The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-22

stolen or lost, she will come strolling un
concernedly back TO the farm ana intro
duce 10 the stay at-homes brood of 10 or
Is healthy young turkeys, who arc as
bright ana As lively as any that have been
raised in luxury, and with an eye toward
the price they ill bring at the Thanks
giving market
After November | the turkey farmer
begins "a take -yeryIiyely interest in
the weather. He also begins to add the
finishing touches TO the Rhode Island
bird, that he NAV continue TO command
higher prices for his productions than any
other turkev raiser in the land. There
are many reasons attributed to this
achievement. First of all, the founda-
tion of the constitution of the young
Rhode Islander is we'll laid with an
abundant supply of white corn, which is
readily produced in this section. Second,
the land is high and the sol! dry and the
climate just about as agreeable as any
turkey could desire.
Usually it grows cold early in the fall.
and when November ! comes along it
can't b. too cold TO suit the Rhode Island
raiser Under the influence OF weather
that makes the mercury hover around the
zero notch the appetites of the turkeys
increase immensely, and while they keep
bright and lively they do little else but
wander slowly around the barnyard in
fiocks and stand closely hugglng each
other in the sunshine Sn that they may
keep warm. Under these conditions the
practised eye can almost see the young
spring fowls taking on weight aud
growing heavier and sweeter by the hour.
The finishing touches are given to the
turkeys by feeding them on chestnuts
a turkey prefers chestnut any time 10
bright green grasshopper, and that is
saying great deal. The chestnuts are
soaked and cracked open and are served
before killing time. They would be very
expensive for turkey food ordinarily, but
in this part of the country they are very
plentiful. III the weather remains warm
through November the turkeys show
no disposition to bunch or remain idle.
On the contrary they do a great deal of
travelling and. rs consequence, they
become muscular and not very plump
when Thanksgiving comes around. This
state of affairs prevails this season, and
for that reason many Rhode Island raisers
will hold great number OF the flock for
the Christmas and New Year markets. for
by that time the weather Will have become
cold enough To put every turkey in the
yard in the pink of condition. Notwitb-
standing this. however. the Thank sgiving
market will be the largest of the three.
Killing time takes place usually about
n week ahead of the holiday. Through
out Rhode Island killing began on Fri
day. ON killing day the turkeys arc called
into the parn where IA row of beams have
been placed Hanging from thess beams,
about three feet apart, are pieces Of stout
twine provided with moose After the
proper fowls have been selected, and their
feet placed in the moose, quick work Ia
made or the gobblers by inserting n long
tnin blade through the roof of the mouth
into tho brain This sewers the large ar
terry and the blood is drawn from the
body.
Not less than go turkeys will be sent to.
morrow from Turkey" Miners farm 10
all parts OF the country between Chicago
and Washington. 1heSo. of conrsc. will
not include the orders from the commits
sion merchants. Two years ago one OF
the dealers gave Turkey" Miner an or.
der for Rhode Island bronze and cross
bronze and wild that were shipped to
Queen Victoria by special order from her
chamberlain. Last year "a similar order
came from the Prince of Wales. This.
however was for the Christmas holidays.
one OF the dealers has sent big bronze
TO the President Of the United states for
many years. and this year bronze was
selected from Turkey" Miners farm to
grace Mr.. McKinley's table. The largest
turkey ever raised on the place weighed
iS pounds. and was sent to President
Cleveland four years ago. N. y. Herald