The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-04
py MRs. JOHN c. MOSES


 that nothing but pure-bred geese should be considered For heavy geese, either for market or feathers, there is little to choose between the Touloose, Emden or African. For quick growing, heavy laying, small gesee, either the White or Brown China is good. For market, Pekin ducks are grown; for laying, Indian Run ner ducks are one of the best, and for home table ducks there is only one su- perlative duck, the Muscoyy. Why this duck is not more generally kept by farm CTS is a mystery. Certainly, were it more generally known what good eating they are how easily they propagate them selves a great many more would be grown. Although the size of a large duck. they are not really ducks but geese. They will not, though, interbreed with other ducks geese.
 They are silent or quackless. They do best if allowed to make their own nests and hatch and rear their own young, and are remarkably successful at this. Mus covy ducks come in two colors (black and white) and white. Their principal faults are that they are inclined to be pugnacious with other poultry and on be- ing moved may not be good breeders the first year or two, or may not breed Ut all. They are very hardy and long-lived.
 Geese can be raised in small flocks on general farms, and pastures or non productive land, and do not require any material amount of grain. Low, rough pasture land, used for pasturing other stock and containing a natural supply of water, offers the best conditions. Geese are good grazers and will do well on grass and forage crops alone, except dur ing the winter months, when they may be fed largely on available roughage such as clover, alfalfa hay silage, cabbage, mangel-wurzels, or any waste vegetable If the grass or forage is limited, it may be supplemented by light feeds of com- mon or homegrown grains
 Geese do not need shelter except dur ing cold winter weather when open sheds may be provided. Goslings are not ls- ually matched until good pasture is avail able, and need additional feed only for a few weeks. The range of pasture used either for goslings for geese should be large enough so that the grass will remain clean, or the stock should be moved frequently to fresh land. Coops barrels or some other dry shelter should be. provided for the young goslings Geese are very hardy and free from dis eases and insect pests.
 Beginners in poultry-keeping often won- der why some hens will lay steadily when eggs are worth but 10 to 20 cents a dozen and lay only an occasional egg or loaf dozen. I used to blame the hen, but now I know it isn't her fault.
 I have found that the time of year that the hens fay best is in the spring, when there is plenty of green feed and an abundance of exercise. By feeding green products in the winter and com polling them to keep in action I can best initiate nature and bring spring condi- tions to my hens The question is, Does it pay?'" It pays me- Cabbage and rape are green feeds which I use profitably to feed my chickens in the winter. Green cured alfalfa and clover, which has been steamed or boiled, sprouted oats or pumpkins have also been profitable green feeds for my chickens. Sprouted oats can be obtained with very little trouble if one has a cellar or warm room which are kept warm enough to allow the oats to germinate. To obtain sprouted oats I soak them overnight. then I spread them over the floor or on racks, about an inch deep. Soon they will sprout, the roots will interwine, and the young plants will hang together, so that I can cut off as much as I wish to feed at a time and carry to the chickens.
 In supplying a strictly fresh egg trade, none of the eggs should be over three days old A single bad egg will cripple