698 



The Breeding of Geese. 



[Nov., 



THE BREEDING OF GEESE: 

 A Profitable Addition to the General or Poultry Farm. 



Stanley Street-Porter. 



During the last few years probably no industry in this country 

 has seen a greater development than that of poultry keeping. 

 That which in the past was regarded by most as merely a 

 hobby is now recognised as a serious and projQtable industry. 



It is encouraging to note that up-to-date progressive 

 farmers are at last alive to the fact that poultry keeping on 

 modern lines forms one of the most profitable adjuncts to 

 general farming. 



The breeding of geese is a branch of the industry that has 

 been greatly neglected in this country, and yet it is one of the 

 most profitable to farmers and others possessing grazing land. 



Many farmers have a deep-rooted objection to geese, under 

 the impression that they spoil the grazing for other stock, and 

 it is commonly stated that cattle, etc., will not graze after 

 geese. It is quite true that a large flock of geese does consume 

 a considerable quantity of grass, but for that matter so does a 

 large flock of sheep ; and, as a practical farmer himself, the 

 writer can absolutely disprove the fact that cattle will not feed 

 after geese, and has found that geese pay well for all they 

 consume. Further, the manurial value of a flock of geese, if 

 not run too thickly, is very great on poor grazing land. 



An additional advantage is the fact that the birds do not 

 need a rich pasture, but will grow and thrive on poor common 

 land, of which there is a considerable quantity in many parts 

 of the country. They might also be kept with advantage in 

 smaller numbers by small-holders and cottagers with suitable 

 grazing in the vicinity. 



Given suitable grazing, there is probably no other branch of 

 poultry keeping more profitable than the rearing of geese. 

 Unlike fowls and ducks, which need constant feeding and care, 

 geese will forage for their own living, and after the first few 

 days will require practically no grain or meal ration, no expen- 

 sive scratching shed, and little attention so long as adequate 

 grazing is available. Under these conditions they will feed 

 and look after themselves and make very rapid growth. 



Before the War large quantities of geese were reared in Ire- 

 land and exported to this country to be fattened. In some 



