1212 Live Stock.—PcultryWater- Fowl— Ducks— Management of.

of the latter is higher flavoured than the former: Thefe birds may be kept with mot profit to the farmer in fituations where there are large ponds or fheets of water for them to re upon near to the farm-yards, as in fuch cafes they will require little or no trouble; but in other circumftances, except where they are reared by per- fons who make a bufinefs of dealing in thefe and other forts of poultry, they will afford little advantage in the way of profit, unlefs it be a few juft for the purpofe of the table. Ducks moftly begin to lay early in the year, as the latter end of January or beginning of the following month, efpecially when well fed. They require attention at this period, as they lay a great number of eggs, and are very apt to drop them in the water, or at random in other places. One drake is fuffi- cient for four or five ducks. When fet, from ten to a dozen or thirteen egos are a fufficient number. They fit about thirty days, and during the time fhould be fed and have water near their nefts, to prevent the eggs from being injured by their leaving them too long. When hatched, they fhould remain with the duck in fome inclofed fafe warm funny place, and be well fed with crumbs of bread, grits, or barley- meal and boiled potatoes well mixed and ufed frefh and frefh, fand and clean water being conftantly kept in fhallow pans. The duck breeders have alfo in general a provifion of worms, fnails, and other fimilar animals in readine{s' for them when a little more advanced in their growth, as well as corn either in its ground or natural ftate. It is likewife a point of great importance to keep them perfectly clean, and to let them have plenty of dry clean ftraw as litter. The pra@tice of raifing ducksunder hens feldom anfwers well, as their habits are by no means fuited to the rearing of fuch birds; nor has the cuftom of trimming off the tails of the young ducklings any better foundation in reafon.‘They fhould never be admitted at full liberty tillthey are become quite ftrong, as at a month or fix weeks old. It is ufeful to keep them as diftiné as poffible from the others.

Ducks are greedy feeders, but not nicein the kinds of food. Inthe fattening of them, grain either in its whole or reduced mixed ftate is probably the bett fort of food. The ufe of boiled potatoes well mixed with oatmeal-is found to be an econo- mical and expeditious method. Much, however, depends on their being fed in an exact and regular manner, and ona proper fupply of water and fand being conftantly given; while at the fame time they are kept in a perfe€tly quiet detached fituation, not too much expofed to the action of light, but well aired. When fattened on- animal fubftances, which are very expeditious in accomphifhing the bufinefs, they are faid to have more refemblance, both in the colour and flavour of their fleth, to

the wild duck, than in the common method. In the acorn-feafon they are alfo