AN OVERWORKED DUCK.
- it is recorded of a duck in New Zealand—a bird that worked three more days than a famous Canadian hen—that it laid' 885 eggs in 885 consecutive days. This example of -errcessive toil is, of course, freakish, if credible ; but it is very much less freakish than most of us would think. That re- markable specieS of duck called the Khaki Campbell has been overworking as notably in England.- During the trials of last year nearly ten per 'cent: of the ducks laid 800 eggs Within the twelve months, one laid 357 in 885 days and-----yet more surprising and much more impottant---the average yield was 225*2 eggs in the'1380- daya-Olthe trial. The unfortunate hens were qtrite- outclassed, and the ducks yielded a gross profit -of -22s. Dd. a bird a year, about 5s. more than the hens. But apart from Such special tests of picked birds; nothing IS So certain- among recent farming statistics as that poultry pri's and- pays *al, especially-on the general farm, where the industry is-0iideratood... -.The-farmer who keeps' fifty birds to cach -grass acre, greatly - iniproVes his meadows -the• seine
time that he earns good direct profit—and we still spend £20,000,000 on imported eggs.
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