82 Rearing and Marketing of Geese. [may, 



suming that which is undesirable for other stock — a habit that 

 should commend them to dairy farmers, in whose pastures these 

 acrid weeds are too often unduly abundant. I have, however, 

 never found geese destructive to any but obnoxious plants. 



It is not generally wise or desirable to run these birds in 

 any but small flocks, except in very special circumstances of 

 accommodation or profitable outlet, the ordinary demand 

 being limited and variable. In many, perhaps most, localities 

 a moderate supply will nearly always find a remunerative sale 

 as goslings ; or they may, without undue risk, be sent off the 

 grass to London during the season. The distinctive goose 

 market at Michaelmas has practically ceased to exist ; there is 

 still a demand at that time of year, but not one materially 

 greater than that which now prevails during earlier months. 

 Where stubbles are available some of the birds may be profitably 

 run on them for the autumn markets, or fattened later for 

 Christmas, when there is a more or less considerable demand for 

 fat geese. Of course, at the latter season the goose only occupies 

 a second place in relation to the turkey ; moreover, the position 

 of the English goose at Christmas is further assailed by the im- 

 ported goose, many poulterers regularly stocking the foreign 

 birds to the entire exclusion of English, on account of the more 

 favourable wholesale price. Unless, therefore, the English 

 producer can market birds of exceptional quality and size, he 

 will find the average Christmas market too keenly competitive, 

 and would do much better to dispose of his goslings off the grass 

 in May and June. If sent to London salesmen the consign- 

 ments should be timed to reach the markets on a Wednesday 

 or Friday, which are the most suitable days for favourable 

 sales. 



Breeds. — For the English farmer or commoner the best breeds 

 for purely table purposes are the Embden and the Toulouse, or 

 a cross between the two. The Embden has white plumage, 

 flesh-coloured bill, orange shanks, a square, deep-set body and a 

 tall upstanding carriage ; the average weight for an adult gander 

 is 20 lb., and for a goose 18 lb., but much greater weights are 

 attained. The Toulouse is of a dark grey colour on the upper 

 part and a lighter shade on the breast, which gradually merges 

 into the white of the under part ; the bill is of a red flesh colour 

 and the legs orange-red ; the body is full and compact, with a 



