The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-08
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A Story OF VIVID Geese. 4.

The San Francisco Gail publishes the fol-
lowing Dr. Glenn, the owner of the immense
estate referred to, is a native Of Augusta coun-
ty, and relative of the late Hugh A. Glenn,
of this city. The Call says:
Few people outside of those directly inter-
ested know to what an extent "geese-herding"
is carried on in some of the extensive grain
raising counties of California; In fact, not
great many know what geese herding" is.
The wild goose is fowl known to city people
principally as the furnisher of cheap feathers,
which make good pillows and tolerably soft
beds. To the grain farmer he is source OF
great tribulation in the, early part of the win
ter When the newly sown wheat is from one
to six inches high, and other vegetation scarce,
he descends upon il, pulls itup and devours
the softest kernel; when the grain is a little
higher he sits upon it, lodges it and otherwise
makes himself inimical to full crop. Various
methods have been devised of DISCRIMINATING
wild geese without avail, until geese-herding
has become profession as distinct as herding
or trapping. In the early winter the geese ap-
pear in the grain counties in myriads, travel
ing about in vast flocks. Their hunger is in
satiable, and the new wheat is rapidly destroy
ed. DR.. 81. j. Glenn, whose ranch is in Colusa,
covers most of the arabic land in that county,
numbering some $4,000 acres, or nearly twelve
square miles, expends about $4,000 year
herding his geese. He recently purchased in
San Francisco, for the present season, between
$4,000 and $1,000 worth of cartridges, about
$50, 900 in number of A caliber He has con-
stantly in. his employ, while his wheat is grow
ing, about forty men, all of them mounted and
nearly all armed with Henry rifles and field
glasses, who patrol the property during the
day and on all moonlight nights. These men
r1xy orro nizad into rafrOl fr,1ard
They discover with their glasses the focks of
geese, which at distance of 800 or 400 yards,
lock like white blanket spread over the
green wheat, and they thereupon plant bull
let right in the middle of the flock. This I'M
expected visitation sets the flock on the wing,
and the geese herder follows them up, keeps
planting bullets among them until they rise
to great height, and, disguised, leave the vi
cinity. Few geese are killed, the object being
to keepsthem kon the wing and, consequently
of. the wheat fields. Those that are killed are
carried off and shorn of their feathers, but the
revenue from them amounts to little. On Dr.
Glenn's ranch about 5000 cartridges are used
in day, which represents about 10000 geese
daily put to flight eOfentimes a thick fog
blows in, and this appears to be the favorite
time for the geese, and they deyour the wheat
with great energy The herders then, fearful
of shooting each other, are almost bafhed
Uut WHICH, JIG IloCSs 1uO HUNS oiO Pue w
flight, and for hours thereafter the air is filled
with feathers and geese, and Glenn's ranch re-
soundswith the chatter of rifles and the fright
ened cries of the prosecuted fowls. To pay
his men, buy ammunition and maintain horses
costs DR.. Glenn some $4,000 per annum; but
it saves his wheat, which yields 100000, az
without the ese-herders, half would be de
stroYed.s The hefders become very expert il
their business, and generally good shots and
capital horsemen. % : g5llf'l :.