their prizes. Such blemishes may arise from the ducks frequenting peaty land; to get fair unsullied bills is a great trouble to exhibitors. A good pen of three drakes and two ducks will weigh 23 lbs. or 24 lbs., and 26 1-4 lbs. have been reached. Rouen Ducks, in plumage, resemble the wild duck, but they are of splendid size. The Buenos Ayres, or East Indian ducks, like Bantams among fowls, are the dwarfs among ducks, and are bred as small as possible, and shown young, to make the most of this important point-diminutive size. They must be very small, and quite black, with brilliant green metallic luster on the plumage. They have dark legs and bills. They often incline to mate in pairs, so that if only one drake is kept to two or more ducks, many eggs will prove infertile; the eggs are colored, and, of course, small. The Musk, Muscovy, or Brazilían Duck is very distinct. They vary in color, the usual color being a dull black, with white on the under surface, and some other portions of their bodies. A curious red warty cere near the bill characterizes them; and the great difference of size between the drake and the duck is peculiar. A large black duck, with brilliant luster on the plumage, called the Cayuga Black duck, is mentioned. It is a native of America and is said to have been domesticated from some wild stock. Call Ducks.-The beautiful little Call or Decoy ducks are ornamental and very small. These are the kinds most frequently seen. There are occasionally sent to the shows the Hook-billed, the Penguin, and the Top-knotted ducks. DISEASES. There is little economy in an attempt to doctor sick fowls; as a labor of love and a matter of humanity, the case may be different, and we often like to cure or lessen the sufferings of a favorite. Warmth, shelter, and safety from the molestation of other fowls is often a main remedial measure. A bask by a kitchen fire, for a few days, a retreat where tyrants cannot hunt or peck the sufferer, and simple or 1.ourishing food, according to whether the patient is suffering from weakness or repletion, is frequently by itself a curative treatment. If little chickens pine and droop the wings, a pill of Barba does aloes, the size of a pea, or a pellet of rue and butter, may do good if the ailment be taken in good time. Insects must always be duly looked after, dislodged with a dusting of flour of sulphur, and guarded against by cleanliness, and a good provision of dust-bath. Most poultry diseases may be traced to the effect of our chilly, damp, and variable climate, so that a warm sheltered locality, and good shelter for young chickens, are all important. Douglass' mixture is excellent for giving strength and stamina to old fowls, or young. Dissolve together with a little water 1-2 lb. of sulphate of iron, and I oz. of diluted sulphuric acid, add spring water enough to make up two gallons, let it stand for a fortnight, mix a teaspoonful of the mixture with a pint of water, and give it to fowls or chickens to drink instead of water. Decoction of citrate of iron mixed with water in the proportion to give it a very perceptible taste of iron, is also good as a strengthener. If inflammation in the egg passage be denoted by the produc tion of soft or misshapen eggs, give one grain of calomel, with 1-12th of a grain of tar emetic. It should be repeated three times in a week a intervals. If mature fowls appear feverish and drooping, and seem to require a dose of medicine, give one of Plummer's pill, a bit of Barbadoes aloes the size of a large pea, or five grains of jalap in a bolus of barley meal, according to the strength of the dose required. If, however, they are judiciously fed and properly cared for, medical treatment will rarely be re quired. AVING decided upon the cultivation of fruit and establishing an orchard, it becomes necessary to fix upon its dimensions and extent. In consideration of this question of extent, two other important matters are to be taken into accountthese are, the quantity of ground you may have suitable and to spare, and the amount of means you can set apart for the purpose. In settling these points you should possess, first, a knowledge of the kind of ground necessary; and second, a determination to do the work well, at whatever cost. For an ordinary family of five to ten persons, not less than three acres will suffice for home consumption use, and as many more as can be made profitable for market use. On these three acres can be stocked from two to three hundred standard trees of the different sorts of fruit, besides a due proportion of all the smaller kinds-an amount which, if properly managed, will in a few years afford an ample supply for family use. COST. The cost of first planting willy widely in different localities-depending the condition of the ground, the quality of soil, prices of trees, price of labor, etc. An approximate calculation may be made, bower, by estimating the cost of preparing the ground and planting the trees, at an amount equal to the cost of the trees in the nursery; and, when ditching and underdraining is necessary, at double that amount. The following rule laid down by Thomas Gregg in his admirable work on fruit culture should be inflexibly observed in all cases: Never slight the work, nor plant an inferior tree, because it is cheaper to do so! Work half done is very poor eronomy in planting an orchard, as well as in most other things; and a tree costing only half price in the nursery may turn out to be a very dear one in the end. The very best varieties (and these are not always the most costly), as well as the very best trees, are those from which you must expect to realize the most profit. ESTIMATE FOR THREE ACRES. The following estimate will answer for an orchard of three acres of ground, with such variations as circumstances may require. [The number of trees will vary somewhat as the shape of the ground is varied; the calculation is based on a plat twentyfour rods long by twenty wide.] Eighty apple trees, thirty-three feet apart, covering two acres. Seventy peach-trees, sixteen and a half feet apart, set around three sides of the whole. There will then be left in front one acre, which may be divided into two equal plats of 132 by 166 feet. These may be filled as follows: IN NO. 1.-Twenty standard pears, thirty-three feet apart, in continuation of the apple rows. Thirty-two dwarf in the same rows, seven pears, feet apart and thirteen feet from the standards. And Twenty-seven pyramid and dwarf plums, quinces, cherries, etc., in the alternate rows, sixteen and a half feet apart. IN No. 2. Such number of almonds, apricots, grapes, nectarines, gooseberries, currants, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries, as fancy may dictate, ss will stock it properly. The ye estimate will constitute an orchard of about 250ard trees-standard and dwarf-and perhaps as many more of the garden or bush fruits. DISTANCES Every planter has his own opinion regarding the dance which trees should be planted from each other. Besides, soni kinds of soils and localities require greater distance than others; and some varieties will bear to stand closer than other varieties of the same fruit. A good rule is that, when full grown, the tops should not be nearer to each other than one third their diameter. An apple-tree, for example, when fully grown, will spread, on an average, to a distance of twenty-five feet, the rule will give thirty-three feet as the distance apart. proper Peaches seldom spread, or should not, if properly pruned, more than twelve to fifteen feet; the rule gives sixteen to twenty feet as the distance to plant. In planting an orchard of apples, with plenty of ground, thirty-three feet is probably the safest distance; yet, if ground is an object, they will do at twentyfive feet. Apples may be planted a little wider-say forty feet -and rows of peach-trees planted both ways between: as the peach, not being so long-lived, will die out before the apple has attained to a large growth. When the saving of ground is an important consideration, and none but standard trees are to be planted, more space may be obtained by planting in rows, according to the following diagram: Much has been said and written concerning the location of orchards. Situation and aspect doubtless have their effects, yet no one should neglect to plant merely because he cannot give his trees such an aspect as he may desire. Trees in favorable situations will undoubtedly produce more good crops than those less fortunately situated; yet many seasons occur when the causes of the difference do not`arise, and trees in any exposure will produce abundantly. To this general rule there can be very few exceptions, namely-Elevated situations are better than lowlands, and the brows and sides of hills are to be chosen in preference to the valleys. Numerous proofs have been adduced to show that the peach might be successfully grown much farther north than it usually is, if the most elevated po sitions were chosen instead of the warm valleys. So, farther south, frequent severe frosts cut off the crops on the low grounds, |