262 MAKING POULTRY PAY 



up to midsummer, the time goslings should be mar- 

 keted. They also lay the largest eggs, and almost 

 equal the Toulouse in number produced. They are 

 good sitters, and therefore will not lay so steadily. 

 The African ganders are like Leghorn males among 

 fowls, the most active and attentive ganders of any of 

 the large breeds. They may be given four times as 

 many geese as the Toulouse ganders, and twice or 

 three times as many as the Embden males, and rarely 

 fail to insure highly fertile eggs. The only drawback 

 of this most valuable and important breed is its dark 

 bill and skin, and the fact that it is harder than the 

 others to pick. When dressed, the white gosling leads 

 it in price. A greater number of large goslings will 

 usually be secured from pure Africans than from 

 Embdens or Toulouse mated straight. 



By mating an "Embden gander with African geese, 

 he will be more attentive than to either Embden or 

 Toulouse geese, thus insuring a high per cent of fertile 

 eggs, while a majority of the goslings raised will come 

 white in plumage, and with yellow bills and legs. An 

 African gander mated with Embden geese will insure 

 more fertile eggs than if an Embden gander is used, 

 and many of the goslings will be of the desired color 

 for market. An Ehnbden gander mated with Toulouse 

 geese, while not so sure to give as high per cent of 

 fertile eggs as an African, will usually insure excellent 

 results, a large number of goslings, most of which will 

 be light or white. For Christmas geese this is the 

 most desirable cross, and gives the largest light colored 

 goslings. The Toulouse gander in this sort of cross- 

 ing has no place, and can be dispensed with. 



Failing to secure African ganders of the right 

 sort, Brown China or African-Brown China cross gan- 

 ders may be used with about as good results. They 

 are still more active than Africans, but are smaller. 



