HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [79 



being carried off by thieves, which is done in some places two or 

 three times a-year ; and these depredations being committed in the 

 night, are seldom detected. To prevent this, the poultry-house 

 should be under the command of a lodging-room window, where fire- 

 arms are kept in readiness, and a dog chained near. If they could 

 be kept in security they would deserve more attention, and those 

 who are at the pains to rear them early in the spring, tind it worth 

 their while, the chickens selling at a good price, and at an early 

 growth. Eggs also produce considerable profit, being sometimes 

 sold at 2d. each. A poor woman, who reared some chickens and 

 ducks, took them to market and sold them well, and bought a pig 

 with the money : this is commendable management, and worthy of 

 imitation. The gallinae or Guinea-fowls, are very prolific ; their 

 eggs are much admired ; their appearance is singular, and adds to 

 the variety ; their flesh is also much esteemed by some people, who 

 tancy its taste and flavour resembles the pheasant. 



Turkies are in higher estimation than any other sorts of tame 

 fowls. They require more attention in rearing, and do best where 

 there is plenty of growing wood, being fond of acorns : their eggs 

 are esteemed delicious. Since they have become common, the 

 capon (though a fine fowl), is not so much sought after: these latter, 

 however, might be very profitable, on account of their rarity. 



Geese are become more scarce in the neighbourhood of commons 

 lately inclosed, where the poor people used to rear them, and sell 

 them lean to farmers to fat in their stubbles for the table. In such 

 cases, they must in future be bred on the farmer's premises. Geese 

 are reckoned salutary and wholesome to horned cattle ; and atten- 

 tive people assert, from their own observation, that where geese are 

 kept to graze with horned cattle, such cattle are less subject to 

 disorders than where no geese are kept. 



Ducks. The breeding of ducks is not so much attended to as it 

 ought to be, particularly when their utility is considered in clearing 

 grass lands and cultivated vegetables from worms, snails, and in- 

 sects. It is the custom of the Chinese to keep large flocks of ducks 

 to devour certain reptiles common in that country, and which would 

 otherwise destroy the crops of rice. They are employed in some 

 parts of England for similar purposes. A field of flax of about six 

 acres was in danger of being destroyed by the slug-worm. To put 

 a stop to their depredations, the owner procured an hundred ducks of 

 the common sort, and engaged a man to drive them as soon as day- 

 light appeared into the flax-field, where they devoured great quanti- 



