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Fattening Geese for Market. [no-y., 



The price is fixed in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, 

 and other important markets, according to size and weight as 

 well as to quality, and the greater weight they can be brought 

 to- the greater is likely to be the profit. The truth of this 

 statement is borne out by the following quotation of prices, 

 which were received last year by several private exporters and 

 co-operative societies in Ireland : — 



Geese weighing under 10 lb., killed and plucked, 6d. per lb. 

 „ 10 to 12 lb., ,, „ „ 7d. „ 



over 12 lb., „ „ 8d. ,, 



From these figures it will be seen that it pays well to com- 

 mence a thorough system of feeding towards the end of autumn, 

 and to continue it without intermission up to the time of killing. 

 The system most effective for increasing size up to a certain 

 point and then putting on weight may be thus described. As 

 soon as the corn has been gathered off the stubbles, which is 

 some time between August 15th and September 15th, the geese 

 are turned on to pick up any scattered grains which have 

 escaped the harvester's rake. On the stubbles they may find 

 sufficient food for four to eight weeks, but it depends on the 

 size of the flock, the area of the fields, the quantity of loose corn 

 which is lying about, how long this supply will last. 



The point to be remembered is that as soon as the scattered 

 corn is beginning to run out the geese must not be allowed to 

 go out of condition, but must be kept growing by a feed of corn 

 once a day. They may still be allowed to run on the stubbles,, 

 for they are likely to find much food there in the shape of weeds, 

 seeds, and grasses, but a supplementary feed of oats or barley 

 when they return to the farmyard at night is needful to keep 

 them growing. 



If the stubbles are far from the farmyard, it is a good plan to- 

 quarter the geese there altogether for a few weeks, and this can 

 be done without any great expense if a temporary shed is 

 erected which will afford protection against foxes at night, or 

 two or three portable wooden fowl-houses may be utilised for 

 the purpose. If there is neither a pond nor a stream in the 

 field, it will be necessary to provide water in troughs or tubs. 



When treated in this manner, geese will grow to a large size 

 without becoming too fat. This is all that is necessary, as a 



