The age-herald., 1897-11-20

Flesh strong, and lt IS nOI given to birds intended for market.
 Hens as Incubators
 The patient hen makes fair substI- tute for the incubator where the hatch ing of ducks is concerned. As many as 800 sitting hens are used on some farms for this purpose. They are set in small houses with the nests around the sides in tiers, each nsst having it's own lattice door. Each day. in the morning, the hens are taken from the nests and fed and watered on the floor of the house. They are taken down in limited num- bsrs- sections, as it were-at a time and after they have had food, drink and a little exercise they are put back on the GEES.
 Then standard breeds of ducks are raised in this country Three of these the black East Indian, the white call and the gray call-are bantams and arg the crested white" duck is almost pure ly ornamental. The breed most easily raised and as highly valued as any is the white Pekin. It was imported from China in the early '70s. Another import ant breed, distinctly American as to ori- gin, is the black Cayuga duck. It is al- legged by some authorities to be d. scend- ed from the wild black duck and it seems to have been first domesticated on the shores of Cayuga lake, in Central New York state.
 A Quarrelsome Bird
 The Muscovy ducks form distinct genus, having several very notable pecu- liarities. They are found wild in tropi- cal South. America and in Brazil they are extensively propagated, being prized very highly for eating. In this country and in Europe, particularly in Germ,kly, they are bred in large numbers. Some times the tame ones build their nests in yrF< Aa1x fl,nxF do not bshave well on farm with other poultry, owing to their quarrelsome and pugnacous nature. In the wild state, before pairing, the males fight desperate 1y, doing great harm to each other, and this fighting, quarrelsome disposition is inherited by the domestic duck. The temper of the drake is spoken of as abominable, his persecution of other poultry is never ceasing and he is cred ited with having attacked children when his "dander was up." Muscovy ducks do not lay nearly so many eggs as the common kinds. When bred they must be kept in yards by themselves and their wings must be clipped to keep them from flying.
 The Goose-Raisiug Industry
 Goose raising is another growing in- dustry in this country, though rot ss extensive as duck breeding. The condi- tions required are wholly different. The goose, DelnS d idISer dni01dl HSeuS n1Ole room than a duck and it must have wa ter and free range. On the other hand, the care and attention necessary for rais- ing geese are small compared with the returns and the cost of food is not nearly so great as for other birds reared for market A goose at full liberty will gather most of its provender in the shape of grasses, insects and other vegetable and animal material to be found in the fields and brooks.
 Geese are long-lived fowls. Individu- als have b;en known to reach forty years, while birds fifteen and twenty years old are not uncommon. They re- tain their laying powers through life. The ganders, however, are apt to become usarresome as age advances. The feathers of geese are an important source of revsnue and find ready sale. A goose will average about one pound of feathers per annum. At certain sea- sons there is no blood in the ends of the quils and they will leave the flesh with out hard pulling or hurt to the animal Almost all varieties of geese are good settlers and attentive mothers. The gos- lings are able to take care of themselves after they are four or five days old. At ten weeks of age they should weigh be- tween eight and ten pounds and are ready for market. .
 There are seven standard breeds of geese The most beautiful are the col ored Egyptians which are only good for ornamental purposes, having been bred in this country exclusively for snow. This variety is otherwise known as the Nile goose. It is tall and somewhat slender which gives it peculiar ele- gance of appearance. Unfortunately, it is very quarrelsome and the male will fight to the death with other males of the same species. On this account each male has to have separate pen.