146 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



to have slower growth, less development of fat or flesh, and 

 move stamina ; in the former all that is required, is to get 

 as much flesh as possible, in as short a time as possible, 

 with little bone, or other offal. Thus, when they are to be 

 reared, ducks should have no forcing food, and plain barley 

 meal or ground oats, made into a crumbly mass, will be the 

 best food. It may be well to give boiled rice as a variation, 

 for there can be no doubt that variety is appreciated by the 

 birds ; but, if it is given, it should have a good handful of 

 bone meal, to every quart-measureful of the rice, which will 

 make up for the deficiency in bone-forming qualities. 



As very many persons do not know the best way to prepare 

 boiled rice, we will give our method, for this food is a first- 

 class one for fattening any kind of fowl. The kind known 

 as poultry rice can be bought from nearly all corn dealers at 

 a reasonable price, and it is good enough for the purpose, if 

 the sample is a clean ane. The way to prepare it is to 

 put, say, a pint of rice into a gallon pan, with three quarts 

 of water, a small handful of the chopped greaves, and a tea- 

 spoonful of aromatic compound. This we place upon the 

 side of the fireplace, and allow it to simmer for two or three 

 hours. In that time the rice will have swollen out and 

 absorbed all the water, so that it will be crumbly moist, like 

 a well-made rice pudding. If this is given to the birds when 

 warm, though not actually hot, the eagerness with which 

 they will eat it will be sufficient proof of how much they 

 relish it. Those who follow our directions should remember, 

 that it must not be allowed to boil in the usual way, or it will 

 be soft and sloppy, but it should be allowed to gently simmer 

 in the manner as described by us, and then it will be all 

 that can be desired in the way of an appetising and useful 

 food. 



