THL BREEDS OF. GEESE. 35 



goose {{rowing should appeal most at present are the many who might grow a few geese every 

 year, either for home use or for a local market, almost without expense. Almost every farm 

 has some land not used for any other purpose, and not productive, that might be devoted to 

 goose growing. On almost every farm a flock of geese, large or small, according to accommo- 

 dations, might be kept on pasture with other stock. 



Geese thrive most readily and are least trouble to handle, and grown at least cost, when given 

 good pasture, but they may be grown like ducks in close quarters if green food is liberally 

 provided. This way of growing them is not recommended. I merely mention it as possible 

 for those who would like to know something of geese, but have not good natural facilities for 

 growing them. 



Under favorable conditions geese are the easiest of all domestic fowls to handle. With good 

 pasture provided with water they may be left to themselves halt or more of each year. They 

 do better, generally, if provided a little griiin food to supplement what they get by foraging, 

 but it is not regarded necessary, and perhaps the majority of those growing geese give the old 

 stock nothing during the pasture season, and feed the goslings only a few weeks. 



The Breeds of Qeese. 



Many of the geese found in this country are the common gray, gray and white, or white 

 geese, not much larger than a large duck, and in a general way showing the same inferiority to 

 the improved breeds of geese that common fowls of all kinds do to the well bred. 



Of pure bred domestic geese there are the following breeds: Toulouse, Embden, African, 

 and China, or Chinese. Of the last named breed there are two varieties: Brown and White. 

 Canadian, or Wild Geesej are also kept in captivity, and bred to be sold as decoys to hunters. 

 In some sections the breeding of Wild geese for this purpose is carried on in a small way by 

 many persons, and considering investment and attention required Is quite profitable. The 

 young geese generally bring at the hunting season in the full $5 each. 



Besides being used for the purpose just mentioned, Wild geese in captivity are crossed with 

 domestic geese, producing a goose which is properly a hybrid, and sterile, but which is com- 

 monly called a Mongrel goose, and perhaps oftenest called the " Rhode Island Mongrel goose," 

 most of them coming from that state. If the reader will make a mental note of the way in 

 which the word " mongrel " is used in connection with geese, he may save some confusion on 

 the subject. The mongrel, or common fowl of the barnyard, is an indiscriminate mixture of 

 blood like the common goose, but the Mongrel goose is a half blood wild goose. 



Of the breeds of domestic geese the Toulouse is a very large gray goose; the Embden a very 

 large white goose; the African a very large brown goose, the "Standard" weights of all being 

 the same for adult specimens, viz., 20 ll)S. for males and 18 Ilis. for females. For young speci- 

 mens the weights are: Toulouse — gander, 18 lbs. ; goose, 15 lbs. Embden — gander, 18 lbs. ; 

 goose, 16 lbs. African — gander, 16 lbs. ; goose, 14 lbs. Why these variations in the weights 

 of young geese should be made I do not know, nor do I think they can be given a reasonable 

 explanation; but it makes little diflference to any goose growers but the few who exhibit. 

 Chinese geese are much smaller than the others, the weights being: Adult gander, 14 lbs.; 

 adult goose, 12 lbs.; young gander, 10 lbs.; young goose, 8 lbs. 



Of these varieties the Toulouse and Embden are quite common, flocks of them being found 

 In almost all parts of the country. The others are more rarely seen, though Africans are quite 

 popular In Rhode Island, and occasional flocks or specimens of the Chinese may be inet in any 

 part of the country. 



Though similar in size these breeds of geese differ in qualities and characteristics. I can, I 

 think, present these differences in no better way than by quoting the opinions of two of the 

 best authorities on the subject : 



Mr. Samuel Cushman. in an article written for Farm-Poultry some years ago, said: — 

 " Toulouse geese are very large, docile, and great layers for so large a breed ; but they are slow 

 to mate; ganders mate with fewest geese of all, and their very early eggs pre rarely fertile. 

 They grow a very large frame, but grow slow, and do not get plump or fatten readily until late 

 in the fall. Their plumage is easily plucked, but as It is dark their skin does not have the 

 attractive appearance of that of the white goslings. Therefore, this breed is not just suited to 

 the production of early goslings. 



