30 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Juny, 1899. 
Warm Baths (from 85 degrees to 95 degrees Fahr.)—They soften the 
skin and thus relieve irritation and itchiness in animals with skin disorders, 
remove stiffness, and are useful in promoting comfort. 
Hot Baths (from 95 degrees to 110 degrees Fahr. if gradually increased) .— 
They soothe animals which have been subjected to severe muscular strain, useful 
in the relief of cramps and colic, benefit chronic skin diseases, and check chills, 
colds, rheumatism, &c. ; 
Medicated Baths, when impregnated with suitable medicants, are found to 
be of great importance in the treatment of skin disorders and in the destruction 
of skin mites or parasites. 
Food must be provided in sufficient amount, of suitable quality, and appro- 
priate to the requirements of each case. As the appetite of a sick horse is as 
a rule delicate and capricious, food should only be offered in small quantities, 
and that which is not eaten should be removed after having remained a few 
minutes before the animal. Hay or any other food on which the sick horse has 
been breathing should be thrown away and not offered to him another time. 
Poultry. 
DUCKS. 
Srycg the appearance of an article entitled “Hints on Duck Farming,” 
in this Tee we have had several inquiries as to the comparative merits of 
fowls and ducks as layers, sitters, and as profitable stock for export. One or 
two correspondents declare they will have nothing more to do with ducks. The 
eggs, they say, are laid anywhere about the yard or paddock. The young 
ducklings rarely survive, &c., &. Now, this can but be to a great extent the 
fault of the owner. All live stock require not only attention, but they also 
demand a knowledge of their habits, diseases, and generally of the methods to 
be adopted to insure success in the business. Whether the stock consist of 
bullocks or bees, horses or hens, pigs or ducks, the man who hopes to succeed 
as a stockowner, and yet is absolutely devoid of any knowledge of stock, is 
doomed to fail. 
Now, here we have the experience of a South Australian gentleman in the 
matter of Indian runner ducks, which should satisfy anyone that raising this 
class of bird in a systematic and careful manner is a paying concern. Mr. 8. 
H. Pitman communicated the following to the Adelaide Harm and Garden, and 
we recommend our correspondents to study the results :— 
INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS. 
A YEAR’S RECORD. 
After 18 months’ experience with the Indian runner duck, I am more than 
satisfied with them. They have in every way fully demonstrated their excellent 
reputation, being very quick to mature, good foragers, and marvellous layers, as 
the accompanying list shows. 
I commenced hatching young ducklings in July last, and continued all 
through the summer and autumn with good results; those hatched in January, 
February, and March matured well, thus proving that, with ordinary care, they 
can be reared all the year round, and by so doing ensure a constant supply of 
S. : : : 
I shall be pleased to give any information as to feeding, housing, &e. 
