100 Money in Broilers and Squabs. 



About three-fourths of those who take up artificial duck raising 

 make a failure of it because they are not suited to the business. It 

 requires intense application and constant supervision. All hands 

 must be up early and work early and late. Most people are unwill- 

 ing to put in the i6 to 17 hours required during the long summer 

 days. 



\ ' 



We will conclude the duck chapter by making selections from a 

 lengthy article by Prof. Cushman, and which appeared, in 1897, in 

 the Cultivator and Country Gentleman. The article in question is 

 full of encouragement, as it plainly tells the story of how James 

 Rankin, and the Weber Bros., gradually built up a profitable busi- 

 ness. 



"Thirty or forty years ago, when James Rankin, the pioneer 

 in raising ducks by artificial means, was working out his present 

 system of production, he was a butt for the ridicule of the com- 

 munity in which he lived. Although disappointing failures, at- 

 tended with much loss, were frequently met with, he persevered in 

 spite of discouragement and at last won victory. By experimenting 

 with different breeds, kinds of food and methods of management, 

 he was enabled, by artificial means, to cause ducks to reproduce 

 when all nature was against it, and therefore realize an immense 

 profit when the product was placed on the market. 



"When Mr. Rankin published accounts of his operations, how 

 he could by artificial means produce ducks at a cost for food of 

 about 5 cents per pound, put them on to the market long before 

 naturally reared ducks were ready, and get 40 cents per pound for 

 them, much interest was aroused, but there was skepticism in the 

 minds of many in regard to the practicability of raising any kini 

 of poultry in such large numbers. Others, who did not question the 

 facts as given, were sure that the market would soon be overdone 

 and the price drop to where there would be little profit in the busi- 

 ness. But what are the facts? In 1876, when Mr. Rankin first had 

 large numbers for market, no one wanted ducks. For five years he 

 had to visit dealers and drum up trade. Meanwhile the public taste 

 was educated to appreciate roast ducklings at ten weeks, and they 

 soon became popular in market. When Mr. Rankin produced but 

 1500 yearly, they were hard to sell, but later, though he raised 10,- 

 000 each season, he could not fill his orders. Fifteen years ago early 

 ducks brought him 45 cents per pound and late ones not less than 

 16 cents, and then grain was very high. Now with cheap grain and 

 scores of large duck ranches in various parts of the country turning 

 out thousands annually, the price for the same quality is little or no 

 lower. 



"Duck-raising was carried on extensively on Long-Island long 

 before Mr. Rankin's product was put on the New- York market, but 

 his artificial incubators enabled him to produce his ducks earlier, 

 lead the market, and thus get the highest price. Even after the 

 Long-Island raisers had adopted the artificial methods of raising, 

 Mr. Rankin's inland grown scrap-fed ducks were preferred, and he 



