GEESE, as aforesaid, are very profitable to be kept, their chief food being Grass, and that the worst, as in Commons; they are not to be kept without the convenience of Water.
They begin to Lay early in the Spring, and the sooner the better; before they begin to Lay they will carry up and down Straw in their Bills, and when they will Sit, they will keep their Nests, so that then put their own Eggs to them. In about a Month the Eggs will be Hatch'd; then keep them some time in the House, feeding them with Curds, Barley-Meal wet in Milk, ground Malt, or Bran moistned in Milk or Water; and having gathered a little strength turn out the Goose with her Goslings to feed, &c. still observing to feed them as aforesaid, until they are fit to shift for them∣selves. In about a Month they will be fit to put up to Fat for Green-Geese; and for their Fatting feed them thrice a Day, that is, Morning, Noon, and Night, with plenty of Skeg-Oats boiled, with Milk, or Milk and Water mixt to drink.
For the Fatning of Geese let them take the be∣nefit of the Stubble after Harvest, which will make them fleshy; and then put them up in Coops apart dark kept, and let them have always by them good Oats, or spelted Beans, and for their Drink, Water mixt with Barley-Meal, and this will fatten them in about three Weeks, or you may observe the same Directions, as afore∣said.
For the pulling off the Feathers, as some use, I hold it not good, being prejudicial unto them.
The general Infirmity that Geese are troubled with, is the Gargil, being a great stopping of the Head. For Cure, Take three or four Cloves of Garlick, beat them in a Mortar with sweet Butter, of which make little long Balls, and give two or three of them to her fasting, keeping her shut up for about two hours after.