Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-20
FAMED FOR TURKEYS
The Birds Are Raised to Perfection
on Block Island.
CURIOUS SCENES At THE HARVEST
When They Are Driven in Great
fIocks to Market.
COMMAND GOOD PRICES

Among all the queer features of queer
Industries carried on in queer out-of-the-
way places it would be hard to find any
thing more picturesque than the Thanks
giving harvest on Block Island.
Though Block Island is only thirty miles
on the Rhode Island coast, and lies almost
midway between Montauk Point and Point
Judith. the impression that it makes upon
the visitor is that of being far removed
from every other part of the country. II
Is the home of fog and wind and dashing
spray. Down to recent years it was sell
dom visited by strangers, but it has been
discovered by the summer visitor, and
from contact with this invader its people
are less guileless than they used to be-
They are quaint folk STILL most of them
fishermen, and on land they carry on the
industry which has brought the island
much renown. and which. at this season
especially. gives it a strong claim on the
affections of the American people.
Ihis unique business is the rearing of
the festive and succulent Thanksgiving
turkey Rhode Island turkey has a fame
as farspreading that of Philadelphia
CHICKEN or Maryland terrapin. The turkey
brand of the noble American bird pro-
ducei in this quaint ocean oasis stands
In the same relation TO the ordinary Rhode
Islander as that aristocratic bird does to
Jersey and the west.
stock in Trade.
To the BLOCK Islander turkeys are what
his cattle are to the native of Holstein CT
the Isle of Jersey-the objects of his chief
concern and attention. When one has
been long enough on the island to be famil-
lar with the care and attention that is
lavished on its turkeys there is no longer
any wonder that the Block Island gobbler
is the most arrogant bird on earth or that
when turkey is quoted al 2o cents the Block
Island brand brings 20 Most of the birds
II may be remarked, go to Boston and New
York. where their reputation is known
ard their fTe qualities appreciated
Since every little farm or plot on the is
land has its flock of turkeys and the grow
ing of the birds is the principal land occu-
patton of the place. the harvest has been
on for some time. Some of the scenes that
are to be met with worthy the brush
of Millet. On days when the steamer
visits the place stroll of a couple of
miles from the town will bring one across
a dozen great fiocks of turkeys travelling
in GrOIes, like cattle. toward the harbor.
They are driven by women in short skirts.
heavy shoes. wooden stockings and with
queer little sunbonrets on their heads. or
by boys in nondescript trousers cowhide
boots ard southwesters. the prevailing male
attire. The drivers stroll along silently
except for the 'cluck. cluck'' with which
they stir up a straggler or hasten their
flock The birds march along as sedately
as their masters ard give the latter little
trouble. for they are well fed and lazy,
and one can almost see the roll of their
fat sides beneath the glossy feathers.
At the Landing Stage.
At the landing the scene is one that for
picturesqueness outdoes even Bavarian
goose market. The birds stand together in
compact patches of glistening color seques-
tered from neighboring focks by their
guarding drivers. The buyers move about
from one group to another examining the
turkeys or hagging with their owners over
the price TO be paid. The hum Of voices is
now and then drowned by the resonant
'i;obbe gobble. gobbie.'' of some red-wat-
Tied major domo or punctuated by the snarp
quit. quit. of frightened hen turkey
There is a pleasant stir of life and chatter
about II all that is set off by the blank ex-
panSe of sea all about
a few turkeys are killed and dressed on
the island, but most of them are driven on
board the steamer and carried across to
the mainland-a cackling. clucking freight
where they pass through poultry factory
and come out ready to adorn the table
Some of the finest in each flock are always
kept through the winter for the next sea-
sons breeding, for the turkey farmers are
careful not to let the quality of their stock
GeteriOrate.
How is it that your turkeys are always
so large and fne?" was asked of one old
farmer who was counting over the fat roll
OF bills he had just received from the buyer
for his seasons work He turned toward
me with "a shrewd Yankee smile as he an
swered.
care, care and know how. that's the hull
story We folks over here has been raisin'
turkeys for "a considerable time and | guess
We know most all they Is TO it
No doubt you do. That's just the point
was driving at
Finest I'm the World.
wall, care 'ull do 1t in turkeys Jest as
in everything else. an if / do say it, we
take p'ticular care of our birds. You can't
Keep turkeys up TO the mark by any kind
OF inbreeding. so every few seasons We
bring in a lot OF wild Toms and turn EN-
loose That keeps up the quality and
HaNor All the rest of the secret is lust in
good care. After the young turks is
hsttched out We let EN- run around to them
selves SOS to let EN- get big. strong frames
Then long about mid-Septer,ber or first of
October we shut EN- up in yards an coops
an feed EN- on corn meal an fattenin'
grain. You see. they can't run all their
powerful fast.
They is one thing about it, though. -
continued the Old man. beginning again To
count his roll. I'VE fellers do have one
advantage, an that is they's powerful
lot OF gr&sshoppers on this here island and
turkeys seem TO take to hoppers right
wet"
''Grasshoppers? queried. gazing blank
fy out across the water. How did they
get there?''
The old man laughed,
That's what everybody asks" he said