CHAPTBE VIII. 



FATTENING DliCKS. 



Fob a long period of time the Aylesbury district of 

 Buckinghamshire has been famous as the centre of 

 a great industry in the hatching and rearing of duck- 

 lings. From that vale have emanated birds of a 

 character which has made the Aylesbury duck one of 

 the most" valuable we possess. Its special qualities of 

 rapid growth and richness of flesh, more especially 

 the former, have given it a popularity which is un- 

 questioned. During recent years the industry has 

 increased and spread into the adjoining county of 

 Bedfordshire, around the town of Leighton Buzzard, 

 and it is sometimes contended that the more important 

 branches of the industry are now met in the Leighton 

 district. The villages of Haddenham and Weston 

 Turville in Buckinghamshire, and of Stanbridge, 

 from whose station vast quantities are dispatched 

 every year, Eatonbray and Great Billington in Bed- 

 fordshire, are centres of large duck-producing districts, 

 and the " quack, quack " of these birds is to be heard 

 on all sides during the spring of the year. The duck 



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