The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-18


mento valley would be delighted IL the
swarms OF the fowls which are now
coming in for winter quarters could DO
transferred IN u body TO the city mar
kets. II the San Francisco denizen
who looks with longing eve at the
tempting display Of dressed geese In
the markets and show-windows of San
Francisco could look upon the inn
mense flocks of the birds As they swoop
down upon the wheat fields in this
section of the state. aud see how nnmer-
ously they are killed and left lying mp
on The ground. their idea Of goose lux
ury would vanish.
Not until late years have the geese
invaded The farming precincts OF Yolo
county TO any damaging extent. but
now they are looked for with mingled
confidence and dread by the farmers In
the northern portion OF the county.
They generally make their appearance
early in the fall or just before the fall
rains Their first visit Is confined 10
the country along the river or where
they can obtain water. but after the
rains come and water can be had on
the back plains they migrate TO the
wheat fields aud live sumptuously upon
the wheat-stubble Yet their numbers
are indeed small in this country rs
compared TO those which infest Colusa
county. as the large expanse of barren
plains In the latter county affords them
better rendezvous. The writer has
seen them in bands which covered rs
much MS fifty acres OF ground.
These invading armies are very dam
aging to young grain. and rs soon rs
the grain begins TO sprout IL is neces-
sary to employ ''Iierdcrs,n who parade
the fields and drive them off with large
rifles. Such farmers as Boogs. Ride
out, the Glenn ranch. etc. employ no
less than dozen OF these herders
every fall and winter. who live IN cabins
distributed over. their lands. OF late
years the farmers of Yolo county, In
Hungry Hollow and along the tules.
have also found ii necessary to herd
OF tue fowls in order To protect their
grain. A good story is told of an Irish
man who was one day emplose ed to
herd geese Mike had never done such
thing, but of course said he could do
il. At the evening OF the first day Mike
came In, when the farmer asked him
IL there were any geese on the grain.
''Ys sir" said Mike. 1.-THE field is full
OF them, but doubt IL devil o one OF
them will be there in the morning
they are so skittsh." The lrishman
was Ike great many persons, even in
this state, who do not believe tho
geese yarns" and thought that his
business was to herd them from getting
out OF the field Strange as 1t may
seem. people wing where these geese
abound SO plentifully scarcely ever use
them for food. In the early part OF Tho
season they use them. but ms soon rs
the grass starts and the flavor begins
To grow strong they are not considered
fit to be eaten. but the hunters NIL the
same continue to send them into tho
market for the epicarcs of the metro
polls.
These fowls also feed ut nigh. especi-
ally on moonlight nights. but tho ducks
are moro troublesome after nightfall.
aud one plan adopted by the farmers
is to station lighted lanterns over the
| fields. but the ducks soon learn TO walk
up to the lanterns to warm their feet.
These fowls-both geese and ducks
are great nuisance in quarters where
they congregatc In such numbers, and
the farmer finds them a stubborn enc
my to contend with. The goose Is by
no means the provcrbial goose" APP
piled to his name. II he doen't possess
intuition he has large instinct. and
his devices TO deceive the farmer are rs
cunning MS those of the farmer To de-
ccive him. A good-sized book might
be written on "geeseology. their
habits. cunning etc. but these traits
can be learned from almost any hunter
in Yolo or Colosa county. And If any
person believes that this nrt Gle has over
estimated the numbers or depredations
of these fowls. the writer is ready 10
substantiated his assertions In the mos
convincing manner.
a.