110 POULTRY BREEDING 
procurable sifted coal ashes will answer, but wood ashes 
should never be used, as the alkali in them destroys the 
oil in the plumage and, what is equally objectionable, 
takes the gloss off the shanks. 
DUCKS, PRODUCTION OF.—The breeding and 
marketing of ducks in a large way is localized in a com- 
paratively small part of this country. In Massachusetts, 
New York and Pennsylvania are to be found all of our 
extensive duck raising establishments. The product of 
these farms (largely green ducks) is consumed in what 
may be called the northeast corner of the United States. 
There is no apparent reason why duck-farms should not 
be located in almost every state in the Union, but this 
part of the poultry business has not been developed any- 
where but in the localities named, although there is no 
-doubt that it could be made to pay near any large city 
after the appetite for green ducks had been created. On 
sume farms in the states named ducks are raised in ten 
thousands and sold at the ages of about 10 weeks as fast 
as they can be produced, at prices which make the busi- 
ness very profitable. 
These great duck-farms are stocked without exception 
with Pekin ducks, as this breed seems to have obtained 
an impregnable position in the market as a source of 
young ducks for summer use. It is true that thousands 
of ducks annually are marketed in all our large cities, but 
these are bred in small Iots on farms and gathered in the 
regular course of trade. .\ll breeds of ducks require prac- 
tically the same treatment, but at this time only two 
breeds are of commercial importance, the Pekin and the 
Rouen, and the latter makes no impression on the great 
market as a factor in supplying the demand. The Indian 
Runner duck scems to be making very rapid headway as 
