The St. Johns herald., 1922-03-09


 of Agricultural
 During the holiday season, when the unctuOus goose graces the largest available platter, is the time to think of the advisability of growing bunch of these profitable birds for the tables that will be spread for hungry fam flies another year. The goose pop ulation in the United States has been on the decline in recent years, but the United States Department of Ag- riculture expresses the opinion that there are many farms on which a few can be raised on pasture and other feed that will scarcely be missed. AL though the demand for feathers is not what 1t once was, and the eggs are not in demand for cooking, these birds are worth while as producers of de- liciOus meat. The objection has been raised that the meat is too oily, but this condition is largely due to lm- proper cooking, to failure to remove the surplus fat of the abdominal cav ity, and to not skimming off the grease while cooking.
 Grass Furnishes Bulk of Feed.
 Where there is low, rough pasture land with a natural supply of water, geese can be raised at a profit. They are generally quite free from disease and all insect pests, but they are Oc- casionally affected by the diseases common to poultry. Grass makes up the bulk of the feed and it is doubt ful whether 1t pays to raise them if good grass range is not available. A body of water where they can swim Is considered essential during the breeding season and Is a good thing during the rest of the year.
 The market is not so general as for chickens, but the demand and the price are unusually good In localities where goose fattening Is conducted on a large scale. However, few geese are desirable on many farms where there is no such market. Ex- cept in winter and during stormy weather, mature geese have little need for a house. Breeders In the North, and some in the South, use a shed open to the south as a protection in winter. Coops, barrels or other shel- ter are needed by gosllngs. The houses may be kept clean by supply ing plenty of straw for bedding.
 From to 25 geese may be pastured on an acre of land, the number depend Ing upon the quality of the pasture. Ten geese to the acre Is a fair aver age. Free range should be used wherever possible. In the South many people use geese to help in keeping down the weeds in the cotton fields.
 Along about the first of February geese should get a ration suitable for egg production so that goslings may be matched at about the time the first pasture is available. Nests may be made on the floor of the house, or in large boxes, barrels or other shel- ters. It is desirable to collect the eggs daily and to keep them in a cool place where the contents will not evaporate too rapidly; If kept for some time they may be stored in loose bran.
 The first eggs are usually set un- der hens, while the last ones the goose lays may be matched either un- der hens or under the goose If she goes broody. If the eggs are not re- moved from the nest where she is laying she will usually stop laying sooner than if they are taken away daily. The sitters may be broken up if they are confined to a slat-bOttom coop, with water to drink but no feed, for two to four days.
 Some breeders prefer to raise all the gOslings with hens, as geese sometimes become difficult to manage when al- lowed to hatch and rear their young. Hens used for matching goose eggs must be dusted with Insect powder and have good attention as the period of incubation for goose eggs is longer than for chicken eggs. Goose eggs may be matched in incubators and the gOsling raised In breeders, but this is not common practice.
 From 28 to 30 days are required to hatch goose eggs. Moisture should be9