334 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



GEESE AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



The common domestic goose is one of the most 

 profitable of our poultry, where the facilities exist 

 for breeding them largely. Water is more neces- 

 sary to geese than ducks, and it is generally useless 

 to attemi)t to raise them successfully unles^ they 

 can have access to a pond or stream of water. A 

 good pasture, or common, for them to graze upon, 

 is another re(iuisite. They bite so close that a very 

 bare pasturage will support them. They ought not, 

 however, tb be allowed to graze on pasturage occu- 

 pied by farm stock, as they spoil tlie grass by leav- 

 ing their droppings scattered on tli^ field, and no 



DOMESTIC GOOSE. 



animal will eat those spots afterwards. They are 

 very destructive to all farm and garden crops, and 

 require to be carefully excluded from them, wliich 

 is generally done by putting a yoke, or light piece 

 of board, across their breast, to prevent them from 

 getting through the fences. 



They are best for breeding after they have at- 

 tained their third year, and will live to a great age. 

 Tliey are better to be kept separate from other 

 poultry, as they are apt to become quarrelsome, and 

 injure the fowls that they are kept with. For a 

 goose-house, a dry situation is required. Low sheds, 

 with nests partitioned off, and well supplied with 

 dean, dry straw, so arranged that the eggs can not 

 roll out wliile the female is sitting on them, are the 

 most convenient. A goose will begin to lay in 

 February, and the eggs should be removed before 

 they liave a chance to freeze, and carefully kept in 

 a dry, and not too warm, place, till they are to be 

 «et. Wo usually keep them in bran, A large goose 

 will ccver seventeen eggs. The eggs are very irreg- 

 ular in hatcliing, and the goslings first hatched 

 reijuire to be removed from under the goose, and 

 kept in a warm basket in the house, till the whole 

 brood it! hatched, otherwise the old bird is apt to 

 desert her nest too soon. The goslings may bo let 



out as soon as they are hatched, and, unlike young 

 ducks, they are not liable to injury if allowed to 

 go to Avater, unless, as is very often the case, some 

 amphibious monster, or greedy pike, should take a 

 fixncy to make a meal of them. The goslings re- 

 quire feeding for a time, on meal and bread crumbs 

 soaked in milk, with perhaps a few lettuce leaves 

 chopped fine and mixed in. 



CANADA WILD GOOSK. 



The Canada Wild Goose. — This is more prop- 

 erly a species, being considered by many naturalists 

 as belonging to the swan tribe. It will mate with 

 the domestic goose, but the progeny of the cross 

 are sterile; that is, their eggs will not hatch. In 

 its wild state it is very abundant throughout the 

 northern portions of America, principally in Can- 

 ada and the Hudson's Bay Territories. It has been 

 domesticateii, and forms a very beautiful addition 

 to our ornamental ponds and lakes. The wings 

 require to be clipped in the spring and autumn, 

 otherwise it is apt to fly away and return no more. 



BREMEN GOOSE. 



The Bkemex Goose. — This variety was brought 

 to this country from Germany in 1821, and now 

 obtains the preeminence over all others, in the esti- 

 mation of most breeders. Its color is pure white, 

 and its flesh more tender and juicy tlian tliat of 

 the common goose. Some epicures declare its flesh 

 to be equal in flavor to that of the Canvass-back 

 Duck, From its quiet domestic character, it pos- 

 sesses a great aptitude to fatten, and it is very pro- 

 lific, two broods being frequently raised in a season. 



