Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-13
Dressing and Marketing Turker

THOUSANDS Of dollars are waste,
turkey raisers each year for lack Of .
tenn and carefulness in dressing =
fowls. A bird picked clean, and viii
bruise, will generally sell for from
to five cents pound more than one
lacks either of these recommends
The plan practiced in New Englani
one that generally secures prom7t
10 Eastern cities at considerable alr,
over the prices that are obtained h
markets Of New York, is substantisy
follows:
Never feed the morning of the d.
which the turkeys are to be killed, 4
an early hour drive them into some !
accessible stable. Gather your nei..
in the proportion of one man t9a
fifteen birds, if your flock is large
vide two half-hogshead tubs f..
feathers, or one, as you may nea.a
having set it under some shelter, ~,
row Of chairs or stools in a circle
it. Now darken the doors of your >,
and quietly seize the bird, holding
that, in its struggles to free itsef !
your grasp, it shall not hit Its bod
wings against any solid substance. 7.
with your left hand take fast h05 O.
legs and wings, drawing the latter b.
ward, and placing the neck of tie 4
across a round stick, sever the head Z
the body with a sharp axe held III
right hand; then hold the bird a. al a,
from you, or, what is as well, p,z
firmly against the even ground, ts
downward, SO that there will be 10
sibility of its bruising itself while &,
Cling.
AS soon as the birds struggles area
ed, seize and pull out first the tail
larger wing feathers, up TO the L
wing joint, counting from tne bodyss
ward; then, holding the bird On y
knees, never allowing it to touch ther
carefully and quickly take out the sn.
feathers, being specially particula-
to tear the skin, and always keepi1:
mind that the least designation viii
jure the sale. When it is nearly ga
consign the,bird to some less nug
person to take out the pin feathers
can be easiest done with the poir,
sharp penknife, pressing againG
thumb with the feathers between. 7,
case should the body be laid asiie
everything is removed that would o5
the eye.
After the bird is cooled, Law it o.
board covered with several thickness
wooden cloth, and while it is held c.
back by an attendant, cut with 81
penknife a circle about the size Of !
cent piece around the vent. thra
which aperture remove carefully
completely the entrails, keeping al
fat attached to them in the body with
fingers of one hand, while
drawing is performed with
other. Then cut off the wings, # +
have not done it before, at the T.
joint, wipe the neck thoroughly, leSr
not particle of dirt or d stain of bs
lay the turkey on its back in a cool pl
the next morning, draw the skin Oyg.
bone of the neck, and tie it firmly VIZ
common cotton string, and your BIT.
ready for sale, and if well fattene3 7
bring the best price.
When they are packed for market-
are laid breast down in clean boxes :,
boxes are besO the cover firmly na
the box marked with the gross vel
tare and net, with the shippers nan'
one end, and the consignee's in !,
characters near the middle, and if !,
are cold when put into the box, and :
in cool place afterward, they will a
salabie at the end of three weeks asgL
are on the day after their packing.-A''
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