Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-12-05
farmers Cnlnmll.
The Turkey.


With exception of the hen, the turkey
is our most valuable fowl, and as it has
become really staple article of Ameri-
can food, as matter Of course, it has
come to be thought a necessary part of
the products of the farm. While in some
respects, this fowl is more trouble than
any other, and more destructive to the
various kinds of vegetation among which
it wanders, the profits of turkey raising
appear to be quite sufficient to make j.
desirable, and the pleasure of partaking
of roast turkey, and even the pleasure
of anticipating such feast, more than
balance the vexations caused by occa-
slonal depreciation. While the turkey
is native American, it appears to be
suited to any cline or country, and is
usually healthy under all circumstances,
after once obtaining its growth. While
young, as the most inexperienced who has
had anything at all to do with turkeys
will know, the utmost care is necessary
to insure success in raising them but
this tender season passed, bird is de-
veloped that will stand even the rigors
of the hardest winters. 1t is not an un-
frequent sight to find the turkey roost-
ing out of doors in the coolest weather,
preferring such exposure to the warmth
Of an Enclosure. 1t might as well be
understood in the beginning by all who
propose to raise and keep turkeys that
they cannot be confined and expect them
to do we'll They are eminently of row.
ing nature, and if kept at all, this ma
ture should be recognized and given scope
for exercise. Not that the bird should
be allowed to do entirely as it pleasos.
1t is not best that it be permitted to ex-
pose itself, for instance, by roosting out
of doors in the bitter cold of our win
tiers, for, while it seems capable of stand
ing almost anything in the way of cold,
nothing is gained by such exposure and
there is danger of possible injury. But
in the matter Of rowing during the day,
the turkey should be interfered with as
little as possible. There should, of course,
be reasonable limits to the territory over
which it roams, for it is well-known
fact his turkeyship has not the least idea
of distance, and, unlike the common fowl,
he often finds himself far way from home
at nightfall, and, in such cases, he spends
the night wherever be may be, perhaps
in the midst of dangers which may cost
him his life and his owner turkey
While we have several varieties of
the turkey known by their colors, such
as the slate, the gray, the bronze, the
black, etc., there is really but one species
of domestic turkey, Owing to the man
ner of fattening and the peculiar quail
ties of the food grown and fed in certain
localities, the turkeys sometimes are
known in the markets by the name of
the State or other locality from which
they come; and this has sometimes given
rise to the supposition that the turkey
thus named was particular breed We
have sometimes had inquiry made as to
where the breed Of "Rhode Island tur-
keys" could be obtained. Now, there
is no such breed. The Rhode Island
turkey is simply known as such in the
market, and is sought after because of
its peculiar sweetness, which arises from
the manner of fattening. 1t is no more
a distinct breed than is the Philadelphia
turkey, which is known as such in the
market, and has peculiar flavor which
is pleasant but to few tastes.
Thus any locality which raises turkeys
for the market to any great extent will
be very apt to have its name stamped
sooner or later upon the fowls it raises
and narkets. - The Pouiterer.