PO UJL TR r- CRAFT. 



35? 



than any green geese but the earliest on the market bring in summer. The 

 demand for green geese begins about June ist, and geese are in demand from 

 then until March. 



Methods of KILLING, DRESSING, PACKING, and SHIPPING, are practically the 

 same as for ducks, and do not require special description. Remarks on 

 EXHIBITING ducks apply also to geese. 



392. About Plucking Geese for the Feathers. Whatever may be said 

 in justification of this practice, the fact remains that it is cruel. It is also ques- 

 tionable whether on the whole it is profitable. To -the frequent plucking of 

 geese it is no doubt largely due that so many of those sent to market are 

 of very poor quality. A goose which .goes through an enforced moult four or 

 five or more times (some .authorities ( ?) advise plucking every six or seven 

 weeks) cannot produce meat of fine quality ; the flesh is sure to be tough ,and 

 stringy. As to the effect of plucking on breeding stock, Newman says : 

 ''Their feathers are an item -worth ^considering, but do not pluck your geese 

 twice a year and expect them to be good breeders. A goose so treated will 

 not lay as early, nor as many, nor as fertile eggs, as one that is left to go 

 through the changes naturally." 



