1921.] 



The Breeding of Geese. 



699 



districts they were purchased in considerable quantities, run in 

 large flocks over the stubbles after harvest, and sold as 

 " Michaelmas " geese. To what extent this is carried on at the 

 present time the writer is not aware. 



Italy, France and Germany are also large producers of geese, 

 and in Germany the breast of the goose is smoked and con- 

 sidered a delicacy. 



Breeds. — Of the various breeds of geese probably the best 

 known are the Embden and the Toulouse, while the Chinese 

 is also well known. Another breed, which is not so well known 

 in this country as the others, is the " Koman," which the 

 writer considers the best " commercial " goose of all. Per- 

 sonally, however, he has only kept two of the above-mentioned 

 varieties, viz. the Eoman and the Toulouse. Both of these 

 varieties undoubtedly have their good points. The Koman 

 might be aptly compared to White Wyandottes or Ehode Island 

 Eeds and the Toulouse to Indian Game or Dorkings, since the 

 Eoman goose resembles the breeds of fowls with which I have 

 compared them in being of moderate size and far more prolific 

 as layers than most other breeds of geese — with the exception 

 possibly of the " Chinese " — whilst the Toulouse is undoubtedly 

 the best heavy-weight Christmas goose obtainable. The Tou- 

 louse are very massive and majestic in appearance and do not 

 make the rapid growth of the Eoman, but though they are 

 slower in attaining maturity, they make fine heavy-weight 

 geese by the end of the year. Toulouse geese usually commence 

 laying in February, and after laying their first " clutch " of 

 eggs, go " broody," afterwards laying a second, and as a rule 

 smaller batch of eggs than the first. In colour the Toulouse is 

 a dark grey with white under, and is the most handsome 

 variety we have. 



Eoman geese are much smaller than either Toulouse or 

 Embden. They have a very smart, alert carriage and are splendid 

 foragers. In colour they are generally white, though some 

 have grey markings on head and neck. They w^eigh from 12 

 to 14 lb. when mature, are finer in bone than the Toulouse, 

 and carry more flesh in proportion to offal than the heavier 

 breeds. No standard has yet been fixed for this breed in Eng- 

 land, and consequently they are not provided for at any of our 

 large shows and are only in the hands of a compara- 

 tively few breeders. They are probably the most prolific geese 

 in existence, and like the breeds of ** laving ducks " such as 

 Eunners, Buff Orpingtons and Khaki Campbells, they breed 



