MANAGEMENT OF GEESE, 249 



are fattened in the natural way. Geese produced so 

 late as June or July will fatten well on the stubble 

 fields the same autumn, without any further feeding 

 than a meal of potatoes and bran once a day. But 

 early goslings, namely, those of March or April, will 

 require good feeding, as they have no stubble fields. In 

 order to be successful in rearing geese, a gander should 

 be chosen, either of a pure white or of an ash-grey, not 

 of two colours. He should be of large size, but active 

 in his gait, with clear and lively eyes, and a loud voice. 

 The geese (of whom there should not be more than four 

 to one gander) should be chosen for weight of body, 

 steadiness of deportment, and breadth of foot. They 

 will begin to lay about the latter end of February, at 

 which time they will be seen running about with straws 

 in their mouths as if to prepare a nest. They should 

 then be watched, and kept within bounds. If they can 

 be induced to begin laying in nests prepared for them, 

 they will not fail to continue laying in the same spot. 

 A goose will go on laying until she has deposited from 

 ten to twenty eggs, when she will probably show an in- 

 clination to hatch them. This will be detected by her 

 keeping in the nest longer than usual, the gander, mean- 

 while, keeping watch. Fifteen eggs are as many as a 

 goose can conveniently cover ; these she may be allowed 

 to sit upon without any interference except the bringing 

 of food and water near to the nest every day. Some of 

 the goslings begin to chip the shell about the twenty- 

 ninth day ; but as the eggs are hatched in succession, 

 the goose sometimes remains sitting for nearly two 

 months. The early hatched goslings are therefore 

 taken away from their mother, lest she should be 

 induced by her care for them to desert the rest of the 

 eggs. The egg-shell of the goose is so strong that the 

 young ones have some difficulty in making their exit. 

 Where this is observed to be considerable, they may be 

 assisted in getting free with less danger than attends 

 the intermeddling with the common chick. 



