90 THE farmer's guide. 



thrive on most kinds of grain, potatoes, and turnips. A wartfl, 

 dry, and secluded place, is required for their nests. They need 

 much the same management as the hen while rearing their 

 young. The general principles regarding the symptoms and 

 cure of diseases to which hens are subject will apply to geese 

 and turkeys with but little variation. It is said that geese will 

 thrive well on raw turnips cut fine, and put into a trough with 

 water. It can hardly be necessary to say that this is a ivater- 

 fowl, and consequently requires pure running water. If the 

 goose is full size and well fed, it will yield about 1^ lb. feath- 

 ers during the season. It is not merciful or profitable to pluck 

 them so late in the fall that winter overtakes them without any 

 covering. While fattening they require some kind of green 

 food, such as clover, cabbage-leaves, lettuce, &c. 



TURKEYS. 



We have no account of the existence of this bird previous to 

 the discovery of the western hemisphere. They were then 

 found in immense numbers in their wild state. They have, 

 like the savage, gradually disappeared as the white man's axe 

 has levelled the forests. Wild turkeys are not at present found 

 in any considerable numbers east of the Allegany ridge ; they 

 are, however, domesticated in all sections of this continent, 

 and with proper attention they are rendered a valuable fowl 

 for market. Turkeys require much the same care and man- 

 agement while rearing their young as other fowls, only the 

 hen-turkey requires to be confined for a few days after the 

 brood is hatched, as her propensities for rambling are such 

 that her young will not have sufficient strength to follow her. 

 This fowl is subject to but few diseases, the worst of which is 

 a kind of dropsy in the crop. ' The symptoms are loss of appe- 

 tite, trembling, and swelling of the crop. Give them a small 

 quantity of pepper and ginger, with light food, every morning. 

 If this should not soon produce relief, make a small incision 

 with a lancet, in the lower part of the crop, when a watery 

 substance will be discharged. It can be sewed up carefully. 

 Feed lightly for one week. 



DUCKS. 



These do not require as much attention as others of the fowl 

 tribe. They are peculiarly fond of meat, fish, insects, worms, 

 and young frogs. They need fresh, pure, running water, and 

 are not particular where they drop their eggs, which they pro- 

 duce in large quantities. They can be fattened rapidly on all 

 kinds of grain. Ducks are subject to but few complaints, and 

 these soon yield to the same treatment as is bestowed upon 

 other fowls. It is considered the most profitable to set the 



