The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-28
DUCK FARMING.
The chinese HRtohing EstHblluhmOnts-A
Big Goose Market.


Big Goose Market.
One afternoon We went on most in
teresting expedition up the river, and ther
turned aside into one OF the many creek
to the village Of Faa-tee, and thence on
ward in search Of one OF the great duck
Matching establishments, where multi
tudinous eggs are artiacially hntched
The first We came to was closed, but the
boatman told US OF another further on, 60
We landed and walked along narrow
ridges between large flooded fields in
which the lotus and water Chestnuts are
grown for the sake Of their edible roots,
Both are nice when cooked, but the col
lection Of these in this deep mud must be
truly detestabls for the poor women en-
gagged in 1t, Passing by the amazing
heaps Of old egg-shells (tor which even the
Chinese seem to have as yet found no use)
We reach the Matching house, in which
many thousands oieggs are being gradually
warmed in great baskets filled up with
heated chat, and placed on shelves OF
very open basket work, which are ar
ranged in tiers all round the walls, while
on the ground are placed eaTthenware
stoves full OF burning charcoal. Here the
eggs are kept for whole day and night,
the position OF the basket with reference
to the stoves being continually changed
by attendants, who reserve their apparel
for use in cooler atmosphere. After
this preliminary heating the eggs are re-
moved to other baskets in another heated
room, TO which they are dextrously carried
in cloths, each containing about fifty eggs
No one but q neat-hAnded Chinamsn
could carry such a burden without n
breakageI Here the eggs remain for about
a fortnight, each egg being frequently re-
moved from place 10 place to eqallze the
share OF heating. Alter this they are
taken TO a'third room, where they are
spread over wide shelves and covered
with the sheets Of thick, warm cotton; at
the end oianother fortnight hundreds Of
little duCklings simultaneously break
their shells, and by evening, perhaps, q
couple OF thousand fluffy little beauties
are launched into life, and are forthwith
fed with rice water.
Duck farmers (who know precisely when
each great hatChingis duel are in attend
ancs to buy 80 many hundred Of these
pretty Infants, which they carry of. to
their respective farms, where there are al
ready an immense number OF ducks and
geese Of diiIsrentages, all in separate lots,
The geese, by the way, are not Matched
artillClally, owing TO the thickness Of their
shells, consequently they are not so very
numerous as ducks. Still, ilocks number.
ing 600 or 500 are reared, and are provided
with waffle shelves ON which to roost, Us
damp ground is injurious to tho young
birds. A very large goose market Is held
every morning In Canton, which Is sup.
piled by geese boats, each Of which brings
200 or 800 birds. AS to tho baby ducks,
they ere fed on boiled rice, and after
awhile are promoted to bran, lua2gots and
other deliCaciep, till tho day comes when
the owners OF tho duck boats come 10
purchase tbs half.grown birds and com.
'nenCe the process Of letting them iatten
themselves as aforesaid. This continues
till they are ready for the market, and are
either sold for immediate consumption or
bought wholesale by the provision deal
ers, who split, salt and dry them in the
sun. The heart, gizzard and entrails arc
also dried and sold separately, and the
bills, tongues and feet are picked in brine.