793. To fatten Ducks.—Feed them with the same food as the turkeys or geese, and let them have a pan of water to dabble in.
794. To make Hens lay perpetually.—Hens will lay perpetually, if treated in the following manner:—Keep no roosters (cocks): give the hens fresh meat, chopped up like sausage-meat, once a day; a very small portion, say half an ounce a day to each hen, during the winter, or from the time insects disappear in the fall till they appear again in the spring. Never allow any eggs to remain in the nest for what are called "nest eggs." When the roosters do not run with the hens, and no nest eggs are left in the nest, the hens will not cease laying after the production of twelve or fifteen eggs, as they always do when roosters and nest eggs are allowed; but continue laying perpetually. The only reason why hens do not lay in winter as freely as in summer, is the want of animal food, which they get in summer in abundance, in the form of insects.
HINTS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HUMAN LIFE FROM FIRE.
795. Cautions.—Sweep chimneys regularly; sweep frequently the lower part of the chimney within reach; the kitchen chimney should be swept once a month.
796. Fires in Chimneys.—When a chimney or flue is on fire, throw into the fire-place handfuls of flour of sulphur, which will destroy the flame. Or, apply a wet blanket, or old carpet, to the throat of the chimney, or over the front of the fire-place. A chimney-board, or register-flap, will answer the same purpose, by stopping the draught of air from below.