salesman. "I bought eggs last June of as she claimed to 



have a 240-egg laying strain of ducks. I got three ducks and a 

 good many drakes from the hatch. Since the three started to 

 lay, they have laid up to 331 eggs, [showing that this "240-egg 

 strain" of American Standard ducks did not equal the good w^ork 

 of average English Penciled, at least in one instance. V.] In re- 

 gard to the eggs, I find that the grocers do not care to buy them 

 here. What do you think is the best way to dispose of the eggs ? 

 Spring ducks are bringing 12 cents a pound here. I will have a 

 good many young drakes on my hands pretty soon. I don't think 

 I have enough to pay to advertise this year, so will have to sell 

 them as spring ducks. I have thought it would pay me to have 

 a copy of your book ; that is, if I continue in the business, but if 

 I don't find a sale for my stock and eggs, I would be to an ex- 

 pense for nothing. I advertised my eggs for setting in the 

 spring, but people don't seem to be interested here, as I only 

 sold three settings at $2.00 per." 



This letter is rather characteristic. Seventy-five cents is too 

 much to pay for all the information needed, so the writer asks if 

 of a busy stranger after he has bought his eggs from another! 

 He is not satisfied to get his money back the first year, and con- 

 tiders utility sales not worth his while. This raiser lives in the 

 mid-west, right next door to the women who are telling how 

 many thousands of dollars a year they make from these same 

 Runners. He can raise his ducks to selling age as green or 

 "spring" ducks for less than twenty cents each. It hardly costi 

 2.5 cents even in the east, where the price of feed is greatly in- 

 creased because of transportation. If his spring market ducks 

 weighed 3j4 pounds, they would bring him 43 cents each ; if four 

 pounds, 48 cents each. There isn't a legitimate business in New 

 York or Chicago or any other big city, that would not be ready 

 to shout for joy if it could turn its money over in four months at 

 100% to 140% profit, even including cost of labor; which is, on 



72 



