The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1890-03-01
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FATTENlNG TURKEYS.
Connecticut Farmers Who Have the
Work Down to n Fine Point,

work Down to n Fine Paint,
Connecticut has no competition in
turkey farming. This is partially due
to the fact that the birds are directly de-
| scended from the wild fowls, and that
| their pedigrees are not crossed with
other coarse and vulgar birds; and part
ly on account of the superiority of a
North Stonington farmer in preparing
them for the market
This latter process is not only inter
sitting, but unique. Only the natives,
however, are vcrsed in 1t. Strangers,
dnless they gain the confidence OF these
shrewd Yankees, are kept in the dark.
The birds are allowed to roam at their
own free will, to subsist on graSshop-
pers, crickcts and snakes until fort
night before Thanksgiving, 1t Is then
that the farmers spread themselves and
fatten the fowls mechanically, as it
were. There are several different ways
from which great results are attained.
One of the popular forms is to nurse
them" Each turkey is taken be-
tween the farmers legs and hot corn
meal is stuffed down its throat with a
spoon. After the first injection the
turkeys take naturally to the means en-
ployed to feed them, and they are al
ways ready at meal times ths'caftcr
to have the operation repeated. This is
the commoncst method.
Another popular one, however, con-
sists Of feeding the turkeys on valnuts
for week or two previous to slaughter
ing day. A walnut, creased in fat, is
given to the bird, and it slips down tho
willowy throat with ease. Carr, how
ever, is exercised that the nuts are not
cracked or rough, as those would injure
the turkeys throat. One nut Is given
each bird the first day, two the second,
three the third, four the fourth. We the
fifth, and SO on, increasing one daily for
week If the bird does not pick up
then the dict is again taken mp, but tho
serving form is reversed. Seven arc
given the first day, six the second, and
so on during the remainder Of the week.
by that time the birds are plump and
fat, tho walnuts Icing possessed of
certain nutrimcnt which is Of rare worth
fail.
Very few people have an adequate
idea Of the extent OF the turkey farming
business in North Stonington. Even
some lifelong residents OF the city as
they dcvour piece OF the juicy meat for
dinner do not know that that moat is
virtually native. Any one, however,
who cares to penetrate those forest fast
ne~scS can learn many interesting things.
al l. I 4
They march in endless numbers In tho
early spring they forage for Matching
places, and require absolutely no alton
ton whatever. Behind huge piles OF
stone, with which the roads are lined.
can be disccrncd dozen or more big
eggs and in holes "xcayatcd from a
sandbank are sitting turkey hens.
The monster tlorks something's num-
herring hundreds o, fowl in cacs gather
in tho barn-yard only once a day for an
early meal on corn. The rest OF the day
they hustle for themselves.
One of the most interesting features
OF the turkey business is the way
turkeys are put ON the market The
farmer who dallics in this branch Of the
hurolic profession is blessed with one
article when he docs not have 10 cart a
dozen or more miles to town and hawk
around from door 10 door All that he
has to do is to stand AT his front gate.
white his pine stick and wait He
won't be compelled to wait long Be
fore he can mutilat" the stick much
collector Will come hu>tling along the
highway in big wagon.
These collectors are city dnalfrs
brokers' They come to this section
year after year and buy thousands Of
pounds Of turkeys every season. They
pay the farmer from eighteen 10 twenty.
five cents per pound for his crop. while
Vermont bird can be bought for the
former price at retail. The farmers
know the value and quality OF their
turkeys. so do the collectors, and they
are willing to pay we'll for the Connect.
cut-rearcd ones. Tho collectors canvass
the town thoroughly, making their
headquarters at some central point,
from which prompt transportation to the
New York, Providence and Boston
markets can BE- had.
For years il was customary for the
late senator Anthony to offer prize for
the biggest and latest turkey raised in
North Stonington. which he always sent
to the White House for the Presidents
Thanksgiving dinner. That turkey
never weighed less than twenty-five
pounds. Since Senator Anthony's death,
however, the custom has not been
SO rigidily enforced. The farmers are ex-
,remely patriotic, and on several oeca-
sions have expressed their patriotism by
sending the biggest turkey TO Washing
ton. - Norwich Comm Cor. Boston
Globe.
THE WOMEN'S HUNT,