248 



SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



moist places by day, they always look out for a clean 

 dry place to sleep in, and this should be afforded to 

 them. They must, however, be carefully shut out from 

 places where there are young trees, or growing crops of 

 any description, or they will do great injury in a very 

 short time. The only time when geese can be suffered 

 to enter a kitchen garden, is when the chief crops are 



THE GOOSE. 



secured and refuse abounds. Stubble fields form an 

 excellent walk for geese, where they pick up much 

 corn as well as herbage. Geese, like ducks, provide 

 largely for their own maintenance, but they require 

 a little feeding. Boiled potatoes, beaten up warm with 

 bran, and given to them (not too hot), will bring them 

 forward at very little expense. 



The goose is a voracious feeder, and will soon fatten 

 if its wants are well supplied. An extraordinary size is 

 attained by cramming geese, but such birds are often 

 rank in flavour, and less wholesome than those which 



