Live Stock.—Poultry—Water-Fowl—Wild Ducks—Gee/e. 1213

eapable of being readily fattened on that fort of food, and are a!lowed to be well- flavoured in their flefh from it.

The eftablithing of decoys for taking of wild-ducks is an object of fome importance in particular fituations, as where there are extenfive fheets of water in fequeftered difiri@s at no great diftance from the fea, as in the wilds of Lincolnthire, Norfolk, and other counties. Much nicety and exactnefs are however requifite in the con- ftru@tion and management of thefe, in order to render them effeCual, as may be feen in Mr. Marfhall’s excellent defcription of the means of forming them, in the firft volume of the Rural Economy of Norfolk.

The author of the Middlefex Correed Report obferves, that“ it is clearly afcer- tained, that dacks might be kept in fuch numbers on corn- farms, as to prevent any fenfible lofs or deftruction in their crops by worms, flugs, and caterpillars; and yet we are always hearing of great lofles oceafioned by thofe vermin, The fupport ofa hundred or two of ducks on a farm is a trifling expenfe, and might be confidered in the light of enfuring the young crops again{t being cut off. Itis thought that many a farmer reccives more damage to a crop in one feafon, than would fupport a fufficient number of ducks to give perfect fecurity for twenty years.”

eof.—There are feveral diftinct breeds of geefe kept in different places; but the largeft and moft ufeful fort, whether for the purpofe of food or feathers, is

the common breed.

In the choice of ftore-geefe, great care fhould always be taken to procure them as larce in fize as poffible, and from places where they have been well kept. Geefe, like

mot other birds, begin to lay in the fpring months; and the earlier this happens the

better, as the price of early green cecfe is generally high, and in fome cafes it may be poffible to have a fecond brood. Both thefe purpofes may be promoted by letting . well fed with oats, grains, or fome fuch kinds of food at the period. The them be we pee> lveeggs. Itmay be known when geefe are about lee Joins arried ¢ tthe y“nO to lay, from ftraw being frequently picked up and carried about bythem. The length of time of fitting is about thirty days. When geefe are inclined to fit, they generally neft after laying aconfiderable time. In this cafe, a

goofe generally lays from eight to twe

fhow it by remaining on their proper quantity of eggs, as from ten to twelve, fhould be placed in the nefts, and

fomething put before them, fo as to prevent the geefe from being much feen. They fhould alfo have plenty of food, fand and water near them, in order that they may not in that way let the eggs be too much cooled.

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have to remain long off the nefits, and The ganders fhould be left with them as guards. When the weather is warm they generally hatch rather fooner than when itiscold. After the goflings are hatched,