252 Farm Poultry 



able to care for themselves largely, if a good 

 range is given. The food of geese is largely 

 grass, although insects and other low forms of 

 animal life are eaten readily and are essential. 



GEESE BREEDS 



The most common breeds of the pure -bred 

 geese are the Toulouse, African, Embden, Chinese, 

 Canada or Wild, and Egyptian. Many geese 

 throughout the country are of no particular 

 breed. It is probable that these geese have 

 descended from those imported by settlers at 

 an early date in the history of the country. In 

 some instances improved breeds have been 

 crossed on these common or mongrel geese, but 

 many flocks are still . maintained that are of no 

 particular breed, neither color nor conformation 

 indicating that they contain any considerable 

 proportion of blood of improved kinds. 



Toulouse. The Toulouse geese are large, 

 massive, and probably attain a greater weight 

 than those of any other breed. I. K. Felch 

 states* that geese of sixty pounds weight per 

 pair have been exhibited in American exhi- 

 bitions. 



"Toulouse geese usually lay more eggs in a 

 season than Embden or African geese, but not as 



* Poultry Culture," p. 404. 



