200 



A FIVE-ACRE DUCK FARM. 



(F. M. Shorb, Kirksville, Mo.) 



On a farm this small, I think it advisable to keep all stock and 

 poultry up, therefore I have not laid it out into fields. I would set 

 it out in trees, set in rows 22x33 feet. This would give me two hundred 

 trees on the place and allows ample room for farming. 



As to crops, the principal crop would be alfalfa if location was 

 suitable ; if not, I would substitute clover. 



If I took possession on January 1, I would need a good horse to 

 haul out the building material. He would have to be a good one because 

 I would expect him to do all farm work and haul all produce to mar- 

 ket. 



I would have a water tank near the barn, and this would be high 

 enough to furnish protection from fire ; also, running water in the house 

 and for the stock and poultry. Water would be pumped into this 

 tank by a gasoline engine from a well. This engine would be used to 

 grind all feeds, also for churning, washing, etc. 



T 



A good system of housing and yarding water fowls. 



My aim would be to produce eggs for the market. With this in 

 view, I would raise Indian Runner ducks. The relative price of duck 

 houses and fences to any other poultry houses and fences makes them 

 very economical. Their insusceptibility to disease is another point in 

 their favor. I would keep a flock of several hundred ducks. I would 

 raise none for market except that I would renew my flock and sell such 

 surplus as I had. My duck pens and houses would cover an area of 

 210x100 feet. Each flock of twenty-five would have a pen 2614x100 

 feet. In the center of each pen on the north side facing south would 

 be a duck house 10x9^ feet, as shown in diagram. This house would 

 be built of yellow pine shiplap lumber, with a roof of the same, roof 

 to be covered with three-ply roofing paper and using 2x4 's for frame 

 work. This house can be built for $6.00. From the center of each 



