Natural and Artificial Duck Culture
Part 10
The best market ducks that reach Boston (present company excepted, of course), are sent there by yourself and your brother, William Rankin of Brockton; not only are they two or three weeks in advance of others, but being grown with so great rapidity gives them that fineness and firmness of flesh, a superior flavor, and excellence in general appearance which cannot be found--or at least never is found--in ducks raised in the natural way, and which must necessarily be kept much longer to attain the same height.
We could refer you to the proprietors of five of the leading hotels in the city, who state that the artificially-hatched ducks furnished by us during the last few years are by far the best they ever used, and that since the raising of ducks had thus been reduced to a science, fully twice as many as formerly are now daily called for by the guests, and consequently the demand is correspondingly increased, and we predict it will continue to increase indefinitely. Your ducks sell quicker and bring more per pound than any we get. Next come those raised and sent by Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Otis, both, like ourselves, using your machines.
By the way, we have now secured Mr. Otis for our superintendent at the Brighton farm, and his well-known skill and experience, combined with our own, will render it necessary for you to keep your eye peeled and look to your laurels, lest you find yourself playing second fiddle. Fraternally and very truly,
W. H. RUDD & SON.
* * * * *
What the Boston Marketmen Say About Our Ducks.
BOSTON, Aug. 8, 1898.
The ducks we received from Maple Farm Duck Yards are the largest and best we find in the market.
NATHAN ROBBINS CO.
* * * * *
BOSTON, Aug. 6, 1898.
We give the preference to ducks shipped us from Maple Farm Duck Yards over all others, as we consider them the largest and fattest on the market. We readily pay a higher price for them.
B. S. COLE.
* * * * *
BOSTON, Aug. 9, 1898.
We have handled ducks from Mr. Rankin's duck yards for many years, and find them superior in size and condition to all others, and readily command a higher price.
NATHAN A. FITCH.
* * * * *
BOSTON, Aug. 8, 1898.
We willingly pay a higher price for ducks shipped to us from Maple Farm Duck Yards, as we consider them the best on the market.
GEO. W. KIMBALL & CO.
* * * * *
BOSTON, Aug. 5, 1898.
We willingly acknowledge that the ducks received from J. Rankin's duck yards not only command the highest price, but are largest and finest that come into Boston market, and handle no others when we can get those.
WILLIAM H. JONES & CO.
* * * * *
BOSTON, Aug. 6, 1898.
We certify that the ducks shipped us from Maple Farm Duck Yards are the largest and best we have handled. H. L. LAWRENCE & CO.
* * * * *
COLUMBIA STA., O., Sept. 15, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
I received the pair of Pekin Ducks you sent me in good condition. People at the station thought they were geese. Am well pleased with them; will write you later. Yours very truly,
THERON D. GOODWIN.
* * * * *
LACEYVILLE, Pa., Sept. 1, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
The ducks arrived here safely Saturday morning. I was more than pleased with them. I have about one hundred ducks which I thought were large and were the admiration of all who saw them, but the ones from you beat anything I ever saw. Quite a number asked me what I was going to do with the geese, and could hardly believe they were ducks. When in want of any more ducks will send direct to you.
Yours truly, W. E. SHOEMAKER.
* * * * *
BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 24, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
Drake came today, and is very satisfactory.
Hastily, ROBERT H. WILSON.
* * * * *
BAY CITY, Mich., July 7, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
The eggs received in good order. Had a nice hatch of ten strong ducks; one dead in shell, have not lost one of the ten; am well pleased and satisfied.
Truly yours, W. P. LATLIN.
* * * * *
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 27, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
I am so pleased with the good hatch I had from the two sittings I bought of you this spring I wanted to let you know. From fifteen hen eggs I have fifteen nice, large, strong chicks, and from fifteen duck eggs hatched ten lovely ducklings. They are so large they are almost like goslings. Thanking you for your kindness and the feather, I am,
Very respectfully, Mrs. LENA CARTER.
* * * * *
CASAWOOD, Station R, N. Y. City, Jan. 9, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
The trio of handsome Pekin Ducks you sent me were promptly received. They seemed to me to be equal in size and beauty to those ducks which received prizes at the late Poultry Show in Madison Square Garden, and I regret now that I had not entered them.
Yours truly, GRACE McVAY.
* * * * *
NANTUCKET, Jan. 8, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
Ducks received in fine shape. They weighed just twenty pounds for the pair the day they arrived. A number of people thought they were geese. Please send me your catalogue and oblige,
Yours truly, H. G. WORTH.
* * * * *
ROCKFORD, Ill., Jan. 2, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
The drakes ordered of you a few days ago arrived in fine shape, and give perfect satisfaction in every way.
Yours respectfully, J. A. BRECKENBRIDGE.
* * * * *
GEORGETOWN, Dec. 30, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
The ducks arrived safe and in good condition. I am very well pleased with your selection, and to show you I appreciate it, I add my testimonial.
Respectfully yours, LEON S. GIFFORD.
* * * * *
FALL RIVER, May 1, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
For that setting of duck eggs I received from you April 1st, I want to thank you now for giving me sixteen eggs when I did not expect but twelve. I should have written before, but I wanted to tell you how many I hatched out. They started to hatch out two days before I looked for them, so that now, May 1st, I have twelve little beauties. I am well satisfied with my dealings with you.
