The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-26

| can pun rea0lly II necessary, and then ar
| range a chain or strap that will enable him
to do so.
A colt should be well accustomed to be.
fng driven before learning to pull, and
Until past 3 years old.
Care must be taken not to tire him too
much at first. Many a young horse has
been made balky and ruined for life by
loading a little too heavy or driving him u
little too long during the early stage OF
training.
Teach him to pull gradually and he can
readily be trained 80 that he can always be
relied upon to do his best.
Baking Is usually the result of improper
training rather than of natural disposition.
Raising Ducks.
Written for The Republic.
As Il table fowl the duck ranks next to the
turkey In quality and price. There are
three standard breeds-Pekin. Aylesbnry
and Rouen., All things considered. the Pekin
is rather the best. although any of them
are good.
Ducks TO be most profitable must be able
to lind q considerable portion of their own
FOOD. Wfile, with good management. they
can be raised in close confinement and BIS
made TO pay a fair per cent of profit, the
hest results can be secured by giving them
supplied conveniently. one OF the best ways
OF managing Is to give them the run of the
orchard; or. If this cannot be done convent
entiy. the run OF a pasture. They are good
iorasers ana require considerable coarse,
bulky food. and il given the opportunity
viii secure a good part of their living. and
in doing this will destroy many insect
pests.
But. during the winter. they should be
provided with warm. dry quarters and be
to r0ost upon the ground. their quarters
fowls.
1t will add much to their comfort If they
have plenty of dry bedding. Straw in n
good material. changing IL often enough to
prevent 1t becoming too foul.
flnfy cYteh Nc 49, ,x~I1I r., g-- --p
breeding should be kept through the win
ter. One drake to every five ducks is about
t I'M right promotion: Let the breeding stock
previous season, taking care to select the
best. II. is best to introduce new blood oc-
casionaliy. although inbreedins does not
turkeys.
Ducks made reasonably comfortable dur
ing the winter can usually be depended up
on to begin laying in February, If not be-
fore; and will continue laying right along
until June or July. and then often lay a
clutch Of eggs again in the fall.
eggs very nicely: She makes a model nest.
lining it with feathers and down. but in
most cases she makes a poor mother.
Largely on this account. and in order to
hatch a good part of the ducks reasonably
early, 1t is best to hatch the eggs under
common hens.
grain should not be given: or combine the
grain with some coarser. bullSier material.
Cut clover into short lengths, pour boil
ing water over II. stand over night in a
place where it is sure not to freeze. Then,
in the morning. add some bran and corn
meal. This makes a first-class ration, and
they may he given all that they will read
lily eat up clean.
Wheat middlings. oats and barley meal
make a good bone and muscle producing
food and can be fed to a good advantage;
boiled and mashed turEips. with bran ana
cornmeal. make a good ration
Ducks are voracious eaters, and on TINS
account care must be taken not to feed
More than any other fowls. they need
water with their food, and a supply should
be kept where they can help themselves
while eating.
April is early enough for the ducklings to
hatch. SO that the eggs should not be set
until early in March. They grow mucn
more rapidly than chickens. and can be
made ready for market in ten weeks, and
at that age will usually weigh about twice
as much as chickens of the same age: Thev
are free from lice and are not SO subject TO
disease as chickens or turkeys.