280 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



birds. Those who breed generally assign one gander to 

 four or five females. In mild seasons the goose lays early ; 

 she sits with exemplary patience, but ought, during 

 incubation, to be well supplied with food and water placed 

 in a convenient and undisturbed situation, to which she 

 may have free access. The gander is very attentive to his 

 favourite, sits by her, and is vigilant and daring in her 

 defence. The goslings, or gulls as they are termed in some 

 parts, require the same treatment as ducklings ; it is 

 advisable to pen the mother for a few days upon a dry 

 grass plot or green sward, supplying her with water and 

 grain, of which the young will partake ; green food, as 

 chopped cabbage or beet-leaves, crushed maize, and the 

 like, may be given. One thing is imperative : let not the 

 young be starved upon poor grass, for poor pasturage 

 occasions disease and mortality ; a few handsf ul of corn, 

 given morning and afternoon, are turned to good account 

 in the goose economy. 



THE TURKEY. The young are more difficult to raise 

 than fowls or ducks, but are quite healthy in after-life. 

 Full-grown and well-bred birds bring splendid prices, and 

 are much in demand. The mothers are excellent sitters. 

 The young suffer from exposure, and attacks of hen-lice or 

 other vermin are fatal to them. Dry, sandy situations, on 

 limestone or volcanic country, answer best for turkeys, and 

 when extra care is taken with them at the early stages they 

 do very well. It is desirable to keep only young male 

 birds, say those between two and three years old, and they 

 should be apart from other fowls. 



GUINEA FOWLS AND PIGEONS. All the varieties are 

 healthy, and do well with the care found to fit them best in 

 other countries. 



DISEASES OF FOWLS. They are not numerous in this 

 country. The exciting causes are damp, developing cramp 

 from exposure, want of proper shelter, exposure to 

 draughts, indigestion from feeble life action, defective 

 feeding and accidents, mostly from roosting too high. 

 Young birds and laying hens suffer most from these 

 causes. The most serious disease amongst older birds 

 is roup, due to much the same causes as those from which 



