Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-22
TALKING OF TURKEYS.
Where the Supply for the City Markets
Come FrOnl-A Chat With q Poultry
Dealer.

"Why, if they can't get the money to buy
them they'll steal" said the provision dealer
as he swung one leg over an apple barrel and
looked at coop of live turkeys. "They will
have them. Nothing will take the place of the
turkey for Christmas dinner. Goose, duck or
chicken will do on New Years or Thanksgiving
or any other day in the year. but on Christmas
every body has turkey. No, sir; they arn't get
ting out of fashion,"
Hiss cried out q big goose pokipe his long
neck through the wire basket. "His-s-ke-yah-
kali" and the rest OF the incensed geese in the
drawing it out in a long harsh scream.
threw an apple at the yellow beak, which
quickly disappeared within the basket.
us the stock of turkeys running out? Not by
no means, sir! There are more turkeys this
year than there ever were before. They are on
they increase. There are droves OF 'em in the
Where do most of them come from?" asked
The STAR reporter.
"From Virginia and Maryland They raise
enough 10 Keep the stock from ever running
"And that's blessing too" he added after
moment, during which he picked some PIN
feathers out of the breast of dressed fowl"
why, II the stock of turkeys was to give out
9on know what we'd do: 1t would just about
90 away with Christmas dinners"
"Ihe turkey s Il mighty pretty bird and pea-
cocks can't come anywhere near them for pride.
Peacocks are vain, but the turkey is full of
iieut uoWi aTlSlocratlc pflQe. Why, that fell
low out there S proud he won'L have any,
thing to do with the rest of the fowls, and he'll
hold his head high until it's cut off,
There are an awful lOtOf turkeys slaughtered
every year. All through the upper counties of
Virginia and down through Maryland they run
In Immense droves during the summer picking
up a living in the tobacco fields and in the
woods. They are driven through the tobacco
heds TO Kill out the tobacco worms. In the
winter they are cooped up within narrow con.
fines and fed on corn until they get fat
enough for market. Many of them are
sent in right along through the winter,
but two or three days before Christ
mas there's a wholesale Strengthening of these
noble birds, and wagon loads OF them are rushed
OF to market Then they are stuffed with
crumbs and oysters, or something OF that sort
and served with celery and cranberry sauce for
Christmas dinner. About two days before
Christmas the wholesale dealers sell all they
can. II there are not many in the market they
Will go up Oh the next DAY, but if they keep
coming in the price will fall until ON Christm
day they will be quite cheap. 1t used to be
that only the folks who were comfortably well
on had turkey, but now everybody has. 1t is
getting more common every year."
Are wild turkeys as plentiful as fOrmerlye''
asked the reporter.
mo, they are very scarce. They used to be
quite ABUNDANT but very few are found now
There are few of them way back in the
woods but they are very shy OF hunters The
most you can lind generally is their tracks. II
there is snow on the ground you can see where
they drag their great toe along, but they III
Keep right ahead OF you all day"