242 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. xi. 



of the destruction of the Spanish Armada; 

 upon which her majesty called for a bumper of 

 Burgundy to aid the digestion of the goose, 

 and to hail the good news. The commemora- 

 tion of the event has, in the lapse of time, 

 been buried in oblivion ; but due honours 

 are still unconsciously paid to it on every 

 Michaelmas-day, by the destruction of many 

 a goose on its anniversary. 



A gander and five geese are technically 

 called " a Lag," being the number most 

 usually bred together ; though the gander will 

 be contented with one mate, and, if allowed, 

 will remain constant to her through life. 

 French breeders, indeed, not uncommonly 

 allot as many as eight, and even ten, geese 

 to a gander; with a view, of course, to in- 

 crease the number of young stock ; in which, 

 however, they frequently fail, for it has been 

 found that although the geese may lay and 

 sit upon their eggs, yet many of these do not 

 bring forth young. We would not, indeed, 

 in any instance, recommend more than five ; 

 though two or three would, we imagine, in 

 most cases, rear up as many goslings as any 

 moderate private family would require. It 



