The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-06
0be farn1.
For tie Farmer and Mech0Htc
Letter From Wake.

Slty TO the FARMER. We ""hO ~
read the opinions and experiences OF
other farmers and compare them
with what we have already tried.
We want to know what other farm
ers are doing and thinking, and #
we desire to be really posted, moth
ing more easy; we take the FARMER
AND MECHANIC and III It's columns
we Away find what we desire to
know.
| am sorry that it has fallen to
my lot, to try and inform your
many readers about the care and
breeding of fowls. | shall therefore
confine myself TO the breeds and
varieties of fowls that | raise and
as | am simply a fancier | Will not
Il that they are the best though |
am content.
African Geese are the largest bo-
died, Weld more feathers and lay
more eggs than any other breed.
| have known n goose to lay SIX
ty-two eggs in a season, do not care
to set. and will are for the young
Matched by hens ducks etc, az well
as if they we're Matched by them.
Cross with the common goose and
make a more symetrical fowl than
the pure African.
White China geese are pure
white, and very upright IN carriage,
their necks are long and have IA
beautiful curve, yellow legs and
bill with a large knot on It's base.
The yield of feathers is not as large
as that of the African, though Of
the finest quality and the flesh Is
excellent, are splendid layers, good
settlers, and lay at all eaSon eX-
cept Winter. At times they make
a peculiar noise especially at night,
almost like the low notes of Il flute,
are very intelligent and are better
safeguards to poultry or intruders
of any kind than dog, look very
much like a swan Oh the water and
are often called the "Swan Goose
Imperial Pekin ducks are in body
about the size of the common Goose
with Il shape like our puddle duck;
they are creamy white, with yellow
leg and bill. Are good layers
(about one hundred eggs at alatter)
can't fly and are of better flavor
than any breed known to me, eat
anything, splendid followers of Il
plough for grubs and very hardy.
yield an abundance Of feathers
equal in quality to those of the fin
est geese.
Muscovy ducks, every n knows
the quality and traits of this bird
as Il scavinger, their gastronic quail
tiles, their wandering habits, love
of ease, they are called the o'possum
of their breed.
China Ducks are very small, pure
white, every fussy. good layers, care
full of their Young and very hardy,
but not much Of Il table fowl.
Australian Turkey, pure white,
very large, good layers and settlers,
will hatch as many It's three brood,
in Il season with good care, lay from
two to fourteen eggs at Il latter, soft
nice feathers, like to be picked, or,
namental but hard to raise.
Black or African Guinea, there i:
nothing peculiar about this fow
except it differs from the common
guinea in its domestic qualities, lay
ing with the other fowls and scarce
~ ever hiding its nest.
Lilac or Turkish guinea, abou
the same size as u common guine;
and has many of the qualities o
the African, beautiful plumage an,
is a very proud bird; both of tn
above breeds are very useful as Gle
stroyers of bugs and very valuabl
as layers.
Pea fowls are very ornamental
but very troublesome, seem to thinI
they are better than all other fowls
great destroyers of young turkeys
ducks, &C., onlyl lay about five eggs
GOOD ,ottorC onI tolo oara of thai