1^ Sitting, 



lay. The earliness and warmth of the spring 

 are the general causes of the early laying 

 of geese, which is of consequence^ since there 

 may be time for two broods within the season, 

 not however a common occurrence ; and 

 whichhappening successively for two or three 

 seasons, has occasioned some persons former- 

 ly, to set a high value upon their stock, as if 

 of a peculiar and more valuable breed than 

 the common. The method, however, to 

 attain this advantage is, to feed breeding 

 geese high throughout the winter, with so- 

 lid corn, and on the commencement of the 

 breeding season, to allow them boiled bar- 

 ley, malt, fresh grains, and fine pollard 

 mixed up with ale, or other stimulants. 



With a good gander present, no mis- 

 chief can happen to the sitting geese, with- 

 out extraordinary alarm, he sitting cen- 

 tinel at the chamber door of his wives. 

 With respect to feeding the goose or duck 

 upon the nest, it may be occasionally re- 

 quired, but is not a thing of much account, 

 since tliey will generally repair to the water 

 jsufficiently often, from tlieir natural inch- 



