254 
DOMESTIC 'WATER FOWL— GEESE. 
but the month after. When well fed with barley and 
oats, they thrive and do better, and their feathers grow 
faster, and are better in quality than where it is omit- 
ted. They must constantly have plenty of grass and 
water. 
“ In many parts of this fenny district, vast advantage 
is made by the frequent plucking of the Geese. At 
Pinchbeck, it is the practice to pluck them five times 
in the year, as at Lady-day, Midsummer, Lammas, 
Michaelmas, and Martinmas. The feathers of a dead 
Goose are worth 6d., three giving a pound. But pluck- 
ing alive does not yield more than 3d. a-head per an- 
num. Some wing them only every quarter, taking ten 
feathers from each Goose, which sell at 5s. a thousand. 
Plucked Geese pay in feathers Is. a head in Wildmore 
Fen. 
“ In the fattening of Green Geese, care should be 
taken that a little green food be given, along with the 
oats or other grain, that may be employed for the pur- 
pose when they are put up, and that they be well 
supplied with water and sand. A fortnight or three 
weeks is long enough for this purpose, if they be well 
and regularly fed; but, in the fattening of the older 
Geese, there will not be any necessity for the green 
food. The place in which they are confined, with this 
view, should neither be too light, nor too public in its 
situation, as they do not feed so well, where these 
points are not attended to. They should likewise be 
