They compare the Runner to the Leghorn because it is an 

 exceptionally active bird, a non-sitter and a phenomenal layer — 

 all of which are claims made decade in and decade out for the 

 Leghorn. They have, heretofore, made no claims for the Indian 

 Runner as a market fowl, because they felt that she could make 

 her record on her laying ability alone. 



Now, however, the logic of events makes a record for the 

 Runner as a market duck. Her breeders have not pushed for 

 it; her detractors have gone out of the way to say how small 

 and worth-little she is; and the market shows them all wrong. 

 More might have been claimed than has been claimed ! Not even 

 the most rabid commission merchant in New York has said aught 

 but that any duck of reasonable size, well fattened, would sell. 

 And now we see the Indian Runner pushing the Pekin out. 



During 1911 (according to the story as published in our 

 most influential poultry publication) : On a farm where they 

 handle so much poultry that the feed bill is reported as $150.00 

 a day, and the housing capacity for growing ducks is 30,000, the 

 Indian Runner has turned things topsy-turvy. The story goes 

 that the Pekin, 'here, as everywhere in recent years, was the 

 staple market duck. But the proprietors of this farm had a 

 large call for four-pound ducks. To supply this demand, they 

 decided in 1910, to try the Indian Runner. From purchased 

 eggs, they raised 1000 of these ducks. These ducks were re- 

 ported as reaching the desired four pounds in weight as soon as 

 the Pekin would reach five and one-half pounds, and doing it on 

 about half the feed. It is not profitable, these breeders say, to 

 sell the Pekin at four pounds' weight. This is exactly where the 

 Runner gets in its innings. And, whereas all the output formerly 

 went to New York, a local trade has been developed, taking prac- 

 tically all the present product. Hence, it's "a fig for New York," 

 at this plant. 



At the time the reporter was at the plant, two young men 



111 



