Evening star., 1915-01-03
Turning Grass to Greenbacks.

not as seriously considered In many
parts of the east as they are farther
west. The larger proportion of Ger
mans or descendants of Germans in the
middle western states makes the
goose-raising industry more common
in that part of the country than it is
in the sections around Washington; in
deed, Wisconsin Is one of the greatest
goose-raising states in the country,
just as Long Island is noted every
where for the ducks it produces.
The fact that geese are not as large
ly raised hereabouts as they might be.
however, does not argue that the busi-
ness Is not profitable. No matter in
what part of the country the produce
tion of geese may be tried-unless, of
goose would be hard put to find
water enough for. weekly bath, the
Industry may be made both pleasant
and profitable If 1t is gone about in the
right manner.
Mrs. B. F. Dae1housen, known as "the
goose woman" of Oakwood, Mo-, speak
ing at an eastern poultry show recent
ly on the subject Methods of Making
Goose Culture Profitable" had the fol-
Some of the sages contend that any
thing that is profitable is pleasure,
but not all profit-making employments
bring us into the open air and sun
shine, lead US by ripping brooks. over
shimmering expanses of green grass
lands. Nothing does this so well as the
culture of geese.
Il prefer the Embden goose in its
purity to any other breed. No other can
compare with the Embden In graceful
shape and carriage. The flock should
be started with the best birds the
prospective goose raiser Is financially
able to buy. Select pair, or more, that
during the show season, as a fat goose
seldom lays with any regularity. the
eggs are misshapen and weak shelled
ana they are often infertile. I prefer
can see the breeding stock and know
Just what characteristics to expect
IN the young. I also have the parent
birds to attend to the incubation OF the
eggs and the brooding of the goslings.
do not advise the buying of eggs. as
goose eggs stand shipment very Door
~ and usually give unsatisfactory re-
suits when incubated.
The breeding season is governed bv
the weather; it usually extends fror,
about January 20 through the mnnth
of March. The breeding stock sbor11
have yard or pasture, with an onen
shed in which to shelter from snow
and wind. The ground floor of the
shed should be covered deepIy with
straw, to absorb moisture and prevent
leg disease.
Feed the breeding stock sparine1y
Very little corn. part of the chicken
fngs. mangel beets and clover or al
falfa, the latter scalded, make a mich
relished ration. There will not be more
than a month or six weeks of weather
bad enough to keep the geese from
making their own way. Give them a
swimming pool of some sort; a branch
in the pasture is ideal. If you have no
branch on your place, make a pond.
If shut away from water, geese beg
eor it. and a., employ every means of show
"1f you want high fertility in the
eggs you must follow natures plan.
1t is the natural instinct of geese to
mate on the water, and in no other
way will you be able to get 100 per
cent fertility in the eggs. Geese also
take the utmost care regarding their
bath. and are always free from YER
min and almost exempt from diseases
of all kinds. Some breeders say they
drinking; try it If you will. but many
of the eggs will be clear, and the flock
will be ragged and unkempt in appear
ance.
."The geese usually pair off, and I
have known them to continue with the
same mate, in the most perfect domes-
tic tranquility, for the rest Of their
lives, establishing a home each season
and rearing their young. You will fail
three or four geese with one gander.
The geese will quarrel and fight. and
the eggs will be mostly infertile. If
the ganders fight I select mate for
each one, and shut them from the sight
of the others until the nesting idea is
formed, when they may run together
again.
"If you visit the nests and remove the
eggs you are sure to start discord.
Leave the eggs to the goose, and she
will cover them SO that no wind or
change will in5ure them.
bo l ho q