DOMESTIC OOOBE. TO 



young trees, and must, therefore, be oaxeMly excluded from 

 orchards and cultivated fleldsi It is usual to prevent them get- 

 ting through the gaps in fences, by hanging a stick or "yoke" 

 across their breast. 



Those who breed geese, generally assign one gander to four or 

 five females. When well fed, in a mild climate, geese will lay 

 twice or three times a year, from five to twelve eggs each time, 

 and some more, that is, when they are left to their own way; but 

 if the eggs be carefully removed as soon as laid, they may be 

 made, by abundant feeding, to lay from twenty to fifty eggs 

 without intermitting. They begin to lay early in the spring, 

 usually in March, and it may be known when an individual is 

 about to lay, by her carrying about straws to form her nest with; 

 but, sometimes, she will only throw them about. 



When a goose is observed to keep her nest longer than usual, 

 after laying an egg, it is a pretty sure indication that she is 

 desirous of sitUng. The nest for hatching should be made of 

 clean straw, lined with hay, and ftom fourteen to eighteen eggs 

 will be as many as a large goose can conveniently cover. She sits 

 about one month, and requires to bave food and water placed 

 near her, that she may not be so long absent as to allow the eggs 

 to cooL The most economical way of getting a great number of 

 goslings, is to employ turkey hens to hatch, and keeping the 

 goose well fed she will continue laying. 



Ooslings must be kept from cold and rain as much as pos- 

 sible. Feed them on barley or Indian meal or crusts of bread 

 soaked in milk. 



VARIETIES. 



African; Toulouse; Embden; Egyptian; White Chinese; Brown 

 Chinese. 



