The Forrest City times., 1909-11-19

 ter Of great difficulty to accomplish say the experts-they would be doeie enough, and with proper protection would multiply rapidly.
 The fact that wild turkeys have maintained their foothold to extent in long settled parts of their old territory-as for example in Vr- gir a and Maryland-appears to indicate that 1t would be entirely practicable to restock portions of their former ranges. But. ir lsmuch the country anciently occupied by them is for the most part populated by human beings 1t Is necessary, in order to accomplish the object sug- sested. that their multiplication shall be aged under conditions of least partial domes- fication-that is to say. by farming the birds for pleasure and profit.
 ! 1t is believed that, If proper protection given to such enterprises by the law sporting club and wealthy individuals owning leasing large tracts would gladly go into the business Of breeding wild turkeys-not for market of course, but for the pleasure derivable from such enter prise. At the present time not few such organi- zatfons and proprietors of great private estates maintain similar preserves for the quail or bob. white" holding field trials in competition to test the ability of dogs to find and point the birds These field trials in reality dog races and no shooting Of she quail is allowed
 ' Where wild turkeys are concerned however, there is no reason why such extensive preserves covering in some instances many thousands of acres, should not afford admirable sport under suitable restrictions. There is form Of outdoor amusement more delightful than turkey hunting But, fl farmers could be persuaded to take up the idea and 10 breed the birds they might sell shoot ing privileges to sportsIHen at a rate which would put much more money into their pockets than they could gain by sending the fowls to market
 If the business were suitably managed farms of 300 to 1000 acres would yield larger revenue from wild turkeys than from poultry, sportsmen being usually willing to pay several times more for the fun of shooting birds than the latter would fetch as marketable game For such purposes of course 1t would be neither necessary nor desir- able that the fowls should be too tame On the other hand. experience has shown that wild tur- keys are not disposed go tar away from an ac- customed source of food supply
 The wild turkey is prolific. and takes kindly to civilization Like its tame eongener 1t is a great consumer of injurious insects. particularly grass hoppers and such would be useful 10 the farm The female lays from l5 to 20 eggs for a clutch" but raises only one brood in year Foxes. hawks and owls deadly enemies but it would be the business of the farmer 10 protect Fthe birds from these foes. he does in the case 'of his farm-yard poultry. As for human poach- ers, adequate laws for protection against them would have to be passed but the sportsmen if once they became interested in the matter, could be relied upon to exert in this direction power fui influence, which has never yet failed of sue cess in affairs Of the kind
 It seems difficult to realize that less than 100 years ago wild turkeys so abundant that they often sold for six cents apiece a very large one. weighing 25 or 30 pounds. occasionally fetch ing much 25 cents To-day a large speci- men, gobber preferred Is worth $5 The species has been wiped out not by sportsmen but by Dot. hunters, who kill the birds on the roosts trap them fin pens. lie in ambush for them attract ing them within easy shooting distance by tmita- ting the call Of the hen or the young rpouit"
 On Fishers island in Long Island sound. a most Interesting experiment has already been made f.