The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-12-20
PROFITS OF TURKEY RAISING.
An Industry That Has Grown Rapidly in
Northern New York.

A Watertown On. V correspondent
of the Now York Times writes: ''The
annual harvest of poultry for the New
York and Boston markets is about over
10 this part of the State, and it has been
a big one. Thousands of the finest and
fattest turkeys in the land have already
found their way from Northern New
York u t..e tables Of people in the larger
cities, and many more will get there dur
ing the coming holiday.
The business Of raising the turkey for
market is OF comparatively recent origin
in this region but is has grown to such an
extent that it demands more than pass
ing notice. This year the money paid
the farmers for turkeys alone IN St.
Lawrence county will amount to over
100000, and if divided pro rata among
the inhabitants, would give every man,
woman aud child over 81 90 each When
the number OF farmers is taken into ac-
count it would be seen that each would
have snug sSn for the poultry raised
A few days before Thanksgiving a
freight train of thirty-rhree cars loaded
with dressed turkeys was dispatched Ior
Boston. This was only one of several
shipments, but it is probably the largest
quantity sent by one train this season
The prices paid by dealers run from Il
to 10 cents per pound, which is consider
ably above the prices paid for Western
| turkeys. One firm bought 25 tons in ont
week. Nearly every village in the count.
now has one or more turkey brokers wht
buy on commission for dealers in tn
large cities.
"With the business of poultry raising
the poultry fair has become an establishes
institution. Every town, little ard big
| has one, The broker sets the day o
which he Will receoe turkeys for sh1E
ment, and the farmers for miles aroun
are notified. On the day indicated til
farmers or their wives and daughter
bring in their stock of dressed fowls. In
brokers are kept busy from daylight
dark, and have many tedious argumer
with thsee who wish to get frst-cla'
prices for second-class birds. There
much competition among the farmer
wives for the highest prices, ana DoI
care to have it said that their neighbo
have got the best of them in this partlc
lar. The premium on good poultry ge
orally brings the St. Lawrence coun
turkey up to high standard, and dea
ers say better fowls are raised here thu
in any other par 9of the country.
Farmers III this section have ava
ened to the fact that there is great pr
fit in this new business. This year maj
: OF them will receive mGra for their tur
eys than they have had from their dalrie
Tue trouble encountered in turkey raisli
; is not great. The iolws are able to ia
care CT themselves from the day they a
l hatched until the time comes for latte
c ing, which is about six weeks before
!. time for killing. They art not molest
-, to any great extent by the hawk, fox
weasel, and the percentage Of loss in ra
ing them is less than on any other dom'
IL tic fowl. Those engaged in the busint
C say the turkeys should not be fed durl
]. the summer months. Ifeft to forage
a the farm until about the first OF Octob
:. and then shnt up and fed grain th
take on fat rapidly and are better
the table than any stall-fed fowl
- ever be.
c. "A good farm is not requisite
le turkey raising. Poor land is just
,e good provided the fowls have W
:, range. St. Lawrence county farm
:. who happen to be the possessors OF ira
- of land that cannot be proftably utili
~ in dsirying have learned that they
n make as much clear money on poultry
es their more fortunate peighbors can mi
In out of other products. The only DAM
= seems to be that the turkey business n
be overdone and that prices Will go 90
~ in consequence. If this does not hapl
Gu it is bound to be a most important
pt, dustry on Northern New York farms.