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Llandilograban Concert. !…

TERRITORIAL'S DEATH.I

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War and Politics. I

I War Against Consumption.

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Uangorse Eisteddfod. I

INo More tndigestion.I

I County Trtbuna!s

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Remarkable Hay Boy.!

From the Pouttry Yard.I !…

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 From the Pouttry Yard. I I BY "ROOSTER." I Many people imagine that because geese are of such enormous size they are dimcult to breed, but let me say at once that they are both easily bred andeasily reared. Although theycan- not be so closely confined as fowls they do not need a great amonnt of space, but of course do best where they can be allowed a free range over a. grass neld. Still I have known that a breeding pen can be kept and bred from successfully in an ordinary large fowl run, but seeing that they con- sume a considerable quantity of grass, it shows that the run must be large to supply their needs. For this reason the ordinary farmer has a great advantage over most of the poultry keepers, be- cause the amount of freedom the geese may have. The great advantage of a free range is that the birds can fine a good deal of food, and when being kept in just store condition, the grass is the first consideration. They wiM also eat a lot of rough herbage, hence many of the waste places could be used to run geese with advantage to both. Al- though it seems a -farmer's bird, many of the best geese in the country are'bred by sma]]er men who have only a few acres of land, and these give the geese a. small orchard or neld near home over which they can run. Idonotbelieveinkeeping them with ordinary fowls, because they soon foul the green and then the fowls will not touch it. A pen should consist of two geese and one gan- der, and if he is pretty active all the eggs laid should be fertile. Where the birds get a free range, it is best to give them a roosting sited for the night and any building, such as an old stable or cow shed will answer well. When the goose 'has started laying, which she will do in one of the dark corners, the eggs should be taken away and kept till there are enough for a sitting. If they are to be kept under hens from four to six will be enough according to the size of the hen, and after ten or twelve have been laid, some may be leftinthenest,so that when she has laid her batch, she can be used for hatching if so de- sired. There should not be any trouble in rear- ing the youngsters once they are hatched. The period of incubation takes from 28 to 30 days, and the neat is best when put in a cool, though not wet place, for they require more moisture in hatch- ing than chickens. Let the youngsters remain in the nest until thoroughly dry, for then they will be strong in the legs and can get about easily after their food. Right from the first treat them just as chickens fed with soft food, but see they get enough to eat, and feed more often than the smaller stock, for although they are much larger in body. their croup does not seem so large in proportion, hence they need food more of tea. If you can manage let them ha.ve free range as eoon as they can get about, and if a- nice fresh grass patch it will surprise you how much of it they will eat. This will keep them in good hea.lth and regulate the system, and if your food is good you will be able almost to see them grow t t All up and down the country there are hun- dreds of acres of land winch are not fit for any- thing else, but the feeding of rough store stock or geese, and I have put it in this form because these birds would thrive upon it with just one good meal of food at night when they come in to sleep. In some parts the birds are left out all night, and though they do not seem to hurt, the youngsters wiH be found to grow faster when warm and dry at night. Many hundred head are just half grown, and then so!d off to be grown alone by farmers having these vacant places, and in some yillages where the cottagers can have access to road sidings, they buy up a few of these birds and push them along for the market. When managed properly they form one of the best paying branches of farm stock, for during the growth they cost but little to find, and though requiring more good food to make them ready for the table, this is easily re- couped through the price they make. Anyone wanting to hatch a few should soon be en the look- out for eggs, and I am sure they would und them interesting and profitable.

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