Geese require a wide range of liberty to do well, and common or pasture land, with a pond by the way, to rove over in flocks unmolested. So kept, and with stubbles to forage in during the autumn, they will pick up the most of their living, and thrive and fatten exceedingly.

Fed in the mornings before being let out for the day, and in the evenings before retirement, they will generally return to the homeyard with regularity, after a little early teaching or driving; but if not, a little child or even an intelligent dog will lead them to and fro quite easily.

The ganders, however, will speedily show fight to any mischievous meddler; and sometimes put strange children and timid women-folk to fearsome flight with their hissing and rushing onslaughts of bill and wing.

They want a dry and airy shed, bedding with clean straw, to sleep in.

Three geese may go to each gander, and they should be mated up as soon after moulting time as possible, and given extra liberal dietary to bring on the egg-laying.

The eggs, which take thirty days to incubate, should be "set" under broody hens of the Brahma or some similar large breed, four or five to each hen. Damp the eggs with lukewarm water twice a week or so when the foster mother is off feeding.

When the goslings hatch out they will not require very much attention, being very hardy; but, being likewise very voracious, they will want a lot of feeding. What is good for chickens is good for goslings, only more of it is needed with plenty of fresh meat and green stuff; spring onions are good, in supplementation.

In bringing on the youngsters for market let them have their run for development daily, and liberally feed them with meal, corn, turnips, and potatoes at both ends of the day; then for the last three weeks of their short life keep them in confinement and induce them to cram as much as they will with Indian corn, oats, and boiled potatoes. Brewers' grains and kitchen scraps of all kinds are also helpful to prepare the goslings for consumption as "green geese" at Michaelmas [Ed: September 29], about which time they are best for the table.

The big older birds are grosser eating. They rarely lay till over a year old and will live to a great age if allowed to do so, breeding for many seasons.

The big Embden and Toulouse geese, and cross-breeds fattened up for the Christmas markets, are usually three-year-old, or at least two-year-old, birds.

Some geese sit very well themselves, and then bring up their brood with exemplary attentiveness.