The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-12-27

riefv iii the world, weighing 1t maturity
hon thirty % forty pounds = pairs
(Soslinrs Of this variety will weigh from
ten 10 thirteen pounds apiece At three
months. but they do not reach their full
weight until three years Of age, They
nre easy TO raise, have fine feathers and
lots Of them Full grown Toulouse
geese will yield nearly half q pound Of
feathers at picking.
The Embden, or Bremen geese -
they are sometimes called. do not grow
SO large as the Toulouse, but are quite
as hardy and easy to raise. In color
they are pure white, and in some mar
kets white geese feathers will bring q
better price than the colored- Good
Judges pronounce the flesh Of this va
riefy superior to that of the Toulouse.
The white China geese are, as their
name indicates, pure white. They are
not SO large as the Toulouse and Emb-
den varieties, but In other respects are
fully equal to the larger birds. The
China geese are said to be better layers
than any other variety.
Those who have tried it say that no
fowls can be 50 cheaply raised as geese.
| am acquainted with several people who
raise large numbers Of geese for mar
ket, and they all declare that they find
the business very profitable. They live
in New York, New Jersey and Penn
svlvania. and market their geese in New
York City; but / see no reason why
raising geese should not be equally
profitable in Ohio. Two weeks ago
western geese, dressed, sold in New
York for thirteen cents pound, and
had the quality been up TO that Of the
Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey
geese they would have sold readily at
fifteen cents. Live Jersey geese sold as
high as 1915 per pair, but the Western
went at $500 a pair. Now any one can
see that young goose that would
weigh ten or fifteen pounds dressed, and
would sell for fifteen cents pound,
would pay If some Of the farmers
daughters who have time would raise
hundred or so of geese for market
every year, they would find it quite as
profitable as school teaching and not
half as wearing on the nerves. And Il
some Of the farmers wives would make
fewer cakes and pies, put few rules
less on the children's clothing, and de-
vote the time thus gained 10 raising
geese, they would have a bigger supply
Of pocket money and better beds and
pillows-to say nothing Of the health
and strength gained by being out Of
doors. Now mind you, do not advise
everybody to raise geese only those
who have pasture containing pond
or stream Of water. Geese can be
raised with only plenty Of water to
drink, and a trough or tub full for bath
ing, but those who know most about il
say that it would not pay.
Brecding-gcese should not be kept
fat, neither should they ho half-starvcd.
Turn out to pasture as soon as the snow
is gone, and after the grass is we'll up
they will need littleor no grain. Geese
commence laying anywhere from the
latter part OF February to the middle OF
March. and lay from twenty to thirty
eggs before offering to set. Three
geese can be mated to one gander
Mr.. NJ -, who raises large NUM-
bers Of geese every year, raises all his
goslings with hen mothers, and matches
from the middle OF April to the first OF
June. Goose eggs need about tho same
care during incubation asturkey and
duck eggs that is the bottom of the
nest should be of earth and the eggs
should be sprinkled with water every
other day during the last two weeks.
When the goslings are out they should
be provided with warm, dry coop, and
for the first six weeks of their lives
they must be sheltered from dew and
rain. Goslings when young are subject
to cramp, and one good drenching with
dew or rain will often kill off half a
brood at once, After the dew is gone
off the grass ths mother hen and her
goslings may be allowed their liberty
until night /; but should = sudden storm
come up you must turn out and get
your infant geese under shelter.
Should any get chilled take them to the
house and warm them thoroughly be-
fore returning to the mother hen.
Young goslings should be fed bread
crumbs, scalded corn and Oatmeal
mixed with onion tops, or the leaves Of
early cabbage, turnips, etc. When six
or eight weeks of age they may be
turned out to pasture and the rations
gIduuitlly fchuCott W uitc tNCVi y ia y /.
They win live and grow on grass alone
after the first two months. but If you
desire them to do their level best it will
pay you to give them scalded meal once
day.
In some localities there is demand
for '.green geese just as they come
from the pasture but most geese are
sold in winter, and these should be fed
(after the supply of grass is cut off by
frost) with boiled corn and potatoes,
cooked oats and barley meal, with
rpwen soaked in warm water and
sprinklsd with meal. OF course they
must at all times have plenty OF water
to drink. The geese that are to ba
kept over for. breeding stock and tho
same stock can be used for several
years--may be fed on corn and other
grain with plenty Of water and green
food -1bin Farmer