Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-01

grass and water, plus corn. Feathers add
TO value. Waterfronts desirable but not
necessary.
Every fowl has its staunch advocate.
Judging from the ratio reared of various
kinds, the goose stands third in popular
estimation. In consideration of it's ntrin-
sic qualities. this is surprising. OF all
poultry. the goose is hardest. 1t runs
the gamut of temperature extremes i'm
the temperate climate undisturbea,
whereas chickens. euiucas and turkeys
must be environed with Watchful care
lest disease assa The goslins early
achieves independence. OF al the ills to
which the former are heirs. it claims no
Inheritance. Pip. Eapes, roup, cholera
and their kind pass by the gOslinc. Is
1t because it is a genuine vegetarian?
Provide the gosing with water, good
range and a home at night, and 1T is hap
PLY sufficient unto itself Nothing else
outstrps it's babyhood proportions with
such seven-league boots, as the gosling.
To-day 1t greets YOU, fresh from the shell,
a plump, talkative, responsive buncn or
golden down; next week, faded gawky
creature wobbles to meet you, clumsy, yet
still trustful and friendly.
There is something substantial and
practical about the goose, certain reli-
ability that should commend it to poultry
raisers apart from it's profitable aspect.
The Eighty guinea and the irresponsible
turkey at times try the roultryraisers
soul sorely. The goose, quiet and capable
with her healthy brood after the first few
weeks, is denendable and trustworthy.
In goose-raising, as much importance
attaches to the selection of a variety as
with chickens. The demand of the near
est market usually swings the decision.
In New York. Philadelphia and Baltimore,
the white command best prices alive.
Consequently. nearby sections favor n
breed of this color. OF the seven varie
ties, three are most common. The large
Toulouse is prolific. but its gray feathers
are inferior The Chinese goose. slender
and white, or perhaps brown, with knob
bed bill. is noisy and small. The Emden
seems to he the general utility breed
for besides its abundant thatch of white
feathers, it weighs almost as heavily as
its gray relation, the Toulouse.
SELECTING THE BREEDERS
A flock may number from three geese
ders dependent upon the farmers re-
sources in grass The prevalent size num-
bers 70, from which the farmer may av-
erage 70 goslings Flocks ere assembled
in December, likewise all changes made
therein. If young geese are wanted, they
should be taken from the frst-hatched
goslings. Individuals are selected for
size, shapeliness and proportion. Young
ILL.,.
ly by experienced persons. The male car
ries a high head on longer neck and
utters call not so shrill as that of the
goose. He may be larger also. Otherwise.
no notable difference exists. In the laying
season, when the female develops a dew
lap, the sexes are plainly apparent.
Breeders should always be marked to in
sure them from being mistaken for we'll
developed goslings when the final separ-
alton takes place in December.
QUALIFICATIONS OF GOOSE MOTH
ERS
When geese establish a reputation as
layers of large and many eggs, and as
sensible mothers, they are good for long
service. Some families record keeping
certain geese for 20 years. Few are per-
mitted such longevity. but it is possible
and the elder mothers are undenably
best.
After the flock is chosen and has been
tested, unnecessary alterations are unwise
The goose that lays small or deformcd
eggs, or proves to he frivolous parent
should be disposed of. For various
reasons ganders are often changed
chiefly to improve the stock and
20 Increase the size of the Off
spring To introduce one strange gan
der into the flock is to invite dssension
The old ones fay him unmercifully. The
better policy is to make a Clean-SWcep OF
all ganders at once. Equality makes foi
peace
The family life of geese ahounds with
Interest The gander chooses one mat,
TO whom he devotes himself assduously
He is jealousy suspicious, whence many
bloody battles with other ganders IIs
accompanies her faithfully When they
walk together, he stalks ahead. He ha.
been seen to block her way deliberately
when she evinced an intention to choos,
her own direction.
During the Winter-the season Of court
ship-geese begin to need more oversight
Most growers agree that oVer-fat gees,
produce the greater number of inferlil
eggs, and guard against such conditions
accordingly. Thin geese, on the othc
hand, defer laying which makes lat,
broods. This in turn curtails weight a
shipping time The profitable medium i
the goose OF average weight laying earl,
in February. Such eggs may he set il
March. The gosings break the shell il
time for the earliest tender grass From
this Matching come the best breeders.