148 Geese. 



about previously to laying. Thirteen eggs are quite enough 

 for the largest goose to sit on. They sit from thirty to 

 thirty-five days. March or early April is the best period 

 for hatching, and the geese should therefore begin to sit in 

 February or early March ; for goslings hatched at any 

 time after April are difficult to rear. Food and water 

 should be placed near to her, for she sits closely. She 

 ought to leave her nest daily and take a bath in a neigh- 

 bouring pond. The gander is very attentive, and sits by 

 her, and is vigilant and daring in her defence. When her 

 eggs are placed under a common hen they should be 

 sprinkled with water daily or every other day, for the 

 moisture of the goose's breast is beneficial to them. (See 

 page 50.) A turkey is an excellent mother for goslings. 



She should be cooped for a few days on a dry grass-plot 

 or meadow, with grain and water by her, of which the 

 goslings will eat ; and they should also be supplied with 

 chopped cabbage or beet leaves, or other green food. They 

 must have a dry bed under cover and be protected from 

 rats. Their only dangers are heavy rains, damp floors, 

 and vermin ; and they require but little care for the first 

 fortnight; while the old birds are singularly free from 

 maladies of all kinds common to poultry. When a fort- 

 night old they may be allowed to go abroad with their 

 mother and frequent the pond. "It has been formerly 

 recommended," says Movvbray, " to keep the newly-hatched 

 gulls in house during a week, lest they get cramp from 

 the damp earth ; but we did not find this indoor confine- 

 ment necessary ; penning the goose and her brood between 

 four hurdles upon a piece of dry grass well sheltered, 

 putting them out late in the morning, or not at all in 

 severe weather, and ever taking them in early in the even- 

 ing. Sometimes we have pitched double the number of 

 hurdles, for the convenience of two broods, there being no 

 quarrels among this sociable and harmless part of the 

 feathered race. We did not even find it necessary to inter- 

 pose a parting hurdle, which, on occasion, may be always 

 conveniently done. For the first range a convenient field 

 containing water is to be preferred to an extensive common, 



