our 

 brother farmers a hint to act upon. Some three or four years since, 

 a person had a gander of this breed Aveighing twenty-five or six 

 pounds ; having lost his mate, he coupled him Avith his Bremen 

 geese. Of this progeny or cross he saved two of his best geese, still 

 retaining the old gander. In the winter months the geese commenced 

 laying, ar,d continued through the summer (not laying every day, 

 however) without showing any disposition for incubation. The 

 owner said the two laid about one hundred and eighty eggs that year, 

 but having no convenience to keep them out of the way of dogs he 

 disposed of them to the chairman of your committee. One of the 

 two geese purchased was disposed of by the writer to a friend, the 

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