Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-03-07
RAISING FOWLS IN CHINA.
AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY AMONG
THE MoNaoLIANs.
Peculiar Duck Hatohing Establish
rnonts--SkillNit Geese Raising
How Poultry is Fattcned.

large extent, tho same plncc in the Chi
nesc that bcef does in tho American gas.
tronomy. II is the meat food of the
people, aud II is furnished ats such low
rates that it is consumed by the poor as
well as tho rich. had to pay three
prices for everything which 1 bought in
North China, says Frank Carpenter in tho
Ameriem Agricuiturist, but oven at this
rate tho ducks which were laid in for our
table on our trip up the Pciho River cost
us but six cents apiece, and wc got geese
and Chickens Mt the same ratio.
Duck and goose farming are great in
dustrios in South Ohinn. l saw duck
boats at Canton upon some of which lived
us many MS two thousand birds. These
birds wore OF MI ages and sizes, from half
to full grown, and consider thom one of
the most wonderful things in the lnnd of
the Colcstials. The owners Of tho bouts
were big-hattod Chinumcn In bluo gowns
md wide blue pantaloons, which Tapped
against their bare legs MS thoy moved
about watching their focks. These duck
hcrdors row or scull tho bouts along tho
low banks of tho rivers and creeks, and
stop from time to time to LEI tho ducks
crawl out upon tho mnrshy lands, where
they aro expected to get their living by
digging in the mud with their bills for
worms and snails.
The hcrdcr In the first instance gots
his birds, when half grown, from tho
duck farmers, who buy thcm from the
duck Matching establishments, peculiar
institution of China. These incubntors
hatch thousands of eggs ut timo, and,
rude ns they nre, they arc managed so
carefully by experienced hnnds TINT very
few birds nrc lost. Tho eggs urc placed
III bnsllcts lilled with heated chalI, and
nrc for tho first twcnty-four hours hung
over charcoal fires in II close room kept at
such temperature TINT the egg will be
just so warm, and no warmer. At the
ond Of this timo tho eggs nrc carried In
cloths to another room of different tenn
perature, and in order TINT they may be
equally heatod they are put in rattan
baskets lined with coarse brown paper,
and moved about from day to day. The
eggs are in tho upper part of the bnskot
during tho dizzy, and aro put In tho lowor
pnrt mt night, and they are thus moved
about for two weeks. At the end of this
timo they arc tukon to third room and
laid upon shelves, wrapped up in thick
paper or warm cotton. This room also ia
heated and the tcmporaturo Is no we'll
regulated throughout TINT the oggs hatch
out at tho sumo timo. During almost tho
same hour thousand little bilb peck
their way through thousand white shells
and the littls dycklings voice forth their
first weak quhck. Tho duck farmers OF
the vicinity know when each big Matching
Is to take place and arc on hnnd to buy
the fluffy little creatures. They carry
them to their farms, which arc located on
the bnnks of the rivers or creeks, and
they havc M many rules for trcnting them
ms our stock breeders have for their .Jcr-
scy cows and their bloodcd horses. They
first let them have rice water to drink.
and after this change them TO diet of
boiled rice. They next give them bran
mixed with chalf, and after time allow
them to go to the creek and forage for
themselves. They are MS careful of them
during their babyhood rs mn American
mother Is of her child, and for five days
after they are born they try to keep them
away from all noise whatsoever. They
pen them in coop, the bottom of which
is covered with grass, until they arc two
weeks old, and are very particular to SEQ
that they nrc provided with clear spring
water to drink during their first two
weeks. When the ducks arc grown up
and begin to lay, their first diet is regu.
lated, and one is not allowed TO sit on
more than twelve eggs. Every five days
during the sitting tho farmers drive the
ducks off the nest into tho water, in
order that they may wash themselves,
and they ever rc3nlatc the companionship
of the ducks and brakes. TO make the
ducks lay, the Chinese pull fcnthcrs from
their wings and tails, and they believe
that by starving them for several days
and then giving them II good feeding,
they can bring about this object.
There is goose market in Canton
where are sold thousands of geese every
day. The Chinese are as skillful in rails
ing geese and chickens as they are in duck
culture. Thoy bring the same care to
bear upon all things connected with
them, and regulate the number of eggs to
tho sitting, according to the size Of the
goose. A small goose, they rightly think,
cannot cover as many eggs as a large one,
nnd the smallest birds arc allowed to sit |
on only half dozen eggs, while a good
sized neis allowed from nine to twelve.
They make their geese roost ut night on
wicker shelves, rather than upon the
ground, as they think the damp earth is
unfavorablc to their growth. Some of
our best breeds of fowls come from China,
and we could, / doubt not, learn many
good things as to chicken. raising from
the Celestials. They have their poultry
books, as we have, and they have many
curious customs in regard to them. They
believe that the hens that make the least
fuss over laying their eggs are the best
layers, and they prize chickens with short
feathers. They fatten fowls by giving
them paste of flour mixed with oil,
little bit of which they give to each
chicken daily. They are adopts in the
raising of capons, and they claim that