1 Noy., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. : 305 
which is thus increased by 15 per cent. A bonecutter is not a very expensive 
machine to purchase, and it will not be long before it will pay for itself. In 
feeding bone, mix it with other food, so that each bird may get its proper 
share. 
You know that at certain seasons of the year eggs are cheap and at other 
seasons they are very dear. There is no reason why you should sell your eggs 
at 4d. or Gd. per dozen, when with a little trouble you can keep them fresh 
and sweet for months or until the price rises to 1s. 6d. or Is. 9d. per dozen. 
There have been many kinds of preservatives tried, but only two have 
proved completely successful. Those two are Waturenass and Limewarer. 
Waterglass is silicate of soda, which is easily dissolved in water, and ig 
worth in Queensland about 3d. per Ib. 
The solution consists of 1 part waterglass to 20 parts by measure of 
water (not by weight). To make the pickle, boil 2 gallons of water, and when 
cool add 1} lb. waterglass, stirring it well. A 4-gallon kerosene tin will hold 
from 16 to 18 dozen eggs and 14 gallons of pickle, the gallon costing about 3d. 
The limewater preservative is from my own experience the best. To make 
it, slake 3 1b. of fresh lime in 8 gallons of water. Let it stand for 24 hours, 
stirring well occasionally. Then, when well settled, draw off the clear liquid 
into a kerosene tin or stone jar. Some people add 12 oz. of salt, but this is 
not needed ; indeed, it is injurious. Into this clear liquid put your eggs every 
day. See that all are fresh laid, and that none are cracked or damaged in an 
way, or they will spoil the rest. You may safely leave them in this pickle for 
6 months. I kept some for 11 months, and they were still good. They are all 
the better for occasional turning, to prevent the yolks from dropping to one: 
side. ; 
Ducxs. 
Ducks are hardy and profitable birds to breed. Once they are full grown 
they require little care beyond housing and proper feeding. It is the young 
ducklings which require constant attention. Of the utmost importance in the 
rearing of ducklingsis the food supplied to them, as the great object is to force 
them on at the greatest rate with the least amount of expense. In the Ayles- 
bury district in England ducks often attain a weight of 5 or 6 Ib. in eight 
weeks. 
For the first few days after hatching they are fed upon hard-boiled eggs 
chopped up finely, and mixed with breadcrumbs or biscuit-meal. It should be 
moistened with skim milk or water, as ducks require their food in a moist but not 
sloppy state. After three days of this feeding, boiled rice is given to them, and 
also barley-meal. Barley-meal is rather too heating alone, but when mixed with 
toppings it forms an excellent food. Referring to the rice, it is useless to give 
it to the ducklings in a raw state, but it should be cooked in order that it may 
be more easily assimilated by the birds. The correct way to prepare it is ag 
follows:—To 1 pint of chicken rice add 3 quarts of water, and allow this 
to simmer, not boil, until the rice has absorbed all the water, and an excellent 
rice pudding will be made. For the last three or four weeks before killing, the 
rice will form the staple food, and before this time it should be given alternately 
with the barley and toppings. Rice has the further advantage, besides being an 
excellent food, of being very cheap; thus there is no better or more suitable - 
food for rearing ducklings upon than this. : 
For the first fortnight the ducklings should be fed four times a day, 
and after this period three times will be sufficient. The meals should be given 
at regular intervals, the first taking place about 6°30 in the morning, the 
second about midday, and the third about 5°30 or 6 o'clock. The food should 
be given in troughs, and should remain before them for about twenty minutes, 
when it should be removed, and the birds allowed no more till the next time of 
feeding. It is a bad plan to allow birds of any description to have food always 
before them ; and it is much better, and the birds will be found to thrive better, 
if the plan just advocated is adopted. Ducklings should also have a plentiful 
