In and about the town of Aylesbury very many of the cottagers maintain, each of them, a set of ducks, about 4 ducks to a drake. These they keep in any outbuilding attached to their dwellings and, failing such a place, in the cottage itself. From them the "duckers" (dealers peculiar to the trade) collect the eggs, and generally bargain with the owners for their whole supply at a given rate for the season. They begin their collection in October, and the contract is often made for the whole produce up to June. The breeding stock of a "ducker" who does an average trade consists of six drakes and twenty ducks; these all run together, and the brooks and ponds are looked upon almost as common property. They are separated at night, driven up to their respective homes, well fed and warmly housed. The eggs which were laid during the nighttime are set, as soon as possible, under large and attentive hens, for which purpose good Dorkings and Cochins are considered best. The ducks themselves are never allowed to sit, though they may desire to do so, as the result would be almost certain failure. Thirteen eggs comprise a setting, and these are easily covered by a large hen. Hens are set either in fish pads, small hampers, or, in what we have found most serviceable, the round boxes in which cheeses are packed. In the bottom of these is placed some lime or wood ashes, and then a nest of hay or some soft straw; there the hens must be kept as quiet as possible. Special care must be taken to guard against the intrusion of rats or other vermin by which the hen mother may be disturbed and, as is often the case, the whole setting be destroyed thereby. The period of incubation is twenty-eight days, and during the last week of that time care must be taken to sprinkle the eggs daily with lukewarm water, which softens the shells, so that when the time comes for the duckling to make its appearance it has not much difficulty in breaking through its covering. When the young are hatched they should be left with the hen until well nestled, well dried, and strong enough to stand. Many scores of ducklings are lost by inexperienced persons through their impatience to remove them from the nest. The little duckling is at first clad with soft, yellow down, which gradually disappears as the feathers grow. After a few days, three or four broods are put together with one hen, which is quite able to take care of them all.