The Poultry of the Farm. 
113 
a garden, that we may see them anywhere. An erroneous im- 
pression has existed that they require a lot of water, whereas 
they will thrive and multiply if they only have access to a trough 
or pan sunk into the ground — a swiftly-running stream, indeed, 
is against their getting fat. 
The principal breeds are the Aylesbury, Pekin, Rouen, and 
the smaller but pretty East Indian and Call Ducks. 
The Pekins are very large, but it is a question if they lay as 
early as the Aylesbury. About one drake and three ducks will 
prove very prolific. The earliest ducklings are generally 
hatched under hens. Ducklings require plenty of food. In an 
ordinary way barley-meal is as good as anything. They should 
enjoy a, good range, and then they throw themselves into skir- 
mishing order and attack the slugs, worms, &c. In some dis- 
tricts the fattening of early ducklings is carefully practised, and 
proves very remunerative — a pair soon weighing 9 or 10 lbs. 
Let us bear in mind that size is not everything. 
Turkeys are delicate birds to deal with in their early days, 
and often prove annoying to fowls, therefore they are not so 
much patronised. The principal breeds are the Norfolk and 
Cambridge. Large Bronze birds are also esteemed. Chicken 
are frequently hatched with the young turkeys. Egg, curd and 
meal will form a good diet for the ycung birds, then wheat or 
whole corn. If they survive the earliest stages, they become 
hardy, going off to find their supplementary food by day and 
returning at night. About a month's fattening will bring them 
up to great weight. On the whole, and if the run is suitable, 
turkeys are decidedly profitable. The American change of 
blood is doing good. 
Geese are chiefly adapted for poor or marshy ground, as they 
run over and spoil so much good grass ; they are very hardy, 
and after the first month can be almost left to themselves until 
they are required for fattening, when they are shut up in a 
moderately dark place. Their food will be meal and whole 
corn, or a little mangold is sometimes added. Nowadays 20 lbs. 
is not an extraordinary weight for a goose. The Embden and 
Toulouse are the best varieties. Old ganders are very irri- 
tating to cattle in the yard, otherwise geese are very desirable 
and profitable on a farm. 
Guinea Fowl lead to much worry, as they lay away and injure 
fowls ; but their flesh and eggs will find a place for them some- 
where. 
In such a limited space for so full a subject I must necessarilv 
have slurred over many notes of admiration as well as of alarm"; 
but let me give one jubilant crow over the spirit moving the 
agricultural body and authorities to think more of poultry, 
VOL. XVIII.—S. 8. I 
