1907.] Rearing and Marketing of Geese. 



81 



with good effect on the black-quarter disease of cattle, and, if a 

 satisfactory vaccine can be found, it may probably be an economi- 

 cal safeguard against the serious losses caused by the disease. 



The increasing popularity of the Romney Marsh sheep among 

 foreign flock-masters is strikingly shown by the large increase 

 both in the number and price of the sheep exported. Most of 

 the sheepbrceding countries of the world are now asking for this 

 breed for crossing with the Merino or native sheep, and its 

 influence on the hardiness, wool, and meat of the cross is 

 excellent. In South America in particular the demand is increas- 

 ing, as it is found that the breed stands the climate better than 

 the other long-wool breeds. The breed is also making rapid 

 headway in Australia and New Zealand. 



There is no doubt that the Romney Marsh sheep have great 

 powers of adaptability and will live and thrive under almost 

 any climatic conditions, and upon any variety of feed in sheep 

 bearing countries. It may also be claimed for them that they 

 are less susceptible than other breeds to such diseases as Fluke 

 or Liver Rot and Foot Rot. 



R FARING AND .MARKETING OF GEESE. 

 J. W. Hurst. 



Under suitable conditions, geese are as profitable as any 

 Other class of poultry — in comparatively small flocks. Thev 

 are essentially suitable stock for farmers and commoners; 

 being grazers they require a larger range than other poultrv- 

 keepers have available ; but it is chiefly owing to their 

 grazing habit that so many farmers will have nothing to do 

 with them. The objections usually advanced are that four- 

 legged stock will not graze after them, and that they are 

 destructive to the herbage of the pasture ; but, according to my 

 experience, both arguments are fallacious. 



For a succession of years I have kept a small flock of geese 

 "ii tii<- -.Mnr fields in which horses, cattle and sheep have 

 grazed, and have never found that the larger stock refuse or 

 in any way object to feed after them. With regard to the 

 supposed destruction of herbage, geese will search for and 

 greedily devour the tuberous root of the ranunculus, thus con- 

 (1327) F 



