Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-28
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.


Of Brandon, spoke upon The Rearing of
Turkeys.
Dir. Sumner has been in the turkey bust
ness for many years, aud has been probably
as successful breeder Of these birds as any
man in America His fundamental princi.
pies are lst, good breed I'd, good care
3D., good feed The breed he prefers is that
known as the bronze turkey These, when
purely bred, are uniform Of good shape, good
flesh, and grow to large size They have
many Of the habits Of the wild turkey Of the
West, and are probably mainly of that blood
They like to conceal their nests, often going
half mile from home for that purpose
Some three or four days before beginning to
lay they begin 10 look around for place.
scratching out nests in the ground. Then
shut them up in the barn, where some hiding
places have been provided for them, with
hens egg for nest egg. Take the eggs as
fast as they are laid, and lay them carefully
away. They will lay out their ltters about
the same time those that want to set first
should have a few hens eggs till the rest are
ready. The setting nests must be tight be-
low. This is important, as naturally turkeys
set on the ground, and draughts on the eggs
prevent Matching. Set all the hen turkeys
the same day and they will hatch together.
Then the broods may be consolidated if nee.
essary, aud the chicks being all Of the same
size, and kept in coops together, no hen tur-
key can distinguish her own from the others,
but treats them all alike-each is a mother
to ALL II Matched in cold wet time they
must be taken into warm place till they
get a little strength. In warm dry weather
they must be allowed to run. Feed the
mothers literally every day with corn, SO
that they need have nothing to do but to
protect the young turkeys. Having three or
four mothers together, and each feeling a
mothers care Tor all, the young ones do not
get lost, as a single brood is apt to. They
also unite to protect their young from hawks,
and always successfully when thus running
together. 1t a shower comes up and the
chicks get wet and some cannot keep up, one
of the mothers will hunt up the stragglers,
bring them together, brood and warm them
mp aud bring them in at night all right,
while single mother would surely lose some
under such circumstances. Be careful to
habituate them to coming home every night ;
they soon acquire the habit, if driven up reg
ularly at first
In feeding it is important not to feed too
much meal Insects are the natural food Of
the young turkeys. Crusts of bread, brown
and white, soaked in sour milk, are very
good feed for them. Give them plenty Of
fresh water, they want to drink every five
minutes while eating Little and often is
the way to feed. After a week or ten days
little wheat bran may be gradually mixed
with the bread and milk They should have
this feed morning and night, when they are
running out, and oftener when in the coOps.
Mr.. Sumner made some interesting state
mouts in regard to the cost and profits of his
; turkey breeding We hope he will send us
. copy for publication We understood him
to say that the feed Of young turkeys for the
season costs about 80 cents a head, and he
allows $50 for care OF the flock. Has sold
so in season, average weight IA pounds
for an average price Of $3.50. He fats hi:
turkeys principally on meal, giving some
l whole corn Puts the dough in pals rather
r than pans or shallow vessels, so that the
birds do not get it dirty. Mr.. Sumner is q
e very practical aud at the same time interest
ing speaker, exciting much laughter by his
e dry and witty sayings, but sticking neyerthe'
less to the point, and making every remark
o tell in illustrating his meaning. He caused
, a good deal of fun by his account Of his diff
, iculties in endeavoring to find and buy on
: of those forty to fifty pound birds boosted o.
r by the Rhode Island turkey breeders. Their
y was always some excuse why they could no
c be produced or the weights verified. He haC
e turkeys that weighed 80 pounds on the scales
e and had not been able to find any to bea
them, although he had offered 800 for
= pair, the male to weigh 40 pounds and tn
} hen to correspond.
y The editor Of the FARMER then spoke ex
temporaneousy for a short time ON the sub
n iect of Manures. His remarks we're follow
o ed by many questions and considerable dis
?. cussion, of which We cannot give any report
n being unable to talk and write at the sam
l. time.
4 FRIDAY EVENING.
, The first paper of the evening was by
}. u. Putnam,
Secretary the Of Grafton Farmers Club, upo
The Cultivation and GroiOing Of the APpl'
! The leading question presented TO tn
mind Of every farmer in considering any ne'
:, method or agricultural pursuit is, will it pay
- For the profitable growing of the apple, sol
locality and climate must be favorable. An
~ locality where the apple grows spontaneousl
- may be regarded as favorable, although tn
, fundamental truth is generally ignored
Many seem to think that any trees from an
:, place will grow anywhere. They set a re
90 as they would a post, and consider their Il
Dor ended. We should remember that ii
" statement, faith without works is dead,