I remain yours truly, Mrs. F. E. PALMER.
* * * * *
Riverview Poultry Yards, WOODSVILLE, N. H., Jan. 25, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
The ducks arrived all right this A. M., and they are beauties. We are very much pleased with them and thank you for the selection.
Yours respectfully, S. S. EVANS & SON.
* * * * *
POCOMOKE CITY, Md., Mar. 23, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
I am much indebted to you for the prompt and satisfactory way in which you filled my recent order for duck eggs. They arrived safe, and are the largest duck eggs that I have ever seen. I enclose here fifty cents, for which please send me your book on Duck Culture,
Yours truly, J. PHILLIS CROCKETT.
* * * * *
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 28, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
Ducks arrived Monday evening (26th), in good shape. Am well satisfied with my bargain. Also received your book, "Duck Culture," for same I am very thankful.
Respectfully yours, JOHN H. ROCKFORD.
* * * * *
NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 10, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
I received the eggs yesterday, and am more than pleased with their size and appearance. I also appreciate your method of doing business. You sent me forty-five eggs, when I ordered three dozen, a surplus for breakage, etc., of nine eggs, five of which were broken in shipping. This alone shows your business capacity. Hoping that we shall be able to do more business in the near future, I remain,
Yours very truly, J. J. TOMKINS.
* * * * *
STERLING, LUEDOWN CO., Va., Oct. 31, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
Ducks arrived O. K. and am very much pleased with them, as is everyone else. I shall let you hear from me very soon in regard to incubator.
Yours truly, R. S. VAN DEVENTOR.
* * * * *
HULL, P. Q., Can., Dec. 4, 1896.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
The trio of Imperial Pekin Ducks that you sent me arrived Dec. 2d at Ottawa all right, and I must say they are beautiful birds of large size. The gentleman in charge of the Customs Examining Warehouse at Ottawa, says he never saw one like them before. He took your name and address. I had a number of visitors and they all admired them. I think I will send for one more drake. I thank you for your selection.
* * * * *
NO. DUXBURY, Mass., April 10, 1897.
MR. JAMES RANKIN:
Dear Sir--
Inclosed find $10.00. Please forward more Pekin duck eggs. Yours are the most fertile and produce the strongest ducks that I ever saw. Bill eggs--A. M. Fletcher, Mansfield, and oblige,
Yours, A. M. FLETCHER.
* * * * *
THE INCUBATOR AND ITS USE
By JAMES RANKIN
A work compiled from over 30 years' experience by the author, telling the novice just how to manage his incubator, hatch his eggs and grow his chicks successfuly.
PRICE, BY MAIL 25 CENTS
We obtain the most of our cereals from the
Washburn Crosby Co., CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING, BOSTON, MASS.
We find them a reliable firm always having a first-class article on hand, at reasonable rates.
* * * * *
What is Worth Crowing Over
MICO-SPAR CUBICAL GRIT?
Mico-Spar Cubical Grit is a hard mineral product containing sodium, aluminum, magnesium, lime and iron, natural chemical properties which every poultry raiser knows are necessary to produce paying hens.
Paying hens lay their share of eggs regularly and willingly, never needing to be "forced" because they are well and strong. These are the slow but sure kind, the kind that helps raise the mortgage.
Mico-Spar Cubical Grit produces this kind of paying hens because it _makes_ and _keeps_ hens healthy. It creates perfect digestion because it keeps things in the crop on the move, owing to the fact that the corners of the cube always remain sharp. Honest, practical tests have shown that Mico Spar Cubical Grit is the hen's _choice_, and that the minutest cube left in the crop retains its sharp corners.
Mico-Spar Cubical Grit is not a hen food or powder. Its use is to tone _naturally_ the entire system. It is an economical Grit because it does not crush in handling, because its bright shining surface in the scratching pen attracts the hen, thereby preventing loss, and because no oyster shells are needed.
If you are a hen raiser put Mico-Spar Cubical Grit on the hen yard menu and you will prove that Mico Spar Cubical Grit is _worth crowing over_.
INTERNATIONAL MINERAL CO. - - 120 TREMONT ST., BOSTON
MICA CRYSTAL GRIT
We buy this Grit by the carload and find it the best we have ever used. It is clean, sharp and economical, and we heartily recommend it to all.
JAMES RANKIN,
SOUTH EASTON, MASS.
* * * * *
PAROID ROOFING
"IT LASTS"
Paroid contains no tar. It is made of strong felt, thoroughly saturated and coated. It is proof against climatic changes--can be applied by anyone and does not require painting when first laid. Paroid, used as a siding, makes a neater job, keeps buildings warmer, and is less expensive than shingles and clapboards.
MADE IN 1, 2, AND 3 PLY
Put up in rolls 36 inches wide, containing 216 and 108 square feet. Complete kit for applying, inside of each roll.
We have nearly one-half acre of roof covered with Paroid. It appears to be elastic and very strong, and unaffected by heat or cold, and we believe it will be very durable, and the cheapest thing on the market. We have one stable 100 feet long, 32 feet wide, covered with it.
JAMES RANKIN SOUTH EASTON, MASS.
SEND FOR PRICE LIST