New-York tribune., 1886-11-14
PROSPECTS FOR CHEAP POULTRY.
SOME GOOD HINTS FOR HoUsEKEEPERs

IMPROVED METHODS OF BREEDING, DRESSING AND
sHIPpING-PRICEs ASKED.
Housekeepers will be glad TO hear that during the
coming winter when fresh fruits and new vegetables
cannot be relied upon to vary the daily bill of fare,
poultry of all kinds will be offered for sale in this city
in greater abundance than in any former year. The
consequences will be that fine turkeys, plump squads
and fat ducks and geese can be purchased at popular
prices and that roast broi, fricassee potpie OF
chicken can with perfect economy take the place of
beet or mutton as often as desired and not alone
holidays and Sundays.
The raising OF poultry is q constantly growing
industry in this country. Every year adds to the
number of farmers who find out that a flock OF
poultry will with little yield him a larger
return for the outlay than almost anything else the
farm. Improved breeds of poultry have been devel-
oped, and every intelligent farmer who reads his
WEEKLY Tribune whether he makes speciality OF
the business or t,knows what breed of fowls will
produce the most eggs esh which is the hardest,
and which natures earliest Improved and cheap
eucd transportation is another factor in this happy
result, and cold storage and refrigerator bring
to city doors the poultry OF Canada Michigan, Illinois,
Kentucky and Virginia, plucked. drawn and ready
for the oven as sweet and fresh when they left their
native harnyards.
The summer has been a favorable one for raising
the young broods Gosngs and ducklngs are
usually hardy enough but the only thing young
turkey to enjoy is dying. As rule the turkey
farmer is just safe in counting his chickens before
they are hatched as after. This is the principal
reason for the usually high price OF turkeys. This
year has been unusally favorable one, however,
and fine turkeys already coming in fast from
Kentucky. The fine weather has allowed them to
mature early. They are large, bright, and always
saieabe. Wild turkeys get more scarce every year
and will not appear till late in the season. They come
frOm he iar
gourmes who insist that no tame turkey compare
IL flavor with bis wild brother. The demand for wild
turkeys is much larger than the supply and the differ
ence between them and the tame ones only be deec-
ted by expert The majority ot bousekeepers are not
experts, however and Western shippers who buy
turkeys from the farmers TO ship to the market have
been known to make their rounds OF the barnyards
with gnn. picking off the bronze turkeys from the
flock and forwarding them with feathers on, ana a
bullet hole through their necks. in which condition
they bring better prices, as wild turkeys than they
otherwise would Ohio and Michigan turkeys arrive
next in order and after the holidays Iowa and Wis
consin will keep up the supply.
Pennsylvania still holds the first place in the market
for her chickens, though Bucks County no longer
claim the exclusive distinction for dry picked stock
Nearly all first class poultry is drypicked tor this
market The extra trouble of dry picking Is more
than Offset by the higher price and diminished risk
of spelling.
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island farmers have been
OF late years paying good deal OF attention to their
ducks and geese. which now command as much as ~
hundred more than any other IN this market. This
result has been attained largely by the selection OF
the best specimens for breeding purposes and careful
and ample feeding OF grain the young fowls from the
first. They not permitted to run at large and
forage for their living formerly but pcnned and
ted much they will eat till ready for market. BY
this means they mature much earlier and attain
greater weight, are more tender and fatter.
There is large export business from this market
to the Southern States every winter. Northerners
wi o 90 to Florida Georgia Arkansas and neigbborng
States Tor the winter want good table they get
at home Fresh meat is scarce tar South. and what
there is is not OF the best. Nothing fills the gap
dc iax
boat TO Charleston and Savannah every season. alive
In crates and frozen in refrgeratOrs.
The in this city is at its height between
Thanksgiving and New Years day, but already be-
tween three and four hundred barrels arrive daily
Wholesale prices for dressed poultry at the present
time are: Turkeys, Is to 20 cents pound; Phladel
phia chickens 16 others Il Boston ducks, II TO lS
cents others. ii to 10; Boston geese. 10 cents,
others II to Il for wild fowl Canyasback ducks
81, to 81 80 pair; gray ducks 70 to 80 cents