CHAPTBE IX. 



FATTENING GEESE. 



The goose industry is one which has been known for 

 several centuries in this country, and the following 

 quotation is taken from " The English Husbandman," 

 by Gervasse Markham, first published in 1615 : " Now 

 for the fattening of elder geese, which are those which 

 are five or six months old, you shall understand that 

 after they have in the stubble fields, and during the 

 time of harvest, got into good flesh, you shall then chuse 

 out such Geese as you will feeded, and put them in 

 severaU pennes which are close and darke, and there 

 feeded them thrice a day with good store of Gates, or 

 spelted Beanes, and give them to drink water, and 

 Barley-meale mixt together, which must evermore 

 stand before them, this wiU in three weekes feeded a 

 Goose so fatte as it is needfuU." 



As is well known the goose industry resolves itself 

 into two distinct branches, and the varieties fortunately 

 meet the requirements in this respect, namely, the 

 White or Embden, and the Grey or Toulouse, these 

 being chiefly used, though of course there are frequent 



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