raying. It is
quite possible to get them fat enough for the larder by increasing the
supply of maize during the last fortnight or so before your shoot takes
place.

I am of opinion that, provided a man feeds and looks after his ducks
himself, is in possession of a supply of coops and runs, and is
fortunate enough to have a suitable piece of water of his own, as well
as a bit of ground to rear them on, that he can make his accounts
balance at the end of the year. In other words, he will be able to give
his friends some very enjoyable shooting, and supply himself with a
hobby of which he will never be tired, at no expense to himself. In
support of my statement I propose to give a few figures. The breeding
stock has of course to be purchased, and for the sake of simplicity let
us put it at twenty ducks and fifteen drakes, making an initial cost of
about L7. In an experience of some years, however, I have found that my
stock at the end of the season numbers practically the same as at the
commencement, and I found it always possible to fill up any casualties
by catching and pinioning wild birds which join my own. On these grounds
I consider that my stock at the end of the season is of the same value
as at the beginning, and that one side of my account balances the other.

The stock fed on maize will cost about 12s. 6d. a month, and, supposing
that the first birds are hatched out about the middle of April, and
practically all, except a very few retained for breeding purposes and
some immature birds, are killed the first week in September, this
calculation brings the price of feeding the breeding stock for seven and
a half months to L4, 13s. 9d.

Now for the food of the young birds. I assume that from the
above-mentioned stock about 250 ducklings will be reared, and, taking an
average of several years, their food from the date of hatching (mid
April) to early September works out roughly at L16. This includes wild
duck meal, wheat, barley, and barley meal, a little maize, and the many
etceteras, such as crissel, grit, and cardiac.

To this should be added a little extra for the feeding of the immature
birds, which are not quite ready for killing. Put this at 15s.

In addition there is still the expense of sitting hens: if twenty hens
are purchased at 3s. each and afterwards sold at 2s., this item will
work out as an expenditure of L1. They have of course to be fed, but
their food--maize is the best--has been taken from the