Geese for Market Purposes. . 5 '3 3 



and a fair proportion of the geese thus bred are slightly crested, though this peculiarity is not 

 possessed by either parent. 



" It will be found much preferable for the gander to be a Toulouse and the geese Embdens 

 than reversing the sexes, as they breed larger-framed and heavier-fleshed birds, which is a most 

 important feature. It also affords some amusement to the owner, as it altogether upsets at 

 once the theory of many old farm-mistresses, that the gander is the white bird and the geese 

 particoloured. 



■• It may not in this place be amiss to make a suggestion on feeding. If kept in a quiet, 

 partially-darkened place, barley-meal mixed with brewers' grains fattens them very rapidly ; 

 and they will more quickly become reconciled to their new position if a little sweet hay is fastened 

 up tightly for them to nibble at, but carefully arranged so as not to get trampled under foot. To 

 make the best of such geese, however, they must be well-treated from the first, as they when 

 thus managed, out of the same gross weight, produce more flesh and a less superabundance of 

 ' goose-oil ' than when very suddenly fattened ; indeed, this is the case with all water-fowl. 



" The only object I had in view many years back, when rearing such geese by the aid of some 

 tenants, to whom I supplied the old birds, was simply to enjoy the satisfaction of possessing at 

 Christmas birds unequalled in their weight, for the supply of myself and some few valued friends ; 

 the remainder being sold to repay the persons who raised them. It is really surprising at such 

 festive occasions how much money may be obtained for any ottt-of-the-way superior specimen of 

 this covetable viand of the working man. At these times the well-to-do artisan is anxious for the 

 finest on sale — ' Give me the best, price is no object ; I want the best out,' is no unusual remark 

 from such buyers, in our densely-populated districts. I was once present in a poulterer's shop 

 when one of these geese was sold to a working man's wife for thirty shillings. It was dressed but 

 not drawn, and weighed twenty-six pounds, though equal in colour and fineness of skin to the 

 most medium-sized goose on the premises. At these merry times unusually large well-managed 

 geese always fetch what would appear to be really fabulous prices, and what is more, they are 

 always first to change hands." 



These practical remarks are also valuable as showing the great utility of pure races, even 

 when cross-bred birds are found preferable for immediate market purposes ; for without such pure 

 races these valuable crosses cannot be had ; while it is also seen that the produce of cross-bred birds 

 rapidly deteriorates. We have discussed the subject before ; but this additional proof of the truth 

 of what we have said, drawn from birds bred for such peculiarly commercial purposes as geese, is 

 especially valuable. 



THE CANADA GOOSE. — Besides the ordinary domestic breeds of geese, there are 

 several others deserving notice, some of which have been domesticated, and all of which are often 

 seen at poultry-shows. The first of these is the well-known Canada Goose, or aboriginal goose of 

 North America. 



The most obvious peculiarity of this beautiful bird is the long and slender neck, which gives it 

 an appearance midway between that of the goose and the swan. Hence naturalists have given it 

 the name of the Cygnopsis Catiadensis. Buffon states that at Versailles a number of domesticated 

 Canada Geese bred familiarly with the swans kept there, and the fact is very probable; but the real 

 affinities of the bird are certainly with the Anseres, or goose family. 



The head, bill, and greater part of the neck of the Canada Goose are black, with a white 

 " cravat" at the throat, which gives it rather a peculiar appearance. The feathers on the upper part 

 of the body are a brownish grey, with light edges. The dark upper plumage passes though grey 



