DOJtESIIC POUITET. 



the early laying of geese, which is of consequence, since there 

 may be time for two broods within the season, not, however, 

 a common occurrence ; and which happen successively for two 

 or three seasons, has occasioned some persona formerly to set 

 a high price npon their stock as if a peculiar and more valuable 

 breed than the common. The method to attain this advantage 

 is, to feed breeding-geese high throughout the winter, with 

 solid com, and on the commencement of the breeding season 

 to allow them boiled barley, malt, fresh grains and fine pollard, 



mixed up with ale and other stimulants With a 



gander present no mischief can happen to the sitting geese — 

 he sitting sentinel at the chamber-door of his wives. With 

 respect to feeding the goose or duck upon the nest, it may be 

 occasionally required, but is not a thing of much account, since 

 they will generally repair to the water sufficiently often from 

 their natural inchnation. The goose wiU not quit before she 

 has completed her hatch, nor will it be practicable to take any 

 of the goslings from her were it necessary, as she is too strong 

 and resolute, and might kill some in the struggle. 



" It has been formerly recommended to keep the newly- 

 hatched in the house during a week, lest they get cramp from the 

 damp earth, to which they are indeed liable ; but we did not find 

 this indoor confinement 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 even takiug them in iu the evening. 

 Sometimes we have pitched double the number of hurdles for 

 the convenience of two broods, there being no quarrels among 

 this social and harmless part of the feathered race, so unlike 

 those quarrelsome and murderous fellows the common fowls. 

 We did not even find it necessary to interpose a parting hurdle, 

 which, on occasion, may always conveniently be done. 



" The first food, similar to that of the duck, but with some 

 cooling greens, cUvers, or the like intermixed, — namely, barley- 

 meal, bruised oats, or fine poUard. 



" For the first range, a convenient field containing water is 

 to be preferred to an extensive common, over which the gulls 

 of goslings are dragged by the goose, until they become 

 cramped or tired, some of them squatting down and remaining 

 behind. It is also necessary to destroy all the hemlock or 

 deadly nightshade within the range of the young geese, many 

 of which drop off annually from eating that poison when the 

 cause is not suspected. I know not that tlie elder geese will 



