Money in Broilers and Squabs. 123 



Geese live to a great age, and females are reliable and produc- 

 tive breeders for many years, but ganders of the domestic varieties 

 are usually unreliable after 7 to 9 years. Canada ganders can be 

 profitably kept for 25 or more years. 



Wm. Rankin, a veteran goose breeder, cites the instance of a 

 goose owned in Boxford, Mass., where it was the property of one 

 family for loi years, and was then killed by the kick of a horse. 

 She had laid 15 eggs and was sitting on them when a horse 

 approached too near the nest ; she rushed oflf, in defence of her eggs, 

 seized the horse by the tail, and was killed by a kick from the 

 animal. 



Geese have a long tenure of life, far exceeding any other domes- 

 tic animal in this respect. In former times it was not uncommon for ' 

 the farmer's daughter, on her wedding day, to receive, among other 

 gifts, a goose from the old homestead, to become her property and 

 accompany her to her new home. In some instances such geese were 

 kept for many years, perhaps far beyond the life of the young lady 

 to whom it was presented. 



The Hebrews of our large cities are the best customers. 



The Hebrews use goose oil instead of lard. 



The Philadelphia Times tells of a goose fattening establishment 

 kept by Sol Renaker, Cynthiana, Ky., where 20,000 geese are an- 

 nually fattened for sale to the New York Hebrew people. 



Eating goose at Michaelmas was a very early custom in Eng- 

 land for as far back as the loth year of the reign of Edward IV. 

 (1471,) John de la Haye was bound to render to William Barnaby, 

 Lord of Lastress, in the country of Hereford, for a part of the 

 demesne land, one goose fit for the Lord's dinner on the feast of St! 

 Michael, the Archangel, says English Poultry. 



Hungarians, Poles, Hollanders, Bavarians, Germans, Bohe- 

 mians, etc., are especially fond of goose flesh, and prefer it to other 

 kinds of meat for Christmas and holiday feasts. 



The demand for geese is not constant, although there is a limited 

 demand the year around ; the greatest numbers are called for during 

 the winter; especially at the holiday seasons. But to bring good 

 prices they must be young, fat, well-dressed, and put up in attrac- 

 tive shape. 



Large quantities of geese in the New York markets come from 

 eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island ; a great many come, also, 

 from Pennsylvania and Maryland, and perhaps from farther away. 

 Great quantities of live geese are received from the west. 



The American Agriculturist says : At Adamsville, R. I., there 

 is a large goose-fattening establishment. The proprietors pick up 

 the geese in carts when about half grown, that is, about the age that 

 the quills begin to start; many farmers prefer to dispose of the 

 geese in this way rather than have the trouble of fattening them 

 themselves. The professional fatteners finish oflf the geese in 4 to 6 

 weeks. There is nothing secret about the method of fattening. They 

 are given mostly cornmeal, bran and meat, and fed all they will eat. 

 At killing time 5 or 6 pickers are employed, and these become very 



