254 POULTRT-CRAFT. 



The mongrel, hybrid, geese so famous in the markets, are usually produced 

 by mating wild males with domestic females, preferably dark ones, African, 

 Toulouse, or Brown Chinese. The reverse mating, domestic male with 

 wild females is sometimes used, but the other is better, as the wild females 

 lay few eggs. The wild ganders do not mate until two or three years old, 

 and often will not mate the first year in captivity. Usually they mate with 

 but one goose. 



How Many Females to a Male? From one to four. Geese are disposed 

 to pair. Young ganders often take up with only one goose. Older birds will 

 generally mate with more. One breeder of Toulouse geese allows two geese 

 to each gander. A breeder who gives his numerous matings a common range, 

 mates four geese with one gander ; yards them by themselves the first season, 

 and puts two or three extra ganders with the large flock. 



388. Care of Breeding Qeese. Geese at pasture require little attention. 

 If kept in confinement, they must be provided with green food, not fed too 

 heavily on grain, and care taken to prevent their becoming too fat, and unfit 

 for breeding. They should always have water for drinking, and frequently 

 for bathing. If shut up at night, the place must be cleaned at regular inter- 

 vals. Geese do not generally lay until near spring, though occasionally some 

 lay in January. Boxes or barrels containing straw, hay, or suitable litter, are 

 placed in corners and out of the way places for nests. In cold weather the 

 eggs must be removed to prevent their being chilled. It is advisable always 

 to have a nest egg not necessarily a goose egg any kind will do. To 

 break up broody geese they should be removed for four or five days, and the 

 nest in which they have been laying destroyed or removed to a new position 

 before they are returned. Methods of feeding do not differ much, variations 

 being due mostly to differences in pasture. 



how by crossing a market breed superior to any of the established breeds might be pro- 

 duced. For the ordinary breeder the wisdom of crossing except under conditions as 

 stated in IT 69, or to produce something exceptional, as the mongrel goose, is question- 

 able. For those who may find it advantageous to make crosses, results of a few of the 

 best crosses made at the experiment station are quoted from its report : 



" The Embden-Toulouse * * * would appear to be the best all around cross for general 

 purposes, for both early and late markets, and especially for the production of large 

 geese for the Christmas and New Year's markets. They are large, hardy, and when 

 dressed present a fine appearance." 



" Of those here compared (African-Toulouse, Toulouse-Embden, Embden-African) the 

 Embden-African seems to be next in desirability, and if goslings are sold early in the 

 summer, or before they are eight weeks old, this cross would be preferable to all others." 



" The Embden-White China cross picked the easiest of these crosses, were white when 

 dressed, and although small, presented the most attractive appearance." 



