POULTRY. 
265 
EMBDKN OR BREMEN OEFMK. 
lant guardian. About fifteen eggs will be found as many as a good- 
sized goose can properly cover. Do not meddle with the eggs during 
the incubation, and do not meddle with the goose ; but, as she is some- 
what heavier than the hen, you may leave her food and drink rather 
nearer to her than is necessary with common poultry, as, if she chanced 
to absent herself from the eggs sufficiently long to permit them to cool, 
she might become disheartened, and desert her task altogether. It is, 
however, unnecessary to put either vinegar or pepper in her food or 
water, as recommended by some, or, in short, to meddle with her at all. 
The goose will sit on her eggs for nearly two months ; but the neces- 
sary period of incubation being but one, the early hatched goslings 
must be removed lest the more tardy might be deserted. About the 
twenty-ninth day the goslings begin to chip the shell ; and if their own 
powers prove inadequate to their liberation, aid may be rendered them, 
and that, also, with much less risk than in the case of other young 
birds, the shell and its membranes being very hard and strong, and the 
young themselves also hardy, and capable early of enduring hardship. 
Ihe best plan is to have the eggs set, of as nearly as possible equal 
freshness, that they may be hatched at one time. 
On first being hatched, turn the goslings out into a sunny walk, if 
the weather will permit of such procedure ; but do not try to make 
them feed for, at least, twelve hours after leaving the shell. Their food 
may then be bread soaked in milk, porridge, curds, boiled greens, or 
even bran, mixed with boiled potatoes, taking care not to give the food 
