Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-26
WILD TURKEY FARM.
Boston Man May Locate One Nea,
Worcester, Mass.

The advent of another Thanksgiving
season may see brand new industry
in full operation III Worcester county,
Mass, that of raising the wild species
of the great American feast day bird
under conditions Of semidorlestication
Sanford e rcnniman. Boston man,
has recently been negotiating with
several real estate brokers in Worces-
ter. Mass, fer the purchase of a farm
situated rs rear to the city as posi-
BILE On account OF both the Worcester
and Boston markets and suitable for
the establishment of a large poultry
plant.
lie proposes to undertake the breed
ing Of the Wild turkey under ordinary
farm conditions.
DGmesticatcd poultry will also be
raised at first If Mr.. Penniman's pres.
eEt plans are carried into operation in
order TO insure n source Of revenue
while his flock of turkeys is being de-
veiopcd. The poultry flock. however,
will he decreased in size as the turkey
prGves successful the farm will be
given over to the raising of wild tur-
keys almost exclusively.
MIR Pennin,an, who has been EN-
ployed In the Boston market district
| for several years, is enthusiastic over
the project and says 1t is bound to
prove n winner.
| Whether it will be undertaken in
| Worcester county or elsewhere de-
| lr nf
| now in progress for a farm property
that meets all requirements in the
matter Of size, location, adaptability
and price
4 Boston Post reporter who met MI.
Penniman while the Boston man was
| on a visit to Worcester n few days ago
was given an outline of the PROPOSE
ton In detail.
Mr.. PenEiman began by saying that
ethe wild turkey which in the early
colonial days was found in Massa-
chusetts In great numbers is today to-
tally extinct In New England, although
it frequents to some extent parts of
Virginia and Maryland
The wild turkey Is species alto
gether different from the domesticated
bird with the white meated breast, for
which two New England states, Yer
mont and Rhode Island, are famous
and which is raised in small numbers
by many farmers in Worcester county
One reason, and an important one
according to Mr.. Penniman. why il
; should be preserved IS that 1t Is need
ed to contribute occasionally its hardy
blood. and gamy flavor to the domes
tic species by interbreeding. The more
or less dark meat of the breast OF
many domestic turkeys marketed to
day is said to be due to such inter
breeding
The wild turkey is proverbially shy
and quite generally supposed to be in
capable of domestication This suppo
sitioh, however, is entirely erroneous
according to the Boston man, who says
that as a matter of fact the bird i.
naturally not much afraid of man, bu
rather inclined to sociability.
In support of this claim Mr.. PENN
man points out that during It's stay il
Massachusetts the wild turkey made
itself at home In close proximity t.
human habitations.
Mr. Penniman declares that his plan
of farming the bird is feasible ant
says that authorities that claim to b,
experts in such matters support hi:
contention and claim that 1t offers thu
only hope for saving the great gam,
bird from eventually becoming abso
lutely extinct.
The wild turkey Is prolific and take
kindly TO civilization. The hen" lay
from fifteen to twenty eggs for /;
clutch but raises only one brood
year, and large bird would bring
FIVE dollar bill in the market.
The large ones range from twenty
five TO forty and sometimes go as higl
as fifty pounds each, while thos
weighing under twenty-five pound
would bring higher price than tn
domestic species because of the diff
ferent flavor of their meat.
= Mr.. Penniman would secure his will