162 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
A study of these figures and a comparison with Rhode Island 
and Long Island, where the natural conditions are not very 
different, leads one to the conclusion that Connecticut farmers 
in general have not yet appreciated the advantages which come 
from systematic and intelligent poultry-raising, especially of 
turkeys, ducks and geese. 
So much information concerning the breeds, management 
and feed of common fowl is being constantly printed in experi- 
ment station publications and agricultural papers of all kinds 
that it is unnecessary to discuss those subjects here. Nor is 
this the place for detailed description of the breeding and care 
of other kinds of poultry. It will not be out of place, however, 
to speak briefly of the general conditions needed for turkeys, 
ducks and geese. 
In some ways, turkeys are the most difficult of the poultry- 
kind to raise. They are shy and wild, are often put out of 
condition by fright, and are subject to various diseases, espe- 
cially if kept in damp places without sufficient range. Never- 
theless in dry, open ranges, and with intelligent care they 
thrive well and make a very profitable market-bird. 
Ducks have not until recently been generally considered de- 
sirable table-birds in this country. This was very likely due 
to the way in which they were raised. Little care was given | 
them, they were allowed to range and swim at will and to eat 
what they could find and liked; the result was that the flesh 
was tough and coarse and the flavor very strong and suggest- 
ive of the worms and fish on which they fed. When carefully 
reared and fed with reference to the quality and flavor of the . 
flesh they can be made tender and pleasant to the taste. It is 
such carefully bred ducks that the market demands and which 
bring the raiser the greatest profit. It was formerly supposed 
that ducks would thrive only when they had access to a pond 
- or stream, but it has been found that they will do perfectly 
well with only enough water for drinking and bathing. Duck 
raising thus becomes possible on any farm where the climate is 
not too severe, and as the birds are healthy and easy to raise, 
it ought to be profitable almost anywhere in Southern New 
England. 
Geese, on the other hand, must have access to running water 
and green pasturage to thrive best. Like turkeys, too, they 
must be tactfully handled, for they are very ‘‘touchy’’ birds 



